Washington State terroir, fired up and poured right
Warehouse District · Woodinville · Winery Kitchen / Wood-Fired Pizza & Small Plates · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · July 26, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Novelty Hill – Januik Winery Kitchen’s wine list and gave it The Reliable — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
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Wingman Metrics
Walking into Novelty Hill–Januik feels less like a restaurant and more like stepping inside the winemaker's living room — if that living room had soaring ceilings, a wood-fired oven, and a list that reads like a greatest-hits of their own estate blocks. The list is tight, intentional, and makes exactly zero apologies for being a Washington-only affair. That confidence is earned.
The list runs 50–80 bottles deep and doesn't wander far from home, which is actually the point — this is a winery first, restaurant second, and the wine program reflects that focus with clarity. You'll find both the Novelty Hill and Januik labels represented across reds, whites, and reserve tiers, pulling fruit from marquee sites like Royal Slope, Stillwater Creek Vineyard, and Cold Creek. The depth within Washington AVAs is real: there's genuine vertical thinking here, with single-vineyard designates sitting alongside more approachable Columbia Valley blends. If you came hoping for a Burgundy or a Barolo, wrong room — but if you want to genuinely understand what eastern Washington can do, this list makes the case better than most.
With 12–20 pours on any given visit, the by-the-glass program is one of the stronger arguments for pulling up a barstool here. You can work your way through both winery labels and multiple tiers — from the everyday Columbia Valley expressions to reserve-level pours — without committing to a full bottle. Rotation appears tied more to vintage releases than seasonal whims, but there's usually enough range to keep things interesting across a full meal.
Novelty Hill Royal Slope Sauvignon Blanc — $18
Washington Sauvignon Blanc from a high-elevation Columbia Basin site punches well above its glass price — crisp, structured, and nothing like the grassy grocery-store stuff. Order it first, then decide if you need a second glass (you will).
Januik Reserve Merlot
Everyone walks in asking for the Cab, but the Reserve Merlot quietly does the heavy lifting. Merlot from Washington's best sites is genuinely underrated nationally, and Januik's version reminds you why the grape deserves more than its reputation suggests. Most tables skip it. Don't be most tables.
Januik Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
It's a perfectly competent Cab and there's nothing wrong with it — but when the Stillwater Creek and Cold Creek single-vineyard designates are sitting right there on the same list, paying for the entry-level Columbia Valley blend feels like leaving a better story untold. Spend the extra few dollars and get specific.
Januik Cold Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon + Wood-fired pizza
Cold Creek Cab has the structure and dark fruit to hold its own against char and smoke, while the acidity cuts through the richness of melted cheese and whatever cured meat situation is happening on top. The wood-fired oven and Washington Cab were basically made for each other.
✔️ The Bottom Line
If you're eating in Woodinville and care about Washington wine, this is the room. It's not trying to be a destination list for every region on earth — it's trying to show you exactly what two serious winemakers can do with exceptional Pacific Northwest fruit, and it succeeds.
Downtown Woodinville · Woodinville · Seafood-focused American
Big Fish Grill is exactly what it needs to be: a reliable neighborhood seafood spot in wine country that keeps things local and doesn't embarrass itself on the list. If you're after a deep wine experience, hit one of the actual Woodinville tasting rooms — but for a casual dinner with solid Washington pours, this works.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Downtown Woodinville · Woodinville · Seafood, American
Big Fish Grill isn't a wine destination, but it doesn't need to be — it's a solid neighborhood seafood grill in the middle of wine country that gives you enough local options to drink well without overthinking it. Send a friend here if they want good fish and an easy bottle; don't send them if they want to explore what Woodinville's wine scene is actually capable of.
Plays It Safe
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Occasional
Acceptable
Hollywood District · Woodinville · American Tavern
Hollywood Tavern isn't a destination wine stop, but it's a damn solid place to drink well between winery visits. The Washington-focused list is honest, the value is real, and the Gorman and Latta pours alone justify the stop.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hollywood District · Woodinville · Spanish tapas, cocktail and wine bar
Pintxo is a one-family wine show, and that's both its charm and its ceiling — but within those limits, it executes the Spain-meets-Washington angle better than it has any right to. If you're already doing Woodinville tasting rooms, this is the stop that actually makes you think.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Occasional
Proper
Hollywood District · Woodinville · Upscale American Bistro and Wine Bar
Purple Café Woodinville is doing the work — deep list, fair prices, staff who can back it up, and a Monday half-price bottle program that should be illegal for how good a deal it is. If you're anywhere near wine country and serious about drinking well, this is the stop.
Deep & Eclectic
Fair
Varietal Specific
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Active Program
Proper
Woodinville · Woodinville · American, Pacific Northwestern
Heritage is the rare spot where the casual vibe and the serious wine list genuinely coexist — sommelier Erik Agnew has built something that rewards locals and out-of-towners equally. If you're doing a Woodinville wine country weekend and want a proper dinner pour without the tasting room formality, this is your room.
Solid Range
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
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