Sip into Spring

By Robin Beckett

Photos by Sara Gettys

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Roll out the barrels, Yakima…it’s time for some wine-tasting fun.

Around here, we don’t often need a good excuse to taste good wine. There are plenty of those: our proximity to some of the finest wines in the region if not the nation; the friendliness of local tasting-room staffs; the fact that it’s Friday.

But if you need a better excuse, Spring Barrel Tasting is mere weeks away. Come April 23-25, Valley wineries will offer samples of their newest vintages — sometimes straight from the barrel.

According to Mike Wallace, the first Spring Barrel Tasting was held in 1977 at Hinzerling Winery. “We didn’t have any wine to sell yet,” he said. “But thought we could at least gain some interest for future sales by doing an educational event sampling unfinished wines from the barrel.”

Other wineries joined Hinzerling in the next year or two, until the event gained momentum — and the attention of tourists.

Today, tourism is an important part of Yakima County’s economy. John Cooper, CEO of Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau, said that tourists to Yakima County spent a total of $345 million in 2008.

Sometimes we locals avoid the big wine weekends, but this Spring Barrel Tasting, let’s join in on the fun, Yakima. There are too many wineries to list here, but following are a few of our favorite places to stop:

Kana Winery

No need to drive too far to get to that first sip. Stop by the Larson Building and Kana Winery in downtown Yakima, where their “Dark Star” is a local favorite. If you haven’t been inside the Larson Building in a while, peek into the lobby: it’s an art-deco gem.

Piety Flats

Like stepping back in time, Piety Flats Winery and Mercantile welcomes you to another world, right off the highway. Located in Donald, Piety Flats is not only a tasting room, but a little general store, where tasters can pick up their favorite bottle along with all sorts of specialty food items, such as soup mixes, pepper jelly and mustards. Our favorite: the honey truffle mustard. Pack a picnic to eat while wine tasting and put a little on your sandwich.

Masset

Not very far away is Wapato’s Masset Winery, housed in a gorgeous old barn and boasting one of the prettiest tasting rooms around. Check out the enormous gold-framed chalkboard for a list of vintages and taste while admiring the view … from the inside.

Tefft Cellars

Tefft Cellars in Outlook is a great place to stop for terrific wine at a great value. Try the Villa Rocca and Villa Toscana, two tasty blends that work with nearly anything you can put on the dining room table — or the picnic basket.

Portteus

Portteus Winery, in Zillah, is at the end of a circuitous road as gnarled as the beautiful vineyards it runs through. Its unassuming tasting room, however, houses some spectacular wines. Try anything — you’ll likely walk out with some to take home.

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t stop there … get a map from one of the Web sites below and chart your own course this spring:

 

Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail

rattlesnakehills.com

888-375-RHWT

“Pre-Barrel” Tasting: April 16-18

Spring Barrel Tasting: April 23-25

Contact Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail for information on its passport program.

 

Wine Yakima Valley

wineyakimavalley.org

509-965-5201

Spring Barrel Tasting: April 23-25

Contact Wine Yakima Valley for information on its Premiere pass.