“Cougar Juice” and White Wines for Red Wine Drinkers at Guardian
Guardian Cellars is a winery located in Woodinville, Washington that produces award-winning wines from some of the best vineyards in the state. Founded in 2004 by Jerry Riener, a former police officer and forensic chemist, and Jennifer Sullivan, a former journalist and public relations specialist, Guardian Cellars combines their passion for wine and crime to create wines with intriguing names and labels, such as Gun Metal, Entrapment, The Alibi, The Rookie, and The Informant. Known to make “white wines for red wine drinkers”, Jerry takes a very analytical and chemist approach to his wine making, giving every bottle the utmost attention to quality and taste.
Outside the tasting room in Hollywood District, Woodinville WA
Guardian Cellars has a tasting room in Woodinville's Hollywood District, where visitors can sample their wines and enjoy the prime location, decorated with crime-themed memorabilia. They also have a second tasting room in Maltby, where they offer a more intimate and exclusive experience for wine club members and guests. If you’re on the East side of Washington, be sure to check out their tasting room in Walla Walla, nestled into downtown Main Street! Guardian Cellars produces about 10,000 cases of wine per year, using grapes from some of the most renowned vineyards in Washington, such as Stillwater Creek, Conner Lee, Klipsun, Boushey, and Dionysus. For anyone who follows my work, you know I LOVE anything Red Mountain, so I was very excited to hear about where they source their grapes!
Guardian Cellars is more than just a winery. It is a story of love, adventure, and dedication. Jerry and Jennifer met at a crime scene in 2003, when Jerry was working as a forensic chemist for the Washington State Patrol and Jennifer was covering the story for The Seattle Times. They bonded over their mutual interest in wine and decided to start making their own. Jerry learned the craft from some of the best winemakers in the region, such as Mark McNeilly of Mark Ryan Winery and Mike MacMorran of Mark Ryan Winery and Sparkman Cellars. Jennifer used her journalism skills to create the branding and marketing for their wines. Together in 2007, they built the first Guardian Cellars tasting room from the ground up, while balancing their demanding careers and raising their two children. Jennifer also started a sister label called “Newsprint” which makes my favorite wine of the tasting, a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grown in Quintessence vineyard and incredibly priced at $35! Felt like a STEAL to get it at that price…. get it? Steal? From a cop??? I’ll see myself out…
A tasting at Guardian is a fun and relaxed affair, with some awesome people pouring wine and talking shop. They not only tell the story of the wines and grapes, but of Jerry and Jennifer’s comical beginnings as a couple and the amazing family and winery that came of it. At $20, a tasting is a no brainer for any wine lover, especially those who aren’t traditionally white wine drinkers! Starting with a complex Sauvignon Blanc (Angel), also grown on Red Mountain, and followed by an oaked but non-offensive Chardonnay (Entrapment) which is hilariously referred to as “Cougar Juice”. We then sampled a few Newsprint labeled reds to include the 100% Cab, and beautiful blends made from Washington’s top grape varietals. With an impressive lineup, there is something for everyone on the list and the price points are seriously criminal…in a good way!
So, stop over to one of their many tasting rooms and see how crime, investigation, fun, family, and grapes make for an experience worth a top headline! More information about their tasting rooms, hours, and wines can be found at https://guardiancellars.com/ or connect with them on Facebook, Instagram, or X (Twitter)!