Raise a Glass to Washington: The Red Sauce Flight Is Here
March is Washington Wine Month, and at Stoneburner, we think that calls for a proper celebration.
We've always believed that great wine belongs on the table, not just in the glass, but woven into the whole experience of a meal. That's the spirit behind our new Red Sauce Flight: three Washington wines, three remarkable producers, and one shared philosophy: that the best wine is the one that makes the food taste even better.
This March, in honor of Taste Washington and everything our state's winemakers are doing right now, we're shining a light on three bottles that belong in your hand while something delicious is happening in front of you. Pull up a chair.
The Red Sauce Flight
Three pours. All Washington. All made for the table.
Cor 'Ago' Primitivo — Columbia Gorge, WA 2024 — If you've ever sat down to a long, unhurried Sunday dinner in southern Italy, you already know what this wine wants to be.
Cor — Latin for "heart" — was founded in 2004 by winemaker Luke Bradford, who literally went to the source, working harvests in Sicily and Tuscany before returning to Washington with a clear vision: find the right mountain soils, farm sustainably, and make wines that genuinely please people. He found what he was looking for in the Columbia Gorge.
This Primitivo is made in a carbonic style, which is a fancy way of saying Bradford lets the fruit do the work. The result is bright, easygoing, and completely disarming — soft tannins, juicy red berries, and just enough subtle spice to keep things interesting. It's the kind of wine that disappears quickly and makes you want another pour. Which, around here, we consider high praise. Wine shouldn’t be hard, and this one is anything but.
Perfect with: our meatballs (which are BACK), our classic PEPP.
Grosgrain 'Red Heaven Vineyard' Grenache — Walla Walla, WA 2020 — Not every winery wants to make the boldest wine in the room. Matt and Kelley Austin founded Grosgrain Vineyards in 2014 with a different ambition: champion the underdog varieties, intervene as little as possible, and let the vineyard speak (we see a trend here).
The name Grosgrain comes from a tightly woven ribbon with distinct horizontal rows — a nod to the rows of vines they tend in Walla Walla. Their approach favors early harvesting and minimal oak, preserving the kind of freshness and delicacy that bigger, more extracted wines tend to bulldoze right past.
This Grenache delivers exactly that. A vibrant, translucent ruby in the glass, it opens with fresh raspberry, rhubarb, wild sage, and thyme. It's light, elegant, and lively — with fine tannins that make it a natural companion to food. If you think Washington only does big reds, this one will pleasantly surprise you.
Perfect with: skirt steak, garlic bread, all the PASTA.
K Vintners 'Guido' Sangiovese — Walla Walla, WA 2019 — Charles Smith has never been accused of doing things halfway. Since founding K Vintners in 1999 (!), he's built a reputation on expressive, old-school wines made from Walla Walla's stony riverbed soils.
The 'Guido' Sangiovese is aromatic and savory in the best possible way — the kind of wine that smells like a grandmother’s kitchen. High acidity and firm tannins give it structure and longevity, while notes of sour cherry, dried cranberry, tobacco, and dried Italian herbs make it sing alongside anything rich, braised, or slow-cooked. This is Sangiovese that earns its place at the table.
Perfect with: beef tartare, GUANCIALE pizza, and that RIGATONI (yowza).
Why Red Sauce?
Because wine and food aren't separate conversations. The Red Sauce Flight is built around the table — around the idea that these wines aren't just good on their own, they complete the meal. Washington has earned its place among the world's great wine regions, and March is our chance to celebrate the people making it happen, one pour at a time.
A big thank you to Taste Washington for championing the growers, makers, and restaurants that make this state's wine culture so worth raising a glass to.
One More Thing: Seattle Cocktail Week Is Coming
Wine isn't the only thing we do well. Stoneburner will be part of Seattle Cocktail Week — and we'll have more details to share soon. Stay tuned. It's going to be a good one.
Come In. Your Table Is Ready.
Washington Wine Month is the perfect excuse to gather some people you like, order something from the wood-fired oven, and let us pour you something exceptional from right here in our own backyard. We love serving large groups, as well, so if you are in town with friends in tow, drop us a note and we will save you a table info@stoneburnerseattle.com
Reserve your table at Stoneburner →
Stoneburner is located inside Hotel Ballard in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood. We look forward to seeing you.
