Washington Wine Country Archives - Wine Country Getaways

Washington Reds

September 27, 2022 by Joe Becerra 1 Comment

Washington red wines — Joe and Janelle in the Yakima Valley

Washington Reds and Wine Country

I recently received a sample of the 2019 Trothe Cabernet Sauvignon from the Horse Heaven Hills AVA in the state of Washington. As soon as I tasted the wine, I instantly recalled the times we’d spent exploring the wine regions of Washington State. The Columbia Valley is the main wine appellation in Washington. It is composed of many sub-appellations, including the Yakima Valley, Red Mountain, and Horse Heaven Hills. The Columbia Valley is spectacular in its beauty and as a wine-growing region. It is all about red wines and, in particular, Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes yield wines that are deep and robust in flavors. The wines burst with energy and vibrance. If you are a wine country lover, a trip to this area is well worth your time.

We’ve visited Washington State twice in the last ten years, traveling from our home in Northern California. We love all the AVA’s of Washington. They make compelling wines. Not only do wine grapes thrive in Washington, but so does other delicious produce. Most popular are apples, cherries and hops for brewing beer. On both trips I have concluded that the Columbia Valley is on a par with both the Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley. Plus, it is much less crowded and tasting fees are reasonable. The vibe and “wine speak” are less hectic, and the atmosphere is much more laid-back.

The main city in Washington wine country is Walla Walla. The city has several good lodging choices, and the downtown area is flush with wine tasting rooms. The Spring, Summer, and Fall are the best times of the year to visit.

Washington State wine resources

More on the 2019 Trothe Cabernet Sauvignon

The 2019 Trothe Cabernet is a fully elegant wine with complex flavors that excite with every sip. The wine is full-bodied without being taxing. We paired the Trothe with braised beef ribs, and it was a perfect match. The wine has a velvety touch that meshes well with the reduction sauce on the ribs.

We have tasted many red wines from both Horse Heaven Hills and the Red Mountain wine regions. The Cabs are always deep and complex and a delight to drink. Many are expensive but worth the splurge for a special occasion. Once you taste them, you may never go back to Napa Cabs.

Wine, Food, and other Delights in Seattle

September 10, 2022 by Joe Becerra Leave a Comment

wine, food, in Seattle — The joy of Lake Union

Seattle and the Olympic National Park

If you like wine, food and nature, you will enjoy the activities of our dazzling six-day excursion in the Pacific Northwest.

Our Stay in Seattle

For our three-night stay in Seattle, we chose the Seattle Courtyard Marriott at Lake Union. The hotel is 20 minutes from the SeaTac Airport. Beautiful Lake Union is all about seafood, boating, and seaplanes. The paths near the lake are a paradise for walkers, runners, and cyclists. The views are spectacular. The Marriot Courtyard Union Lake is also walking distance to the Seattle Center, where the Space Needle is located. The Marriott is expensive by our standards, but the convenient location, along with their bar and restaurant, is a plus.

Within walking distance of our hotel were three excellent restaurants, Duke’s Seafood, the White Swan Public House, and Daniel’s Broiler. Daniel’s Broiler is mainly a steakhouse and very pricey. We liked Duke’s the best for its views and seafood menu. All three restaurants provide beautiful lakeside seating.

Seattle Attractions

We have been to Seattle in the past, so we did not join tourists at the Space Needle, Pike’s Fish Market, or Pioneer Square. We decided to explore other options for wine and food.

Woodinville for Wine

Washington State wines are outstanding, especially the reds. Wine country is to the east of Seattle. The majority of the vineyards are in the Columbia Valley AVA and its sub-AVA’s. Traveling to the Columbia Valley is a long trek, but only 25 minutes from Seattle is the amazing wine town of Woodinville. It is home to 150 wineries. This is an astonishing number, considering no vineyards are in Woodinville. All the grapes are shipped from the Columbia Valley during the harvest period.

Woodinville warehouse district — Woodinville Warehouse District

In the Warehouse District, wineries have tasting rooms and all the equipment to make wine. From tanks and barrels, to portable bottling lines, it is all done at the Warehouse. On the weekends, the Warehouse District becomes a madhouse. Visitors come from all over to enjoy the wines and party hard. I have to wonder how guests choose which wines to taste among 100 wineries!

Ballard Neighborhood

One of the most interesting areas of Seattle is the neighborhood of Ballard. The business area, Ballard Avenue, provides a variety of interesting shops. There are abundant places to drink beer or eat pizza. This street is a happening spot on Friday and Saturday nights. One Ballard Avenue shop peaked our interest, Steele Barber, an upscale men’s barbershop. It is where the cool men of Seattle come to be pampered and get the perfect haircut. I decided to give the place a try and was glad I did.

Steele barber Seattle — Groomed at Steele Barber in Ballard

Tutti Bella Pizza

We had a great dinner at a fantastic pizza joint in the Wallingford neighborhood. It Is Tutti Bella, serving Neopolitan-style pizzas and other delicious appetizers. The pizza dough is fresh and cooked perfectly. We found the Bruschetta appetizer one of the best we have tasted. It is delicious and almost a meal by itself. If you like pizza, don’t miss Tutti Bella.

Golden Beach Park

Need a beach outing? The Golden Beach Park sits on Puget Sound. The beach is perfect for relaxing in the sun, playing volleyball, and gazing at the Olympic Mountains across Puget Sound.

Along the Puget Sound - Golden Parks Beach — Along Puget Sound – Golden Beach Park

Chihuly Glass Museum

At the Seattle Center, not to be missed is the Chihuly Glass Museum. The galleries, the Glasshouse and the Garden showcase the gorgeous glass creations of artist Dale Chihuly. The vibrant colors and intricate designs are a site to behold.

For sale Chihuly glass — Similar items are for sale in the Gift Shop

Olympic National Park

We spent three days in Olympic National Park. We needed a couple of more days, because the park is vast and some of the main attractions are many miles apart. From Seattle, we headed to Olympia and then to Highway 101 via the city of Aberdeen. (Be aware that Highway 101 runs on the West, North and East sides of the Park). Highway 101 West took us to our first lodging spot, the Kalaloch Lodge.

Kalaloch Lodge

The Kalaloch Lodge sits on the bluffs of the Pacific Ocean. If you stay at the Kalaloch Lodge, ask for a room with a view of the beach and ocean. The lodge also has cabins, perfect for families and all with terrific views of the ocean. Guests can find grocery needs at the convenience store on site. The Creekside Restaurant at the Kalaloch Lodge is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The grilled King Salmon – delicious!

Hoh Rainforest

From the lodge we took a long ride to the Hoh Rainforest. Can you believe 120 inches of rain per year? This might be the most popular spot in the entire Olympic National Park. The Hall of Moss Trail is only .08 miles long and is a fantastic look at a rainforest. If you hike the nearby Hoh River trail, there are fewer people and amazing silence as you walk. You can walk a few miles or just 15 minutes out and back, whatever your preference is. It is quite an experience. Warning: The Hoh Rainforest is one of the most popular spots in Olympic National Park. We waited 45 minutes to get admitted into the parking area.

Hall of Mosses our Seattle Trip — Hall of Mosses Trail

Lake Quinaut Lodge

After a two-night stay at the Kalaloch Lodge, we headed back on Hwy. 101 to The lodge at Lake Quinault. The lodge is spectacular with a fantastic view of the lake and the Olympic Mountains. There are several short hikes and a few that are longer from spots around the lake. The restaurant at the lodge is packed during the tourist seasons, and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt visited the Lodge in 1937, and he was so inspired he created the Olympic National Park.

Lake Quinault Lodge on the lake — Lake Quinault Lodge

Before we left Seattle, we’d purchased a Styrofoam ice chest at Fred Meyer for $8. We stocked it with Washington wines and a few cheese wedges. There are various spots in Olympic National Park where you can find a table and enjoy a picnic lunch and a hike. Don’t forget to bring a wine opener!

We were surprised to find that the restaurants in the park do not feature more wines from Washington. Washington makes excellent wines every bit as good as, if not better than, Calilfornia wines.

Other excursions on Wine Country Getaways

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Walla Walla Wineries and Tasting Rooms

October 17, 2018 by Joe Becerra

Amavi Cellars in Walla Walla Valley AVA

Walla Walla Wineries and Tasting Rooms – Wine Country Bonanza

The town of Walla Walla is one of the great wine towns in the Western US. It rivals that of Calistoga, St. Helena, Healdsburg, Sonoma, Paso Robles, and Los Olivos. A stay in Walla Walla puts you within easy reach of a plethora of tasting rooms and boutique wineries. The pace is slow and easy in the land of Walla Walla.

Here is a novel idea. Main Street Drivers is a company that will drive you in your rental car or your own car for $35 an hour.

Revelry Cellars tasting room and wine cellars – lovely setting

Walla Walla Valley AVA

Walla Walla Valley AVA is in eastern Washington and extends to the top eastern corner of Oregon. Over 70 wineries and 2800 acres of vineyards are located in the Walla Walla Valley AVA. The wineries are mostly small and family owned. Many are recent and are taking a bold and innovative approach in producing spectacular wines. From the town of Walla Walla, many of the wineries are only a few minutes away by car. If you don’t have a car, walk the tasting rooms in town.

We visited several wineries in the Walla Walla Valley and our top five were:

Revelry Vintners – young winemaker Jared Burns crafts fine wines. Aerials label is a collection of site-specific wines. They are spectacular, as is the tasting room.
Solemn Cellars – another young winemaker, Justin Basil. The Syrah is one of the best in Washington.
Amavi Cellars – beautiful setting and reasonably-priced wines that are excellent.
Woodward Canyon Winery – starting date of 1981, delicious Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and red wines.
L’Ecole – tasting room is in a historic 1915 schoolhouse. One of Washington’s most award-winning wineries. Third generation.

L'ecole's historic schoolhouse tasting room

L’Ecole beautiful historic schoolhouse tasting room

Walla Walla Tasting Rooms

Seven Hills Tasting Room – Historic Whitehouse-Crawford Building

Step out of your hotel room in downtown Walla Walla, Washington, into a world of fabulous wine tasting. Within just a few city blocks, one can find 32 wine-tasting rooms. The Main Street area of downtown Walla Walla is a paradise for wine discoveries and delights. We say 32 plus because when any business storefront closes, a wine-tasting room moves in.

We spent a few days in the town of Walla Walla. We walked out of the Marcus Whitman Hotel to roam the streets, amazed at tasting rooms one after another. All the tasting rooms visited had a reasonable tasting room fee of between $5 and $10. They also offer wines by the glass. The setting is comfortable and laid back.

Don’t miss these three tasting rooms in the town of Walla Walla

Otis Kenyon – the legend of Otis Kenyon, wines by the glass, comfortable and relaxing
Armstrong Winery – another new breed winemaker, Tim Armstrong – fantastic wines and cozy tasting room. Try this wine: David’s Folly
Seven Hills Tasting Room – in the historic and beautiful Whitehouse-Crawford Building. A classic winery in Walla Walla

Lodging in Walla Walla

Marcus Whitman is a historic hotel and the most popular for business and conference meetings
Courtyard by Marriott
AirBnB’s are available and that might be the way to go for some

Dining in Walla Walla

There are a couple of decent places with pub food but for a classy meal try the Whitehouse-Crawford restaurant. We had an excellent dinner there. Whitehouse-Crawford has an extensive wine list which includes many Washington wines.

The Marcus Whitman also has an excellent restaurant: The Marc Restaurant

How to get to Walla Walla.

Walla Walla has a small airport with daily flights from Seattle and Portland. Fifty minutes west is the Tri-Cities Airport, a much larger airport with more choices. Alaska Airlines has the biggest presence.

There are drivers for hire, Uber, and renting a car. Many take the four-hour drive from Seattle and spend a few days in Walla Walla as well as the Tri-Cities area. We hired an Uber driver to get us back to the Tri-Cities Airport.

Did you miss our article on the Yakima Valley?

Winemaker Justin Basil with a barrel sample of Syrah from “The Rocks”

Yakima Valley Wine Country instead of the Napa Valley? We Say Yes!

October 10, 2018 by Joe Becerra

Are you and friends planning a trip to the Napa Valley? Be prepared to spend a small fortune and battle hoards of tourists. Your money might be better spent by taking a trip to the Northwest, to the Yakima Valley wine country in Washington State. Yakima is off the radar for most wine country travelers, but it has so much to offer to the wine enthusiast. We spent five days in Yakima, and we are now deeply enamored by this wine region. Napa Valley is historic, but the Yakima Valley also has some great wine adventures in store for visitors.

Joe and Janelle in the Yakima Valley – Elephant Hill Vineyard

Yakima Valley Wine country

A good look at one type of soil profile in Yakima Valley wine country. Vineyard belongs to Owen Roe

Yakima Valley Terroir

The wines in Yakima Valley wine country are extraordinary and match up with Napa Valley wines. It is not just Chardonnay, Cabernet, and Merlot in Yakima; its diverse soil and weather give it the ability to produce several varieties at quality levels.

Did you know that Yakima Valley is a desert? The Cascade Mountains to the west bring rain and snow to the coastal side, but only a mere 5 to 6 inches to the Yakima Valley. The dry climate means no mold or mildew, and very few insects. That is why sustainable farming is attainable in the Yakima Valley.

The soil varies from vineyard to vineyard with silt, loam, loess, and cobblestone. The diverse soils side-by-side are due to volcanoes and the ancient Missoula Flood waters. Our visit to Owen Roe’s vineyards displayed each of these soil types in separate plots of the vineyards.

Rivers run east to west providing south-facing hillsides. Red grapes love the sun and get plenty of it facing south. Also, because of the latitude, there are more daylight hours for the red grapes. The evenings cool down, and there you have the ideal climate for red grapes. The Yakima Valley is at the same latitude as Burgundy and Bordeaux.

Yakima Valley Wineries

In our most recent trip to Yakima Valley, we visited several wineries and sampled a large number of Yakima Valley wines and other Washington wines. The quality is there and, for the most part, not at the huge price tag of Napa Valley wines.

There are 60 wineries in the Yakima Valley and nearly 19,000 acres of vineyards. The wineries are small and family owned. The tasting room fees are low, usually between $5 and $10, and waived with a purchase of wine. It is not uncommon to find the winemaker and/or owner pouring in the tasting room.

The Yakima Valley extends 85 miles in length and is wide enough to fit the length of the entire Napa Valley within its width. Besides vineyards and wineries, the Yakima Valley is an agricultural bonanza. Napa Valley has only vineyards, and rightly so. Yakima is diverse, with vineyards and many other crops growing side-by-side. These crops include cherry trees, apple trees, hops, and pears.

Yakima vineyards in Yakima Valley wine country

Vineyards on the hillside; apple orchards are below along with other crops

Two red wines that I found extraordinary are the Merlot and Syrah varieties. I found these two wines to be much more exciting than any I have tasted in Napa, Sonoma, Paso Robles, or elsewhere in California. The layers of flavors and structure of the wines offer an exciting taste profile. The Merlots are soft, balanced, and particularly food friendly. The Syrah comes in a few styles, but I love the meaty Syrahs. By meaty, I mean smoky and bacony. One of my fellow tasters described the aroma of one Syrah wine perfectly, “It smells like tires burning rubber on a peel out.” It sounds awful, but no, it is quite enjoyable. You must taste to appreciate. White wines are also abundant, especially Chardonnay, but reds receive most of the attention. See the list of wines of Yakima Valley.

Merlot is excellent in Yakima Valley wine country

Yakima Valley Apples

Most of the vineyards are on hillsides. Down below on the valley floor are apple orchards and hop orchards. Ninety percent of the world’s organically-grown apples are from the Yakima Valley. The apple growers are continually tinkering with apples to make them more crisp, firm, juicy, and tasty. Just try a Honey Crisp or Ambrosia apple from Yakima!

There are also small, somewhat ugly looking apples that may not look appealing in the grocery store. It turns out; these apples are just perfect for hard cider folks. Yakima Valley is big on hard apple cider.

hard cider in Yakima valley wine country

These little apples make great cider

Hops and more hops

Hop orchards abound and grow up to 18 feet in height. Brewers flock to the farms just before harvest to sample the different hop varieties. They crush and smell the hops in their hands and choose their hops for purchase. In Seattle and Portland, countless small brewpubs benefit from Yakima Valley hops. Yakima Valley produces 75% of the nation’s hops. More on Hops.

Just one of many varieties of Hops in Yakima Valley wine country

How to get to the Yakima Valley

The easiest way to travel from California is by air. Tri-Cities Airport in Yakama is the best option for flying into the wine region. Some airports offer direct flights to Tri-Cities, but the usual way is to connect in Seattle or Portland. Many wine country tourists drive from Seattle or Portland. Another adventurous trip for Californians is to head up to Walla Walla via Highway 395 and then west to Tri-Cities. Homeward bound, head west to Portland and take Highway 5 to California.

There are many excellent places to stay in Richland. The Columbia River in Richland is very inviting. For touring, rent a car, hire a wine tasting service, or hire Uber.

The Yakima Valley wine scene is still in its infancy. Much more can be accomplished by growers and winemakers. The best is yet to come with Yakima Valley wines. Get to Yakima Valley and experience a different lifestyle of slow and relaxed. The word “snobbery” is unknown in the Yakima Valley wine country.

Wineries in the Columbia River Gorge

August 30, 2012 by Joe Becerra

Following the Wine Bloggers Conference in Portland, Oregon, we took one last look at the Northwest wine country with a trip to the Columbia Gorge wineries in Oregon and Washington. These wineries are about an hour to an hour and a half just east of Portland on Highway 84. What a terrific and scenic ride along the Columbia River! Without a doubt, this is one of the most different and varied wine countries we have visited in recent memory.

Jim Holmes: The Man Atop Red Mountain AVA

July 9, 2010 by Joe Becerra

When we were in college we used to drink Red Mountain wine, a very bad tasting but cheap gallon of wine you could buy at Walgreen’s for $1. It was bulk wine from the Central Valley in California made by Gallo and now a long discontinued label. Last week in the Yakima Valley we tasted several wines that had on the label the designation “Red Mountain.” We could not help but chuckle a bit as we thought about those long-ago Red Mountain college days in contrast to the wines we now tasted from the Red Mountain AVA vineyards of the Yakima Valley. These wines are lush and complex and some of the best wines we have ever tasted. The man most responsible for the development of the prized-Red Mountain AVA is Jim Holmes, who began growing grapes here in 1975. We were lucky enough to do a vineyard walk and listen to how he manages and grows the grapes of his Ciel du Cheval Vineyards.

Jim Holmes at his Ciel du Cheval Vineyards

Yakima Wine Country and DuBrul Vineyards

June 25, 2010 by Joe Becerra

We are attending the Pre-Conference session of the Wine Bloggers’ Conference. It is a tough and challenging day of tasting fabulous wine and gourmet fare. Here we are in the Yakima wine country at the DuBrul Vineyards, what many think are among the very best vineyards in the state of Washington. The vines are growing on hillside terrain that overlooks the Yakima Valley. The vineyard owners, Hugh and Kathy Shiels, planted these vines in 1992. The Shiels have the label, Cote Bonneville, and after careful selection of grapes for their label sell the rest of the vines by rows to several wineries. Fortunately for us, we were able to sample some of the Cote Bonneville wines at lunch, and they are amazingly delicious. We would never be able to afford these wines at $120 for a beautiful red blend and $50 for a delightful Chardonnay.

dubrul

We join a vineyard walk led by DuBrul’s vineyard manager Larry Dolan. As we walk, Larry points out that to our right is a Syrah row of vines and to our left is a row of Riesling vines. It is somewhat remarkable that six varietals of grapes grow here and equally produce beautiful wines all within the same climate and soil conditions. As we walk across the rows, we can see down below that a crew of women is working to thin the vines. We move closer as Larry explains that some of the women have been at DuBrul for 15 years. They are well trained and need no directions from Larry. They work quickly in 90-degree heat and with precision cut the shoots that don’t belong to these prized grape vines. We hope these women are paid well; what they do is nothing short of extraordinary.

Now it is off by bus to taste more Yakima wines at the Vintner’s Village in the town of Prosser. Prosser is a unique concept. About 12 wineries have set up shop here within a small area. Visitors can walk to each winery to taste wines and watch wine production in action. At the Milbrandt winery, all the vintners from the Vintner’s Village and other nearby wineries poured samples of their wines. We were particularly impressed by the overall quality of these wines. Our favorites were the Bordeaux blends which most of the wineries seem to produce. The wines are complex and most often smooth wines. In short, the Bordeaux blends of the Yakima Valley are outstanding wines. The day’s events have provided us with an excellent way to experience these wines.

Wine Adventures in Washington

June 24, 2010 by Joe Becerra

We are in the state of Washington until Monday for the 3rd annual Wine Bloggers’ Conference. We have tasted Washington wines before but never to the extent that we will be tasting over the next few days. Over 50 wineries are set to pour and entertain 300 wine bloggers. I’m anxious to find out about Washington wines and the geology and climate of the region. I want to learn all about the Yakima Valley and where that is in relationship to the Columbia Valley. And what about the Walla Walla wine region? What makes the Red Mountain such a highly-prized AVA? What issues do these winemakers have compared to elsewhere? It is dry and hot for sure. On Wednesday, a pre-pre-conference day for us, we visited three wineries in the Tri-Cities area near the Pasco airport. The first two wineries we visited had the Alsace Varietals of Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Gris. I asked our host where these grapes were grown in relation to the red varietals. “Oh,”she said, “in the same area.” I doubt if that is the case but we plan to find out over the next few days. One thing I do know right off is that the days are much longer here than in California and thus affect the growing season. This morning I was awakened shortly after 5 am with a warm sun piercing through my window. Last evening we had a beautiful sunset overlooking the Columbia River at about 8:45. That is a lot more sunshine than we get in California.

On Wednesday we started our Washington wine journey by visiting three wineries in Richland. They are all in the same area, and all three are within walking distance from each other. There are just a few vineyards in this area, and these three wineries get all their grapes from outside the area. Tagaris Winery is our first stop because they also have a restaurant and we are ready for lunch. With our lunch, we enjoy a glass of the Tagaris Gewurztraminer. The wine was very pleasant but lacked that Lychee nut characteristic that we like so much in this varietal. If you are in the area, we highly recommend Tagaris for lunch or dinner. The patio and inside area are very beautiful. At Tagaris we tasted six wines for $7.00. According to our host, almost all wineries in Washington have a tasting fee. Most return the fee with a purchase of wine.

Next door, we visited the Bernard Griffin Winery. Things picked up here. The staff was very warm and friendly, and the majority of wines were very good to excellent. We thought the Grenache, Petite Verdot, and the Malbec were all very good wines. It is amazing to us that being treated well in a tasting room can make the wines and the experience so much more enjoyable.

Bernard Griffin Tasting Room

Our last stop was the Bookwalter Winery. Here they have two levels of tasting, and we chose the $5 tasting for their three top wines, all Bordeaux blends. Yes, these wines were excellent, smooth, velvety and complex. Perhaps a little too robust but very exciting wines. The price for each of these wines is $50. At Bookwalter, as was the case with Tagaris, our host was wine knowledgeable but lacked that inner quality to make us feel welcome and comfortable.

Bookwalter Tasting Room

Today is the pre-conference day for the Wine Bloggers’ Conference and about 50 of us will be bussed out to the Yakima Valley for a visit to wineries and a vineyard walk and lunch. We can’t wait to be entertained!