Monday, September 28, 2009

Yakima Valley Wineries Evolve into Entertainment Venues

Yakima Valley wineries and tasting rooms are evolving as they expand to entertainment destinations.

Downtown Yakima and Prosser's Vintners Village are on the leading edge of this new entertainment development. On any weekend in downtown Yakima you will find live music at Tim's Downtown and other tasting rooms. On the first Friday of every month Gilbert Cellars, Kana, Plaza Sociovole and Tim's, numerous local restaurants feature live music, from blues to rock bands, acoustic duos to jazz. These wineries each offer special menus such as gourmet pizza, appetizers, cheese flights or tapas. Tim's even sells a selection of local micro brews. Each of the tasting rooms are destinations to sip fine wine enjoy conversation with friends and listen to a varying selection of music. Fourteen of the downtown Yakima restaurants,
Barrel House, CafĂ© Melange, The French Carousel, The Depot, Golden Wheel, Greystone, Libby’s, Santiago’s, 2nd St Grill, Sports Center, Russillo’s, Tequila’s, Great American Grill, and Tony’s Steakhouse, will wave the corkage fee for wine bought at the downtown wineries and brought to their resturants. they will honor same day purchases.
In Prosser's Vintners Village, a destination with a dozen tasting rooms in two blocks, you will find varying entertainment experiences a growing trend. These beautiful landscaped huge buildings, styled from modern, Tuscan inspired, to an airplane hanger, are offering food, live music, cinema nights and even a 5k run though the vineyards this fall. Airfield Estates 5K run through the beautiful estate vineyard, as well as the fun filled Annual Grape Stomp at the winery, on October 10. Airfield Estates is also known for its cinema nights which feature movies that include flying and plane themes. The Thanksgiving in Wine Country celebration, November 27-29 is one of the largest events in the Yakima Valley. The wineries from Yakima to Rattlesnake Hills to Red Mountain join together to offer food and wine pairings, live music and more.

Coming to visit the wineries of the Yakima Valley? Picking up your holiday wines and Christmas gifts?
For an experience to remember, check the schedule of events and see what entertainment your favorite winery is offering to compliment great wine.