Posts Tagged ‘Washington wine country’

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

Wednesday, April 17th, 2013

Spring Barrel 2013, April 26-28, in the Yakima Valley.  Come, taste new releases from the barrel and enjoy an educational experience with winemakers, plus discounts on wine.  Spring Barrel is all about the wine and most wineries offer a bit of food paired with the new wines, if you would like a meal, the wineries listed below will have food available for purchase. You will need to bring your own wineglass or purchase one at a winery or the Yakima Valley Visitor Information Center.  Sit and listen to live music while you enjoy your lunch. The list below includes the wineries offering live music during Spring Barrel weekend. For a comprehensive list of all the wines offered by the wineries and their wine and food pairings, check the Wineries of Yakima (WAY), Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail, Wine Yakima Valley, Visit Yakima Valley websites. 

Spring Barrel Tasting Wine And Dine: New this year for Wine Yakima Valley Premier Pass holders:  Local restaurants will feature a Wine & Dine special in celebration of Spring Barrel Tasting weekend.  Beginning April 24 – April 28, participating restaurants will offer a food and wine combination featuring local Yakima Valley wine. Premier Pass holders can bring their Pass to any of the participating restaurants for validation and receive a limited edition 30th anniversary logo glass with each meal purchased.

Winery Association of Yakima (WAY)/Downtown Yakima

  • AntoLin Cellars: In the Production Facility at 10 North 6th Ave: Live music by “Rondi Marsh and the Jazz Crush Combo”, Friday April 26th from 6:30pm-8:30pm. Barrel tasting at 6th Ave location only.
  • Antolin Cellars/Lookout Point Tasting Room: 16 North 2nd St. Delicious small plates for purchase to pair with excellent wines.
  • Kana Winery: Outside BBQ Fri-Sat, serving Hog Wild BBQ from 1PM – 3PM. Acoustic music Fri-Sat 5PM-7PM.
  • Gilbert Cellars Tasting Room: 5 N Front Street in Historic Downtown Yakima.  Live music from Navid Eliot, 7-10p. No cover.
  • At the Cave: 2620 Draper Road in West Valley, Concert Saturday 1pm-4pm. Chad Bault, Navid Eliot, and Jennifer Borst of Not Amy.  Wine by the glass and light snacks will be available for purchase.
  • Naches Heights Vineyard: Friday, musician Adrienne Bosquet 7-9pm. Saturday, Jim Henson “The Muppet Man” 12-3pm, and Stimulus Package 4-7pm. BBQ food specials.
  • Treveri Sparkling Wines: Live music on Saturday. Friday reservation only Fondue Night Happy Hour 4.26.  Reservations 509-877-0925.  Saturday and Sunday, Derick from “Our Kitchen” catering  provides Asian Slaw Taco’s and several other homemade food items on premises.
  • Wilridge Vineyard: Live music Saturday by, These Guitars Say Sorry 1:00 to 4:00pm.

Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail/Zillah Wineries. 

  • Agate Field Vineyard: Enjoy live music Sat & Sun afternoon with Alexius Harris.  Salsa Dogs for purchase.
  • Bonair Winery: Slava will be serenading Saturday with  Russian love songs and ballads. Miz Dee and her mouth-watering southern ribs, chicken and jambalaya will be serving up food on Saturday and Sunday.
  • Cultura Winery: Guerra’s Gourmet Saturday, April 27th, serving up their wine valley gourmet hot dog lunches on the patio on both Saturday 10 am-5 pm.
  • Horizon’s Edge: Come out and listen to some awesome music by our live band on Saturday April 27th from 12:30 – 4:00PM.
  • Hyatt Vineyard: Food and music on Saturday and Sunday - Rondi Marsh & Band.  Lutong Pinoy Bar BQ for purchase.
  • Knight Hill Winery: Live music by Hot BBQ Saturday at 1pm. Gourmet Hotdogs available for purchase on Saturday.
  • Silver Lake Winery: Live music both Saturday and Sunday along with local vendors for all your needs. Saturday- “The Village Musicians.” Sunday- Landon, from “The Village Musicians”.
  • Steppe Cellars: Wood-fired pizza on Saturday, April 27 – Snack plates available every day.  Enjoy a picnic, award winning wine and some great views of the valley.
  • Two Mountain Winery: Saturday, the 27th,  Tacos Urapan serving tacos for $1 a piece.
  • Wineglass Cellars: Hand-crafted wood items will be on display by artisan Marx Menzel.

Yakima Valley Community College/Grandview WA

  • Yakima Valley Vintners:  Student winemakers will be providing complimentary facility tours with educational stations featuring the difference decanting makes, food and wine pairings and a Carmenere barrel tasting.

Vintners Village/Prosser Food & Wine Park/Prosser, WA

  • Airfield Estates: Live performance by local musician Adrienne Bousquet. Treat yourself to a delicious lunch from Hogg Heaven BBQ.
  • Gamache Vintners: On Saturday- Ladies can shop for jewelry with Cookie Lee while the men check out what “Educated Cigar” has to offer!  Lunch on patio with Garcia’s famous Tex-Mex!
  • Desert Wind Winery: MOJAVE at Desert Wind will be open for lunch and dinner service Friday and Saturday, plus brunch and lunch service on Sunday. Friday evening at 6pm, will also offer popular Friday Night Supper Club, featuring a three-course dinner with wine pairing by Pontin del Roza.
  • Walter Clore Center UnWined – Tickets $15. Saturday April 27, 6-9pm, Live music by Ruben and Robbie on the Rocks. Enjoy selection of wine from: Hogue Cellars, Legends of Washington Wine exclusive red blends, Mercer Estate and Pontin Del Roza. Catering by Alexandria Nicole Cellars Executive Chef Frank Magana.
Red Mountain/Benton City
  • Sleeping Dog Wines: “Formally” releasing 2010 Montepulciano, to the best of our knowledge the only current bottling of this Italian varietal in Washington State – and pretty dog-gone tasty!  Samples of a Sleeping Dog Wines Merlot-infused dark chocolate.
  • Tapteil Vineyard Winery: Enjoy sampling gourmet, imported olive oils, balsamic vinegars and salts. Drink in the panoramic view of the Yakima Valley and Red Mountain AVA from our patio terrace.

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 Michelle Hopkins at (509) 575-3010.

Bookmark and Share

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in travel yakima, Uncategorized, Washington Wine Country, Wineries, wines, Yakima Tourism, Yakima Valley Events | No Comments »

Wine Tasting During Harvest

Tuesday, September 4th, 2012

The season has turned. Nights are cooler and as the sun rises, there’s a mist on the valley floor.  Gold and red trees dot the distant hills.  It’s harvest time in wine country.   If you plan right, fall is a great time to visit and immerse yourself in the wine making process.

Here are some tips to help you enjoy Washington Wine Country during the harvest:

  • Plan ahead: In wine country many visitors come during the harvest and crush. That requires extensive advance planning for lodging, dining and activities.  Here in the Yakima Valley the weekend traffic is manageable and there are great activities like the Prosser Balloon Rally, the Wine Yakima Valley Catch the Crush event in October or the Thanksgiving in Wine Country event the weekend after Thanksgiving.
  • Check the website of the local tourist office: They’re a wealth of information, especially about harvest and wine events.  Also, regional and state wine associations are a good source to help you plan. In the Yakima Valley check the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail or Wine Yakima Valley for updates and information.
  • Learn before you go: Visit websites and videos about the regions and wine making process. Brush up on the art of tasting and basic wine terms. And if you use Twitter, try hashtags to follow the online conversations, like #WAwine.
  • Wine regions are agricultural regions: With a few exceptions, most vineyards and wineries are located on rural back roads. That’s part of their charm. During harvest though expect more traffic, especially farm equipment. In the Yakima Valley the wine grape harvest coincides with other fruit harvests. Be patient and obey the rules of the road.
  • Designate a driver: Basic rule for any season. Be sure to reward them for the duty though, like buying the lunch or a bottle for later on!
  • Pace Yourself: Plan on visiting up to five wineries a day. Your palette will go numb if you try to tackle too many wineries. Plus, during harvest you may want to linger to watch what’s happening.
  • Expect a different mood: It’s very different at wineries in the fall. There’s a tension and excitement as the winemakers and staff work to bring in the grapes. The hours are long and all hands are on deck. Ask questions about what’s going on, but be respectful if they have limited time to chat.
  • Prepare for the weather: And remember the wine! It may be cooler, but on sunny mild days the temperature inside a trunk or car can climb to a level not good for wine. Bring a cooler or two.
  • Get involved: Many wineries have programs where you can actually work the harvest. You wear your grubbies, get an assignment and work the fields harvesting or other tasks. It’s a great way to gain a greater appreciation of the hard work that goes into making wine plus learn directly from the winemakers.
  • Learn about dog friendly wineries: A great resource in Washington Wine Country is winedoggies.com
  • Fly to Washington Wine Country: Your Vacation to Washington Wine Country Just Got Easier – with the Taste and Tote Program. Check your first case of wine free from Yakima, Tri-Cities/Pasco or Walla Walla on Alaska Airlines. Enjoy waived rental car drop fees from Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Show your Alaska Airlines boarding pass for waived tasting fees at participating wineries.  Extra Benefits for booking your Taste and Tote Flight between September 1-15! Airlines to Yakima, Pasco/Tri-cities, or Walla Walla and save 10%! It’s easy; just enter EC2451 at alaskaair.com in the discount code box. The discount will be applied automatically. Travel September 1, 2012 – November 15, 2012, book by September 15, 2012. Not valid for travel from Mexico, Hawaii, or Prudhoe Bay. Additional terms, conditions, and restrictions apply.

With the right planning and attitude, a visit to a wine region during the harvest and crush is an exceptional way to learn about fine wines. Enjoy!


Bookmark and Share

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Uncategorized, Washington Wine Country, Wineries, wines, Yakima Valley Events | No Comments »

Friday, August 17th, 2012

Yakima, WA- (August 17, 2012) – The Yakima Valley Visitors & Convention Bureau,  Tourism Walla Walla and Tri-Cities Visitor & Convention Bureau announce the launch of a new collaborative effort with Alaska Airlines and Enterprise Rent-A-Car to promote Washington Wine Country. Launching September 2012, Washington Wine Country Taste and Tote will make it easier and more affordable to taste and travel the Yakima Valley, Tri-Cities and Walla Walla Valley wine regions.

As part of this new partnership, Alaska Airlines will expand its existing wine check-in program “Taste and Tote” to the Yakima and Pasco/Tri-Cities airports.  Originating in the Walla Walla Valley in late 2011, this program allows outbound passengers to check their first case of wine free on their return flight. In addition, Enterprise Rent-A-Car will waive car drop-off fees for visitors flying on Alaska Airlines into Yakima, Pasco or Walla Walla regional airports who wish to fly out of one of the other two airports.

“The ‘Taste and Tote’ program has been a big success in Walla Walla and we feel our expansion to the Pasco and Yakima airports shows our dedication to being Washington Wine Country’s airline of choice,” said Clint Ostler, Alaska Airlines’ manager of retail advertising and sponsorships. “Washington State’s tourism and wine industries are so closely connected and we are committed to making it easier for travelers to visit our award-winning vineyards.”

Other features of the new program will allow travelers to sample wines at participating wineries and pay no tasting fees when they show a current Alaska Airlines boarding pass from one of the three airports.

“This is a great partnership for everyone involved, especially our visitors,” said John Cooper of the Yakima Valley Visitors & Convention Bureau. “This program gives travelers the opportunity to spend an extended vacation in Washington Wine Country and not pay extra during their stay, either in car rental, airline baggage or wine tasting fees.”

The majority of visitors to Yakima Valley, Tri-Cities region and Walla Walla Valley wineries come from the Seattle and Portland metropolitan areas. Organizers hope that with these added incentives, visitors from these destinations and others served by Alaska Airlines will utilize air service for their trip to Washington Wine Country. Additional details on the Taste and Tote promotion are available at www.tasteandtote.com.

About Washington Wine Country

Founded in 2003, Washington Wine Country is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting wine-related tourism by fostering collaborative regional partnerships throughout the wine growing region of Eastern Washington, where 98 percent of Washington State’s wine grapes are grown. For more information, visit www.winecountrywashington.org.

About Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK), together serve more than 90 cities through an expansive network in Alaska, the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico. Alaska Airlines flies nonstop from Seattle to Walla Walla Regional Airport twice daily ; to Yakima Air Terminal three times daily ; and to the Pasco/Tri-Cities Airport five times daily. Starting Aug. 27, the carrier will begin new daily service between Pasco/Tri-Cities and Portland, Ore..  Connections can be made beyond Alaska’s Seattle and Portland hubs to destinations in Alaska, the lower 48, Mexico and Canada. To purchase tickets, visit www.alaskaair.com or by calling 1-800-ALASKAAIR.

About Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Enterprise Holdings, through its regional subsidiaries, operates more than one million cars and trucks, the largest fleet of passenger vehicles in the world today. Enterprise Holdings is North America’s largest and most comprehensive service provider in the car rental industry, operating the Alamo Rent A Car, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and National Car Rental brands.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Washington Wine Country, Wineries, wines | No Comments »