Explore Behind the Scenes at the Source
What better place is there for wine and craft beer lovers than right at the source of it all? Surrounded by rolling vineyards, the Yakima Valley is where Washington wine was born. Known for producing more premium wine grapes than anywhere else in the state, the Yakima Valley became the state’s first recognized AVA more than 40 years ago. As one of the largest hop producing regions in the world, the Valley is also where you find fields of hops climbing and twining to become your next favorite craft beer.
It’s where great grapes and the best hops fuel innovation and excellence you can experience in the tasting room and at the tap. So, what’s the best way to take in those hop and vineyard views on your wine tasting and craft beer trail trip? Enjoy a tour and let someone else take the wheel!
Touring Among the Vines and Bines
Local experts have crafted can’t-miss tours to take you right into the vineyards and hop fields to learn, experience and taste.
The Little Hopper and Rooted Yakima Valley have come together to curate a one-of-a-kind Hop Farm & Sensory Tour. Visit family hop farms where you’ll learn about growing the world’s best hops. For instance, did you know hops don’t grow on vines? Hops grow on plants called bines, which require a support system (such as trellis and twine) to climb. Your guides will take you on a sensory journey like professional brewers experience and wrap up at one of the valley’s best breweries with a production tour and, of course, craft beers! Book your spot on a very limited number of tours from now to mid-September.
The Little Hopper has partnered with Dineen Vineyards for another brand-new, immersive experience. Sign up for their unique vineyard-to-winery sensory and tasting tour, the VIP Vineyard & Wine Cellar Experience. Take an informative vineyard walk and then go on a sensory journey to see, touch, smell and taste. Enjoy 5 Dineen Vineyards wines during the tour, followed by a glass and charcuterie on the winery patio or lawn.
For another a truly memorable wine experience, take a Between the Vines Estate Vineyard Tour at Whitman Hill Winery in in Zillah’s Rattlesnake Hills AVA. Perfect for experienced wine lovers as well as those just beginning to explore, tours for groups up to five guests begin with a welcome wine pour before you hop on their UTV for an up-close tour through the estate vineyards. Learn how the grapes are grown at different stages throughout the season, as well as their sustainable vineyard practices and winemaking philosophies and their commitment to crafting terroir-driven wines. Your tour concludes with a guided VIP tasting experience back at the winery. Be sure to make an appointment for tours available Wednesday through Sunday.
Schedule a VIP Experience with Dineen Vineyards. The VIP experience evolves and changes through the seasons just as the vineyards do. Your tour provides an intimate, immersive look at the winegrowing and winemaking processes. Each tour experience is unique and personalized, so call to make arrangements for yours. Dineen also hosts exceptional special events throughout the year, so check their social channels and calendar often!
Reserve your Vineyard Tour and Tasting at Naches Heights Vineyard and wander among the vines at the first vineyard planted in the Naches Heights AVA with founder, grower and winemaker, Phil Cline. Learn about the characteristics of the wine grapes and the AVA’s history and unique geology while enjoying a carefully selected pour. Vineyard tours are followed by an exclusive tasting.
Learn about zero-pesticide vineyard management on a vineyard tour with Paradisos Del Sol Winery’s owner, winemaker and grower, Paul Vandenberg. Back at the winery, enjoy a tasting with paired bites.
Unique Tasting Tours
The folks at Kickstand Tours are ready to take you on an expertly led e-bike wine tasting tour. Their comfortable bikes make for an easy ride through beautiful wine country with at least three Zillah/Rattlesnake Hills, Prosser or Red Mountain winery stops. Each trip takes about five hours and includes a lunch stop (lunch not included in cost) and a support vehicle to follow along and collect your purchases along the way. If you don’t find a pre-scheduled tour that meets your needs, they’re happy to plan private tours for your group. You can rent a tank bag or basket to carry your wine purchases or wear a pack.
We all know and love the Little Hopper as Yakima Valley’s craft beer bus, but they recently launched their brand new Grapevine Wine Tours. With the same comfortable ride and knowledgeable, entertaining guides ready to share the inside scoop, you can sit back and enjoy. Enjoy a specially curated tour of two to three upper Yakima Valley wineries on Fridays or three or four wineries in Yakima Valley wine regions on Thursday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday. You can also schedule tours with the itinerary of your choice as well as special event transportation. Coming soon, take a Grapevine vineyard tour!
A new addition to wine tasting tours, Washington Wine Experience offers three different packages for groups of six to 14 wine lovers. Your party can either join a scheduled tour or you can reserve the van for a private group with a minimum of 10 guests. Tasting fees are included in your tour, along with premium still and sparkling water and snacks in the van. Lunch is included with Elevated and Premium tours. Food pairings are included at the Elevated level as well.
Elite Tours – For group beer and wine tasting tours, Elite Tours offers the amenities of home, including “facilities,” a wet bar, refrigerator, kitchenette and five couches so you can stretch out and enjoy your tour.
Tour at Your Own Pace
Wilridge Vineyards, Winery & Distillery is nestled in the Naches Heights AVA above the Cowiche Canyon and was the state’s first certified organic and biodynamic vineyard and winery. Enjoy a leisurely tasting on the porch of their 1900s farmhouse and pick up a copy of the Wilridge Vineyard Map. Use it as your guide to create your own adventure. Wander through their surrounding vineyard paths and explore the cliff trails with stops at scenic view points along the Cowiche Canyon.
Make your reservation with Boost Bikes, Yakima’s only e-bike rental service for your ride through the valley’s winding wine and hop country roads. With several models to choose from, you’ll find your perfect ride regardless of ability or experience. They offer delivery and pick-up for your tour and you can ride up to 75 miles on a single charge. They can curate your tour experience or you can choose your own winery stops.
Pack a perfect picnic from Graze Craze. Order a personal charcuterie box or hand-crafted boxes and platter to share on our tasting tour. Your snack or feast can be delivered or you can pick it up.
Plan Your Trip
Check out more to see, do and taste in Yakima Valley Wine Country and Hop Country.
Categorized in: Hops and Beer, Wine Country
