At Wit Cellars, “We’re in it Together” Carries a Special Meaning

This article originally appeared, in part, in the April/May, 2021 issue of Bellingham Alive Magazine

When Flint Nelson, Carolina ‘Cat’ Warwick, and Gina Adams-Royer first met in 2015 to develop a plan for a new winery, they agreed that the winery name had to be simple and memorable.

The three business partners decided on Wit Cellars, and General Manager Adams-Royer notes that the word ‘wit’ (defined as intelligent humor) seemed like a perfect tie-in with what many of us do in a social gathering; “You get together with your friends, you connect, you drink wine, you laugh and talk,” she says.

They also considered WIT as a great acronym for ‘We’re In (It) Together,’ she says, never imagining how appropriate the name would become in today’s environment where social distancing is the norm and glasses of wine are sipped while chatting over Zoom sessions on our laptops.

Winemakers Nelson and Warwick had years of winemaking experience at a number of Washington State wineries before working together at Kestrel Vintners in the Eastern Washington town of Prosser. Adams-Royer also worked for Kestrel, first as a sales associate and then as manager of the winery’s Woodinville tasting room.

A change in Kestrel’s ownership led to the trio’s departure and their decision to combine talents and establish Wit Cellars, which opened its doors in Prosser in 2016.

“The amazing thing about the wine industry,” recalls Adams-Royer, “is that people came out of the woodwork and said, ‘What do you need? We’re here to help you.’ It was utter community and we (were) really grateful for that.”

The current wine list at Wit reflects Nelson’s preference of making varietal-specific wines rather than blends.  Chardonnay, riesling, and a sparkling pinot grigio top the white wine choices and reds include syrah, malbec, petit verdot, and three cabernet sauvignons from three different Yakima Valley vineyards. A small selection of other red wines is also bottled at the winery under his Mazzacano Cellars’ label.

Wit Cellars has since expanded to include a second tasting room in Woodinville, less than a 90-minute drive south of Bellingham. It’s conveniently located within walking distance of dozens of other wineries, making it an especially attractive wine-related getaway for North Sound residents.

Although indoor tastings and special events such as wine dinners have been limited due to the pandemic, Adams-Royer notes that, “We have super-safe, heated outdoor areas at both tasting rooms.”

Before visiting, be sure to check the winery web site at witcellars.com for current operating hours. Wines can also be ordered online and shipped for home delivery.

Looking for more information on Wit Cellars’ current releases? Go to the post under “New Northwest Wine Recommendations” for tasting notes on several of their wines that should be on your must-try list.