Wine Area Around Yakima

[dananne]

OK, so you'll be taking 90 over the Cascades (past a little town called Roslyn, which is only necessary to know because it was the setting for Northern Exposure) and then getting on 82 to take you down into the Yakima Valley. First, if it was me, I'd bypass the stuff around Yakima and continue on to the Rattlesnake Hills. I'd suggest Sagelands in Wapato and Two Mountain in Zillah, though there is a "Fruit Loop" wine trail that could keep you busy for the better part of a day. Better to move on to the Prosser area. On the way, you could stop at Apex in Sunnyside, which does a good job with Cab. In Prosser, I'd suggest Willow Crest for sure (amazing and innovative stuff), and also Alexandria Nicole, particularly for their Destiny Ridge stuff. It is right downtown next to Coyote Canyon, where a person on this wine board does some work. Kestrel is also a good stop in Prosser, and we liked their wines across the board. On Red Mountain, you should stop at Hedges, but I'd also suggest a visit to Terra Blanca just to see how mammoth it is. If you make it as far as the Tri-Cities, I'd suggest a stop at Bookwalter or Tagaris for some nice wine and a bite to eat.

The problem with only going so far as Yakima is twofold. First, for a long time, the Yakima Valley produced the grapes, but all the wineries were in the Woodinville area or Walla Walla. Now, there is a fledgling industry and some places worth stopping, but they tend to be clustered south of Yakima in the Rattlesnake Hills, around and in Prosser, on Red Mtn., and on to the Tri-Cities. Second, the wineries around Yakima aren't really the ones that would cause you to make a several-hour drive. For those, you have to move on past Yakima. If you do stay up in the Yakima area, you do have wineries to visit. If memory serves, Running Springs is up there, as is Donitelia, Yakima Cellars, and Kana, among others, but I've little experience with those wineries.

Hope this helps your planning!