Plan a Spring Barrel Weekend Getaway April 24 to 26

Yakima Valley vineyards are waking up from winter, orchards are about to burst into bloom and wildflowers are already popping up along the trails. That means it’s time for a trip to sip, savor and celebrate with Yakima Valley wineries. Each spring, they open doors for a weekend packed with festivities, food, fun and, of course, great wine!

Spring Barrel Fun & Festivities

Plan a Yakima Valley tasting tour the last weekend in April to discover your next favorite wines. Sample tastes of maturing wines pulled straight from the barrel, sip brand new spring wine releases, savor perfect pairings and enjoy hands-on wine experiences, vineyard and winery tours, bites from locals’ favorite food trucks, artisan vendors, live music and more.

Hyatt Vineyards has a weekend lineup filled with sips, sounds, easts and deals. Join them for live music, sweet and savory food vendors, spring specials and a sneak peek of the Winemakers Lab series. Enjoy a special tasting journey, from the barrel and across three vintages at Bosma Estate Winery. Whitman Hill Winery is pairing barrel tastings with a show featuring local artists from Yakima Valley Art Association and delicious bites. Stroll through the vineyard at Tucannon Cellars and savor a very special Carmenère tasting experience. Enjoy a guided tasting experience with perfectly paired with thoughtlfully curated bites at VanArnam Vineyards. Sip brand-new bubbles releases at Treveri Cellars. Make the most of the weekend by booking your spot for their delicious, bubbly brunch or call to book a peek behind the scenes during a cellar tour to learn all about sparkling wine making.

That’s just the beginning of the Spring Barrel fun and festivities! Check the entire Spring Barrel Weekend lineup for all the winery events and experiences.

Leave time for the Naches Spring Street Fair & Fling, complete with street dancing and a colorful mix of local vendors. If you’d like to start the Spring Barrel fun early, join Dineen Vineyards for their VIP Barrel Experience, Saturday, April 18. Learn directly from the winemakers as they guide you through the wine’s journey (“elevage”) and share everything they know about barrels, from where they’re sourced, how different toast levels affect wine flavors, and everything else they consider when crafting their award-winning wines. Spots are limited and reservations are required.

Take a Tasting Tour

So, what’s the best way to take in those springtime vineyard views on your wine tasting trip? Whether you come for Spring Barrel Weekend or for winery events throughout the season, book a ride on The Little Hopper. They’re well-known and loved as Yakima Valley’s craft beer bus, but they also offer exceptional winery and vineyard tours. With the same comfortable ride and knowledgeable, entertaining guides who know the inside scoop, you can sit back and enjoy. Book your spot on one of their curated weekend wine tours or schedule private tours for your group with the itinerary of your choice. Washington Wine Experience offers tailored wine tasting journeys to hand-picked tasting rooms for groups of six to 14.

Or, opt for an e-bike wine tasting tour. Cycle Yakima will work with you to choose the perfect route for your scenic rides that blend outdoor adventure with wine for a unique experience. One of the most popular routes takes you though the unique shrub-steppe landscape of the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy with stops at Naches Heights wineries. They’ll even transport your wine purchases for you!  The folks at Kickstand Tours are ready to take you on an expertly led ride through wine country with at least three Zillah/Rattlesnake Hills, Prosser or Red Mountain winery stops. If you don’t find a pre-scheduled tour that fits, they’re happy to plan private tours for your group.

Categorized in: Food and Dining, Wine Country