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๐Ÿ”ฅThe Rager

Barking Frog

Washington's backyard, bottled and poured right

Woodinville ยท Seattle ยท New American ยท Visit Website โ†—

date-nightdeep-cellarold-world-focussplurge-worthy

Reviewed April 9, 2026

Wingman Metrics

List VarietyDeep & Eclectic
MarkupFair
GlasswareVarietal Specific
StaffKnowledgeable & Friendly
Specials & DealsSeasonal Rotation
Storage & TempProper

First Impression

You're in Woodinville wine country, and Barking Frog knows exactly where it lives. The list opens with a confident parade of Washington heavyweights โ€” Leonetti, Quilceda Creek, DeLille โ€” and doesn't apologize for the flex. This isn't a list that wandered in from a generic hotel restaurant; someone who actually cares about Washington wine built this thing.

Selection Deep Dive

The 200-400 bottle range gives the list real depth, and the regional focus is tight and deliberate: Columbia Valley, Walla Walla, and Willamette Valley anchor the selections with a few well-placed Oregon nods. You'll find blue-chip names like Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon and Andrew Will Sorella sitting alongside more approachable pours like Chateau Ste. Michelle Cold Creek Riesling โ€” proof that the list isn't just trophy hunting. Long Shadows Pirouette shows up as a nod to the collaborative, blended side of Washington wine, and it earns its spot. The gaps are minor: if you're hunting Old World depth, you'll be searching; this list has a clear Pacific Northwest identity and leans into it hard.

By the Glass

Fifteen to twenty-five options by the glass is a serious commitment, and the price range of $14โ€“$30 keeps it accessible without feeling cheap. With a sommelier on staff, the BTG list rotates with intention โ€” expect the pours to reflect what's drinking well right now rather than whatever's been open since Tuesday. This is one of the stronger by-the-glass programs in the Seattle metro area for Washington-focused wines.

๐Ÿ’ฐBest Value

Chateau Ste. Michelle Cold Creek Riesling, Columbia Valley โ€” $14

Cold Creek Riesling punches well above its price point โ€” one of Washington's most consistent vineyard-designate Rieslings, with real tension and longevity. At the low end of the BTG range in a room full of $60+ Cabs, it's the smartest pour on the list.

๐Ÿ’ŽHidden Gem

Long Shadows Pirouette, Columbia Valley

Most tables in this room are gunning for the Leonetti or Quilceda Creek, and rightfully so. But Pirouette โ€” the Bordeaux-style blend from Long Shadows โ€” is the sleeper. It's structured, age-worthy, and made with fruit from some of the best Columbia Valley sites. Most diners walk right past it.

โ›”Skip This

Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley

Quilceda Creek is genuinely one of the best Cabs in America โ€” no argument there. But in a restaurant setting with lodge-level pricing on top of an already stratospheric bottle price, you're paying a significant premium to drink something you could allocate directly from the winery. Save this one for home.

๐Ÿฝ๏ธPerfect Pairing

DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate, Columbia Valley + Prix Fixe Dinner

Chaleur Estate is DeLille's flagship Bordeaux-style white โ€” crisp, textured, and complex enough to hold its own across multiple courses. It bridges the gap between the richer protein-forward plates and any lighter first-course fare in a prix fixe format without overwhelming anything on the table.

๐Ÿ”ฅ The Bottom Line

Barking Frog is the best argument for making the 30-minute drive from Seattle to Woodinville that doesn't involve a tasting room. If you care about Washington wine, this list is the real thing โ€” deep, fairly priced, and staffed by people who actually know what's in the cellar.

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