From Sparrow’s red wine by the bottle list, the Sparkman Stella Mae is one of the most elegant Washington reds we pour, a Columbia Valley Cabernet blend priced at $155 by the bottle.
About Sparkman Stella Mae
Sparkman Cellars is a family-run winery launched in Woodinville in 2004, and over the years it has earned serious recognition for its reds, including wines named in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 and a reputation as one of Washington’s most reliable producers. Stella Mae is named for one of the Sparkman daughters, part of a lineup where the family names many wines after their kids. This 2021 release is an elegant blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Malbec, sourced from five premium vineyards across the Columbia Valley, the broad, warm growing region that produces the bulk of Washington’s most serious reds. Drawing from multiple sites lets the winemaking team build complexity and balance, blending the structure of Cabernet with the plush, dark-fruited generosity of Malbec.
Tasting Notes
The nose opens with cherry pie and baking chocolate, leading into flavors of dark berries, herbs, and crushed stone. It is a polished, layered wine that feels both rich and refined, with the Cabernet providing backbone and the Malbec adding depth and a velvety center. The crushed-stone minerality gives the finish a sense of place, a reminder that this fruit came from real Washington vineyards rather than a generic bottling. Give it a little air and the aromatics open further, with the cherry and chocolate notes settling into something warm and inviting. This is a bottle built for a memorable dinner, the kind of wine you order when the evening is worth celebrating.
What to Pair It With
Sparkman themselves call out our braised duck as a perfect match, and we agree. From the Sparrow dinner menu, enjoy the Stella Mae with the Braised Duck, the American Wagyu steaks, or the Sparrow-Smoked Rack. The wine’s herb and dark-berry character also pairs nicely with the Lamb Quesa-Birria Tacos or the Eggplant Parmigiana for a vegetarian table.
Frequently Asked Questions
What grapes are in Sparkman Stella Mae?
The 2021 Stella Mae is an elegant Columbia Valley blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Malbec, sourced from five premium Washington vineyards by Sparkman Cellars of Woodinville.
How much is Sparkman Stella Mae at Sparrow in Kirkland?
It is $155 by the bottle on Sparrow’s red wine list in Kirkland’s Juanita neighborhood on the Eastside.
Look for it on the Sparrow beverages menu near the Sparkman Yonder Cabernet Franc and the Ambassador Attache Red Blend. We are Kirkland’s neighborhood restaurant in Juanita on the Eastside, so reserve a table and treat yourself to a bottle.