Tucked in the heart of Woodinville wine country, there’s a place where family history echoes through the oak barrels. For the Taylors of Hunts Point, owners of EFESTĒ Winery, winemaking isn’t a new venture. It’s a seventh-generation art rooted in tradition and family.  

The name EFESTĒ (pronounced F-S-T) is derived from the initials of three founding families. Today, it’s the Taylor family’s passion and perseverance that anchor its soul. Angela Taylor can trace her family’s winemaking lineage all the way back to Calabria, Italy, where generations of her ancestors crushed grapes by foot and passed down the family wisdom in a ‘learning by doing’ environment. 

In fact, walk into EFESTĒ’s Woodinville tasting room and you’ll see a living artifact of that legacy: an antique wine press, transported from the old country by Angela’s great-grandfather in 1904. It sits proudly at the center of the tasting space, not just as a symbol of where they’ve been, but a reminder of the care and character that still shapes every bottle they make. Great wine starts with great grapes. After establishing the winery, they acquired property on Red Mountain, one of Washington State’s most prized wine-growing regions. Their son Paul, who works in land acquisition for Taylor Development, continues to help identify vineyard opportunities, ensuring the winery’s future is rooted in the same excellence that defines its past.  

What makes EFESTĒ wines so distinctive is their commitment to native fermentation. Rather than rely on commercial yeast, added sugars, and other preservatives, the family has stayed true to a more traditional approach, allowing natural yeast to lead the fermentation process. Combine that with an aging process that includes concrete tanks, traditional concrete eggs, and French oak barrels, and the result is a lineup of wines that are not only full-bodied and expressive but reflect the unique story of every harvest. 

Despite the handcrafted quality, meticulous fermentation, and top-tier ingredients, EFESTĒ has managed to keep its pricing approachable, a family value to the Taylors. “We want people to open our wine on a Wednesday, not just save it for special occasions,” Angela says with a smile. You won’t find abstract, over-polished names in their portfolio of wines; the labels are tributes to the people who make this story real. There’s the Angie Blanc de Blanc, named for Angela; Eléni Syrah for a beloved family matriarch, Helen; Paulie Red Blend, in honor of their son; and Tough Guy, a bold, beautiful red with a backstory. 

When the Taylors launched the winery, their son, Joe, had just been diagnosed with Leukemia. He was a young boy then, staring down three years of chemotherapy with unimaginable strength. That spirit became the inspiration for Tough Guy, and the family donates 100% of the wine’s proceeds to fund blood cancer research and technology. What started as a family passion project quickly became a beacon of hope. Today, Tough Guy is a rallying cry for resilience. 

Fast forward to 2025, and Joe, cancer-free and freshly graduated from WSU, has officially joined the winery full time. He’s stepping into the business with the same drive that earned him his nickname, and as a family owner, he’ll be doing a bit of everything: from managing the tasting room and connecting with wine club members, to working alongside winemaker Mark Fiori as a cellar assistant. Joe is ready to carry on the EFESTĒ tradition, and if history tells us anything, he’ll be doing it with heart. 

Owner Helen Ferrelli (and Angela’s mom) lends her own magic touch to EFESTĒ’s food offerings. Walk into the tasting room on any given weekend and you might catch her pulling homemade pizzas out of the oven or arranging one of the antipasto boards the regulars swear by. It’s no surprise that the space often feels less like a tasting room and more like a laid-back country club where members come for the wine, but stay for the stories, the laughter, and the sense of belonging. 

And speaking of the wine club, it’s no exaggeration to say that it’s the heart of EFESTĒ. Angela often says their members feel like extended family, and the feeling is mutual. EFESTĒ isn’t just about making great wine. It’s about honoring a legacy. It’s about holding fast to tradition while embracing the future. It’s about building something beautiful, not just for themselves, but for everyone who walks through their doors. 

You can find plenty of good wine in the Pacific Northwest. But if you’re looking for something more...  A bottle rooted in tradition, shaped by history, and poured with purpose; you’ll find it at EFESTĒ. You, too, will leave feeling like part of the family.