Pair small plates with award-winning wines, add in the beauty, bustle, and marine air of the Vancouver Waterfront, and you have a winning combination at Maryhill Winery and Tasting Room.
Location: Maryhill Winery and Tasting Room is located at 801 Waterfront Way, #105A, Vancouver, Washington.
Menu: The menu offers a selection of small plates, ranging from salads, sandwiches, charcuterie boards, and a variety of seafood including steamer clams, Dungeness crab, and prawns. Pair these small plates with award-winning wines for lunch or a light dinner.
The wine tasting is a lesson in Washington wines. The grapes are sourced from a variety of southeastern Washington vineyards. Soil here varies considerably and affects the flavor and aroma of the wine. For example, the soil that was exposed to the Mt. St. Helen’s eruption imparts a distinctive smoky flavor to the grapes. The wine steward is very knowledgeable and explains each wine on the flight of the day.
Thoughts: Throughout our small plates, we enjoyed tasting the flight of award-winning wines. On the advice of the hostess, we began with the Dungeness crab cakes. Be sure to check them out: thick and juicy with more crab than the usual crab cakes, they are a winner. Breading is very light, allowing the crab to shine. Topped with lemon aioli, they are a delight. One could pair them with the Semillon wine – a mild flavor of lemon, citrus, and green papaya.
Next, we sampled the charcuterie board. There are two types of cured meats, a mild pate, and delicious sharp cheeses: Humbolt Goat and blue Shropshire. Served alongside are Marcona almonds, tart cherry paste, olives, pickled peppers, and crackers. You can order a small or large board.
We enjoyed the red wines with the charcuterie board. One of our favorites is the Indira. We also sampled the Tempranillo, reminiscent of a Spanish cabernet. The grapes have a very recognizable flavor.
A crackling tune caught our attention and announced the arrival of the Mediterranean Sizzle Prawns. The prawns are cooked in Maryhill white wine and garnished with olives and lemons. Delicious.
Maryhill Tasting Room is a large, inviting facility with additional choices of outside seating along the riverfront. Entering the facility, you are welcomed by the hostess who explains the menu and flight. The south-facing doors retract to allow in the marine breezes and atmosphere. The large floor to ceiling windows offer glimpses of the waterfront walking trail and the many folks enjoying a leisurely stroll.
Notice the beautiful 1885 mahogany bar. There is a baby grand piano for live weekend entertainment. Another area is sectioned for jazz concerts by local artists. Call for details about additional performances throughout the week.
The facility is “minor friendly” but of course, no wine for them. There are a variety of non-alcoholic beverages available. Private parties can rent part of the facility and enjoy a banquet menu. Next to open, scheduled for November, is the Maryhill Winery and Tasting Room in Woodinville, Washington.
Price Range: Charcuterie Boards and sandwiches are $13-$23. Seafood plates range from $15-22. Wine tasting is $15 – refundable with a $25 purchase.
Disclosure: My companion and I were provided complimentary lunch and wine tasting for purposes of this review.
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