The List: Mark Ryan Winery’s Mark McNeilly

Before he was a winery owner selling bottles across the U.S. and beyond, Mark McNeilly was juggling shifts as a waiter in Kirkland while selling wine for a local distributor.

In 1999, he started what he called a “very small garage project,” which later became Mark Ryan Winery — “Ryan” being his middle name, not his last, as many assume.

For nearly a decade, McNeilly ran the operation largely on his own, leaning on volunteers to get through harvests and bottling days. He said that the first two vintages of grapes were hauled over Snoqualmie Pass in a 1980s Chevy Astro van with a utility trailer that was “definitely undersized for the task.”

One day, while stocking bottles at Larry’s Market in Redmond, McNeilly overheard two customers talking about how much they enjoyed Mark Ryan Wines.

“That was the moment I realized the business could truly succeed and that people genuinely appreciated the quality of our work,” McNeilly said.

Today, the winery has tasting rooms in Woodinville and Walla Walla, and a reputation for its intentionally casual atmosphere and lively release parties.

“In the early days of Mark Ryan, I included my personal phone number on the back of every bottle,” McNeilly said. “It was always a pleasure to receive late-night calls from people enjoying our wine while celebrating.”

More than 20 years after its founding, Mark Ryan Winery honors its early days through one of its first-ever wines, Long Haul, which is still sold today. The name pays homage to the long drives Woodinville winemakers make to source grapes from Eastern Washington. McNeilly said it has become a popular choice for weddings and anniversaries.

McNeilly shared with 425 how he spends his days outside of work, including his go-to restaurants, sources of inspiration, and current interests.

Local Dining Spots

• Rock Creek in Kirkland

• Bis on Main in Bellevue

• Ruk Thai in Bridle Trails

Places You Recommend to Visiting Friends and Family

• The San Juan Islands, specifically Roche Harbor.

• Pike Place Market — It’s not only an iconic spot, but a farmers market I love to shop at.

• The Roanoke Inn on Mercer Island

Ways to Spend a Sunny Day

• Taking the family to Mariners games.

• Playing golf with buddies at Chambers Bay.

• Hanging out with our customers on the deck at Mary Ryan in Woodinville.

Sources of Inspiration

• Music — Most of our wine names are inspired by my favorite bands or songs.

• Family and friends

• Concert poster artists and rock photographers

Favorite Songs of the Moment

• “No One Knows” by Screaming Trees

• “Red Eyes” by The War on Drugs

• “More Than This” by Roxy Music

Current Interests Outside of Work

• Live music, especially at small venues like Showbox at the Market.

• Traveling with my family.

• Watching my daughters in concerts and theater performances