The Yakima Valley is where the Pacific Northwest goes wine tasting!
In addition to signature events, such as the upcoming Red Wine & Chocolate Event in Mid-February, and Spring Barrel Weekends in April, you’ll find winery events throughout the Valley Year-round!
From outdoor summer concerts, year-round First Friday live music, winemaker dinners, art showings, vineyard hikes and horse rides, educational opportunities and of course, the wine, there’s always something to make wine tasting in the Yakima Valley something special.
Here are 10 reasons to visit Washington’s Wine Country in the Yakima Valley.
- Come to the source! The Yakima Valley grows 50% of the state’s wine grape!
This means…
- You can savor the wine with amazing views overlooking acres of vineyards, across the valley to the mountains beyond. Take in the views at Owen Roe, Treveri Cellars, Freehand Cellars (opening soon), Knight Hill Winery, VanArnam Vineyards, Silver Lake Winery, Hyatt Vineyards, Dineen Vineyards, Hedges Family Estate, Col Solare, Tapteil Winery and more.
- Many Estate wineries are located next to their vineyards, such as Owen Roe, Wilridge Winery, Vineyard & Distillery, Bonair Winery, Portteus Winery, Two Mountain Vineyards, Dineen Vineyards, Hedges Family Estate, Col Solare and Purple Star Winery.
You can bring the whole family (and fur babies)!
- Find family-friendly excursions! They Valley is home to many family-friendly wineries with outside spaces for kids to roam, live music, and hiking nearby. Check out Wilridge Winery (live music events, hiking, rock-climbing, large lawn for picnics), Two Mountain Winery (large lawn area, live music events summer), Silver Lake Winery (large lawn and deck, live music events), Dineen Vineyards for pizza on weekends, VanArnam Vineyards (nice patio and large grassy area), Bonair Winery (outside area and duck pond), and Treveri Cellars (huge grassy area perfect for throwing the ball or Frisbee, as well as great snacks on the menu), to name just a few favorites! Spend time with the family on a local farm. Visit a U-pick Farm for a fun kid’s adventure or plan your wine tasting trip during a special farm festival Celebrate cherry, apple, peach and fall harvests on your way to your favorite vineyard. Take advantage of this opportunity to bring back cases of farm fresh fruit in season and cases of wine.
Check our guide to pet-friendly wineries to see which welcome your fur babies as well! Many allow dogs on leash in their public outdoor spaces (but not in the vineyards!) and several welcome them in tasting rooms.
Learn about history of growing wine grapes in the Yakima Valley.
- Yakima Valley was the first Washington State American Viticulture area. This means you’ll find old vines and award-winning wines at reasonable prices.
- The Valley is home to the Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center, a tasting room and wine shop with wine, culinary experiences and abundant information to learn about the wine industry in Washington and the characteristics of each grape growing region. We love the interactive displays highlighting Dr. Clore, the father of Washington Wine and his years of research including: handwritten notes detailing dates, vineyards, and other research, interactive multimedia touch screens featuring crops across Washington, climate, topography, and water, a look at wine grapes and juice grapes, a glimpse inside the winemaking process and a large American Viticulture Areas map of Washington State.
- Many are boutique wineries where you may have the chance to talk to the winemaker/owner or family member as you taste. Plan a trip to Knight Hill Winery, Kana Winery, Mill Lane Winery, Rider Cellars, Cultura Wine, Mas Chappell Winery, Horizons Edge, Paradisos del Sol, Ruby Magdalena Vineyards, Barrel Springs Winery, Domenico Cellars, Sleeping Dog Wines, Tucannon Cellars and others.
What else?
- An opportunity to park once and visit the beautiful Tuscan inspired Vintners Village in Prosser, WA. These are large-free standing buildings all within two blocks surrounded by beautifully manicured, landscaped grounds – and other perfect, family friendly destination. It’s home to Airfield Estates, Milbrandt Winery, Coyote Canyon, McKinley Springs, Thurston-Wolfe Winery, Ginkgo Forest Winery, Martinez & Martinez Winery and more. Or stay at a nearby hotel. Try Best Western PLUS the Inn at Horse Heaven or the Wine Country RV Park and walk over for a day of tasting.
- Great weather! With more than 300 documented days of sunshine in 2018, you’re pretty much guaranteed a sunny day when you visit Yakima Valley Wine Country.
- You are in the country, with a slower pace of life and a lot less traffic than the city. In spring, the orchards are in bloom, in fall the leaves are turning. This is a chance to relax and enjoy the country lanes to your next wine tasting experience.
Yakima Valley Hand-Crafted Stories 