Archive for April, 2012

Spring Barrel at a Glance 4.27-29: Lunch, Live Music & Special Events

Sunday, April 22nd, 2012

Spring Barrel Tasting 2012 -The Biggest BYOG (bring your own glass) event of the Year!  Wineries offer exclusive food and fine wine pairings during this weekend with their new releases.  Below is a list of the wineries offering lunch for purchase, live music, special events, plus after hours activities.  For a comprehensive list of all the wineries and their wine and food parings, check the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail and the  Wine Yakima Valley Websites.

Wineries offering lunch for purchase:

  • Bonair Winery - Miz Dee and her wonderful Barbeque of fresh ribs and chicken. Blue Barn Farm of Zillah will be selling their fabulous goat cheese and amazing home-made soaps. Saturday, April 28.
  • Gamache Vintners - Garcia Mexican food available for purchase.
  • Horizon’s Edge Winery – Great food, BBQ wings, from noon-4pm.
  • Hyatt Vineyards - General Grants BBQ, Ron’s Kettle Korn.
  • Knight Hill Winery - Taco truck for food purchases with a Fiesta atmosphere.
  • Silver Lake Winery at Roza Hills – Lunch of pulled pork sandwiches served on patio with gorgeous view of vineyards Saturday.
  • Steppe Cellars - Picnic at Steppe April 28 & 29. Guerra’s Gourmet Chefs Chris Guerra and Geraldo Guerra will be cooking wood-fired pizzas. If you prefer a lighter snack, choose from our assortment of cheeses, meats and other little bites.
  • Tefft Cellars – Taco Luna’s taco truck will be on site serving a variety of authentic Mexican tacos and burritos!
  • Two Mountain Winery – Mariano’s tacos Saturday afternoon April 28.
  • Willow Crest  Winery - Famous BBQ on their patio for lunch.

Wineries featuring live music:

Special events

  • Eaton Hill – April 28-29 Toppenish Specialty Shop, The Amish Connection, will display their fine quality wares.
  • Grand Opening Naches Heights Winery - 2410 Naches Heights Road.  Intersection of Naches Heights Road and Schuler Road 1-888-NHV-Wine. Live Music Friday and Saturday.
  • Grand Opening AntoLin Cellars - 10 North 6th Ave Suite 108 Yakima WA 98902.
  • Jackson Farm Tasting Room – Track 29, Downtown Yakima Friday 4-8pm, Saturday 1:30-8pm. Chocolate After Hours. Taste 2 different chocolate desert wines and enjoy 3 different complementary chocolate truffles  + some other great wines.
  • Gamache Vintners – Cookie Lee Jewelry available for purchase.
  • Gilbert Cellars Cave - 10am-4pm; Sample wines in the cave wander among the vineyards bring your picnic lunch 2620 Draper Road, West Valley.
  • Tefft Cellars – Steve Roberts, author of Washington Wine Trails at our location on April 28th from 1-4 signing his books!
  • Taptiel Winery – Heirloom quality barrel furniture by Stan Gracie.
  • Treveri Cellars – 2nd facility open Spring Barrel Fri.Sat. Sun at the former Sagelands facility in Wapato! Take Exit 40, I-82 East.
  • Wilridge Winery and Vineyard – Celebrate Washington State’s newest American Viticultural Area. Winemaker Paul Beverage  and Vineyard manager Callie Bolton will discss the wines and explain why Naches Heights is the best place on earth to grow wine grapes.
  • Windy Point Vineyards - Rebecca Hillwig of Columbia Valley Artware, Portland Oregon, will exhibit and sell her original art and jewelry.
  • Wine Glass Cellars – Wood Artisan Marx Menzel display of Hand crafted bowls platters, toy trucks and more.

After Hours

  • Desert Wind Winery – Friday Night Supper Club. 6:30pm – Join us for our festive monthly supper served at large communal tables. Limited seating. $60 per guest includes pre-dinner reception and five-course dinner with wine pairings.
  • Gamache Vintners Spring Barrel Kickoff! - April 27 6-9pm. Acoustic Guitarist Berto Rosalas playing hits from the Beatles and John Mayer. Entry Fee $5/person. Food available for purchase. Wine specials throughout evening.
  • Gilbert Cellars Tasting Room Downtown - Live music, Gentleman Wild 7-10pm Friday night.
  • Kana Winery – After 5pm Live unplugged acoustic folk rock and blue guitar music.
  • Join Two Mountain Winery, Cultura Winery and Severino Cellars Winery – Friday, April 27th for an exciting after-hours experience as you enjoy a private, guided tour alongside their respective owners. Vineyard tour includes (weather permitting)/Three private tastings/Delicious culinary accompaniments at each winery/Riedel souvenir glass./All transportation to the events/Please contact, Nikki Samaniego Tel:  509-829-3800.
  • Steppe Cellars – Guided wine pairing, 6:30 pm Saturday, April 28. Limited number of tickets.  Check website for details.
  • Walter Clore Center – UnWined at the Clore Center.  Spend your evening relaxing  and watching the sunset on the lovely grounds of the Vineyard Pavilion. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs to enjoy the acoustic sounds of the Knutzen Brothers, while enjoying local Prosser wine and food. Wines will be available by the glass from Hogue Cellars, Mercer Estates, Pontin Del Roza, Snoqualmie and more to go along with yummy treats from Cowgirl Crepes, Chef Magana Catering and others. The entry fee is $10, and wine and food scrip will be available for purchase.
  • Zillah Spring Fling - Saturday night April 28. Main Event 6:30pm.  Wine tasting with wineries of Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail. Entertainment – live music “The Toys”, Hors d’Oeuvres. Tickets $40.

The Yakima Valley blog articles feature members of the Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau. If you would like to receive information regarding membership, Click here, or to request a membership application, please contact Michele Hopkins at (509) 575-3010.


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Check In & Win – Rattlesnake Hills and VIC Spring Barrel Contest

Wednesday, April 18th, 2012

If you plan on visiting the Rattlesnake Hills for Spring Barrel Weekend April 20-22 make sure you stop by the Visitor Information Center (VIC) located right off of I-82 Exit 33A and enter our Check In & Win Contest.VIC

Here’s how it works: When you arrive at the VIC “check-in”  on Facebook with a photo of you and your group and let us know what wineries you plan on visiting on the “Trail.” A Secret Taster will be out and about all weekend looking for the Facebook check-ins and giving away prizes. Check in at each winery you visit as well to increase your chances of being found!

Prize giveaways along the Trail will include: wine glasses, Passports (great gift idea!), cork pullers, wine gift bags and other fun stuff from participating wineries. Remember to visit our Facebook pages and Twitter to follow the latest news and information from the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail and the Yakima Valley Visitor Information Center!

Are you a Cougar or a Husky?

At the end of the weekend everyone who checked-in will be entered into a drawing for the grand prize giveaways either a WSU or UW gift set valued at $50.00. The set includes: A 12oz wine glass embellished with a pewter casting of the WSU or UW logo, a unique full color set of WSU or UW wine charms that magnetize to the side of any glass or stemware, a 15oz ceramic coffee mug decorated with full color WSU or UW Team graphics. Choose your team and enter to win!

For more information visit:
Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RattlesnakeHillsWineTrail Twitter: @wine_rhwt

Yakima Valley Visitor Information Center
Twitter: @yakimavalley

The Yakima Valley blog articles feature members of the Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau. If you would like to receive information regarding membership, Click here, or to request a membership application, please contact Michele Hopkins at (509) 575-3010.


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Yakima Valley Pet Friendly Wineries

Tuesday, April 17th, 2012

Traveling with your dog to the Yakima Valley Wineries?  Here is a quick guide to pet friendly wineries.  This information was excerpted from the new Yakima Valley Wine Doggies Website, which includes information on pet friendly accommodations, restaurants, as well as attractions and dog friendly events.

Agate Field Vineyard 2911 Roza Drive Zillah, WA 98953 Tel: 509-930-0806 – We are happy to have dogs on our premise but do not allow dogs in the winery. We would ask that your dog be on a leash and that you take full responsibility for your pet while visiting our establishment.

Airfield Estates Winery 560 Merlot Dr. Prosser, WA 99350 Tel: 509-786-7401 – Airfield Estates warmly welcomes friendly, well-behaved, well-socialized dogs on leashes. Dogs are allowed in the tasting room, the patio, and on the grounds. Before you bring your dog into the winery, we simply ask that you check with a staff member first as our winery dogs may be on premise.
AntoLin Cellars10 N. 6th Ave. Yakima, WA 98902 Tel. 509-833-5765 – We are dog friendly!

Apex Cellars 357 Port St., Prosser, WA 99350 Tel. 509-786-1800 – Dogs on a leash are welcome inside the facility with a welcoming water dish and dog treat. Owners are responsible for picking up after their pet.

Bonair Winery>500 South Bonair Road Zillah, WA 98953 Tel: 800-882-8939 or Tel: 509-829-6027 -  “We welcome people who travel with their beloved pets.  We have a big grassy area for your doggie to run around on.  He/she is welcome to picnic with you.  Our own Bung the Wonder Dog will greet you and make you feel welcome.  Due to our restaurant license, we cannot have pets in the tasting room, but there is plenty of room outside for your pet to relax and have fun.”

Claar Cellars 1001 Vintage Valley Parkway Zillah, WA 98953 Tel: 509-829-6810 – We would ask that your dog be on a leash and that you take full responsibility for your pet while visiting our establishment.

Cultura Wine 3601 Highland Drive Zillah, WA 98953 Tel: 509-829-0204 -   We are one of the stops for Cherrywood’s Canine & Wine Dog Walk done every spring.  We are the winery that is a “”pit stop”", where the dogs can rest, get hydrated, and have lunch (for their people) and have snacks and canine related demonstrations (i.e. police K9 dog, etc). When the tasting room is open for the season, we gladly accept dogs.  The only dog policy that we ask is that the dogs remain on leash while they are on the winery/tasting room property.

Eaton Hill Winery 530 Gurley Road Granger, WA 98932  Tel: 866-EATONHILL -509-854-2220  -  We would ask that your dog be on a leash and that you take full responsibility for your pet while visiting our establishment.

Gamache Vintners 505 Cabernet Ct. Prosser, WA 99350 Tel: 509-786-7800 – We are definitely dog friendly and welcome our little furry friends with treats!

Horizon’s Edge Winery 4530 E. Zillah Drive Zillah, WA 98953 Tel: 509-829-6401 Horizon’s Edge Winery is very dog friendly.

Hyatt Vineyards 2020 Gilbert Rd. Zillah, WA 98953 Tel: 509-829-6333 – We are dog friendly, for our picnic area, but not in tasting room.

Kana Winery10 South 2nd Street Yakima, WA 98901 Tel: 509-453-6611 – Please be mindful of other guests in our tasting room. We would ask that your dog be on a leash. Make sure your dog has taken care of business before entering our tasting room. We expect you to take full responsibility for your pet while in our establishment.

Knight Hill Winery 5330 Lombard Loop Rd. Zillah, WA 98953 Tel: 509-865-5654 – Our dog Dixie will greet you and your canine companion.

Maryhill Winery 9774 Highway 14 Goldendale, WA 98620 Tel: 877-MARYHILL – 509-773-1976 – Maryhill winery is a very dog friendly.  We allow all well-behaved dogs on a leash anywhere on site, including the tasting room.  We also provide free doggie poop bags and are having a “”Dog Days”" at Maryhill winery this year.

Pontin Del Roza Winery 35502 North Hinzerling Road Prosser, WA 99350 Tel: 509-786-4449 – All dogs are welcome! Just don’t leave behind any surprises…

Tefft Cellars Winery/Outlook Inn Guesthouse 1320 N. Outlook Rd. Outlook, WA 98938 Tel: 509-837-7651 -  We would ask that your dog be on a leash and that you take full responsibility for your pet while visiting our establishment.

The Tasting Room Yakima at Wilridge Vineyard 250 Ehler Rd. Yakima, WA 98908 Tel: 509-966-0686 – The Tasting Room Yakima is a dog-friendly establishment with a leash requirement.

Thurston-Wolfe Winery, LLC 588 Cabernet Ct. Prosser, WA 99350 Tel: 509-786-3313 – Pet needs to be on a leash.  If they potty on our patio they must clean it up.


Two Mountain Winery 2151 Cheyne Rd. Zillah, WA 98953  Tel: 509-829-3900 – Dogs are more than welcome. If they are outside, off-leash is fine. Let them run, poop in the orchard (not my yard please), lay in the grass, dig for gophers, roll in the grass, etc. If they are inside, they need to be acclimated to people, other dogs, and on leash. Please ask before entering the tasting room with your pup.

Yakima Valley Visitor Information Center 101 North Fair Ave.,  Yakima,  WA 98901 Tel: 509-573-3388 -  Pet friendly in the Visitor Center.  Water dish available for thirsty pets. Grassy area to walk dog and gravel area for other issues.

The Yakima Valley blog articles feature members of the Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau. If you would like to receive information regarding membership, Click here, or to request a membership application, please contact Michele Hopkins at (509) 575-3010.


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McAllister’s Museum of Aviation

Monday, April 9th, 2012

Charlie McAllister built his first airplane at age 15 from a 1918 Popular Mechanics article, his pilot’s license was signed by Orville Wright in 1927.  After taking flying lessons from the famous instructor and aerobatic pilot, Tex Rankin, he built the first licensed glider in Washington State, the Yakima Clipper.

Visit the McAllister’s Museum of Aviation and discover the kind of determination that leads a Yakima resident and his brother to start their own flying school. This historic flight school opened in 1926 and operated for 73 years, to become one of the oldest continuously operating flight school in the Pacific Northwest.

Charlie McAllister’s humble flight school was transformed into the McAllister Museum of Aviation after his death at age 95. Charlie was a fixture at his flight school, always ready to talk about flying, in continuation of this tradition, on Saturday mornings you will sometimes find local pilots hanging out here, ready to talk about planes, flying and known for taking would-be pilots for a ride.

Bring the kids and enjoy the electronic flight simulator, a computer running Microsoft’s Flight Simulator, which includes yoke, pedals and other controls. As of March 2012, there’s no charge for using it, but donations are appreciated.

There is a school program available, in which volunteers at the museum work with the Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA) Young Eagles program, giving young people 8 – 17 years of age the experience of basic ground instruction and a free airplane ride.

Check the events calendar for special presentations during the year.

McAllister Museum of Aviation
2008 S. 16th Ave.,Yakima, WA 98903

Hours of Operation:
Summer Thursday – Friday 10:00 – 4:00
Saturday 9:00 – 4:00
Winter Friday – Saturday 10:00 – 4:00

The Yakima Valley blog articles feature members of the Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau. If you would like to receive information regarding membership, Click here, or to request a membership application, please contact Michele Hopkins at (509) 575-3010.


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