"Rattlesnake Hills is for Lovers" Valentine Weekend Event in WA Wine Country

Learn about wine tasting together in the Yakima Valley at the, " Rattlesnake Hills is for Lovers" Valentine weekend event in Zillah, WA, February 12-13, 2011. Stay at a romantic bed and breakfast, wind down the country roads, tasting fine red wines and delectable chocolates at select wineries, surrounded by the estate vineyards and orchards.
The wineries winter hours are listed below, as well as those offering chocolate, wine pairings and great discounts. Speak with the winemakers about the care of the vines to their handcrafted wines. This special Valentine Weekend Event, "Rattlesnake Hills is for Lovers" (February 12-13) is followed by the popular Red Wine and Chocolate Event (February18-20).

• Bonair Winery: Open 10 a.m. –5 p.m. Fall in love all over again as you nibble on chocolate and enjoy the explosion of flavors from our red wines. Six different red wines to complement triple-dark chocolate brownies made by our own Wine Goddess! Both weekends, chose any six bottles of red wine and get a 20% discount!
• Eaton Hill Winery: Open 10 a.m. –5 p.m. Delicious samples of award-winning red wines, paired with a wonderful raspberry-infused dark chocolate. Famous Dessert Whites paired with an incredible white chocolate truffle laced with the Eaton Hill Dessert wines, courtesy of Patricia’s Chocolate Emporium in Zillah WA. Eaton Hill Winery’s famous soups will be served up nice and hot both event weekends for all to enjoy. Great wine discounts!
• Hyatt Vineyard: Open 11 a.m. –5 p.m. Oreo truffles and the new release of our 2008 Syrah.
• Masset Winery: Special Handmade Belgian chocolates made by winemaker and executive chef Greg Masset plus great wine specials.
• Paradisos del Sol Winery: Open 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Come catapult a Cupid at Paradisos del Sol to win a prize. Sample special chocolates made especially for lovers. As always we will have a bite of food while you sip each of our wines..
• Piety Flats Winery: Open 10 a.m. –5 p.m. Will feature an array of chocolate truffles paired with line-up of red wines.
• Claar Cellars: Open Daily 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Cultura Cellars: Open Seasonally Feb -Nov. Thursday, Friday, Saturday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. or by appointment
• Horizons Edge: Thursday thru Monday 11a.m. to 5p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday by chance.
• Tanjuli- Yakima Valleys Newest Winery Feb 12-13 Hours by chance/ Red Wine & Choc Hours 10-5 offering almond and cranberry biscotti dipped in chocolate with our four red wines.Tanjuli offers $5.00 per bottle discount on each of our incredible Library Bordeaux blends, Konnowac Red and Red Rocket. Our amazing Petit Verdot and Malbec will also be served. This weekend at Tanjuli, Passport holders will get 20% discount on purchase of any six bottles
  
• Knight Hill Winery: Apr-Nov. Wed - Sun 11-5 and event weekends Anytime by appt.
• Portteus Winery:Daily 10 a.m. - 5p.m.
  
• Silverlake:11am to 4pm Thursday through Monday (December - March)
• 2 Mountain winery: President’s Day Weekend through November, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. daily and by appointment.

A Yakima Valley bed and breakfast is the perfect for a romantic Valentine’s weekend! The Yakima Valley has many choices to make your weekend stay a pleasure. Here are a few examples that are closer to the Rattlesnake Hills Wineries. For a complete listing of bed and breakfasts in the Yakima Valley, click here.

• The Birchfield Manor, Yakima's true country inn only 2 miles from town, offers a relaxing get-away featuring multi-course dinners prepared for you by trained chef/owners.

• Sunnyside Inn: In the heart of Yakima wine country in the historic 1919 Fordyce House. The amenities of a hotel with the atmosphere of a country inn with 13 unique rooms each with private bath.
  
  
• The Cozy Rose, in a park like setting surrounded by orchards and vineyards, has been recommended by, the Northwest's Best Places to Kiss, Romantic America and most importantly, their guests.


• The Wine Country Inn, 1920's Arts and Crafts Style farmhouse sitting on 10 peaceful acres of ponds, orchards and wildlife.


• Rosedell Bed and Breakfast, a stately Neo Classical home located near historic downtown Yakima, on park like grounds.


• A Touch of Europe Bed and Breakfast - Fine Dining Establishment: A Victorian Mansion in the heart of Yakima, offering private dining experience with 5-star cuisine

• The White House Inn, a historic farm house featuring feather beds, French antique linens and furnishings, Your stay includes breakfast from the onsite café menu.


• Cherrywood Bed, Breakfast and Barn, western themed for the country girl in the heart of the Rattlesnake Hills AVA.


• Orchard Inn Bed and Breakfast, Surrounded by cherry orchards, these rooms have private bath with jetted tubs and comfortable queen size beds.

The Yakima Valley blog articles feature members of the Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau. If you would like to receive information regarding membership, Click here, or to request a membership application, please contact Michele Hopkins at (509) 575-3010.

Yakima Valley: Prosser, WA Winery's Open in Winter

The Yakima Valley has over 70 wineries. One of the most concentrated areas for winery tasting rooms is in Prosser, WA., 50 minutes south of the city of Yakima, WA. Many tasting rooms in Prosser are open in the winter and listed below.

All wineries in the Yakima Valley will be open for Red Wine and Chocolate Weekend February 18 -20 2011.

Vintners Village wineries off Exit 80 I-82 East hours open during the Winter.

Milbrandt: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily
Airfield Estates:11 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily
Gamache Vintners: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily
Thurston Wolfe Winery: April to December 31 open Thursday – Sunday 11-5 p.m. closed Jan 1 to March 31 open holiday Mondays

Winemakers Loft in Vintners Village is a winery co-op, housing a number of tasting rooms.
• Plaza Winery: Open daily
• Apex Tasting Room: Monday - Sunday, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Visit a winery in a Prosser country setting surrounded by vineyards and hops fields nearby. Exit 80 I-82 East
Pontin del Roza:-Open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily

Prosser, WA Exit 82 off I 82 East, is an area where you will find a concentrated number of tasting rooms, as well as a winery restaurant and winery accommodations.

Desert Wind Winery: October to April 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. / Mojave Restaurant Thursday-Saturday 12-3 p.m. Lodging available.
Snoqualimie Winery: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (except Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day and Easter)
Hinzerling: Winter hours M-Sat. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed Sunday. Lodging available.

To visit these tasting rooms, take Exit 82, I-82 East. At the stop sign, turn right onto Wine Country Road. Take the first left on Benitz Road. Travel over the railroad tracks and turn right onto Lee Road.
Kestrel Vintners: Open Thursday- Monday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. By appt. Tuesday and Wednesday. Friday evenings open for Bites and Flights. Third Friday of each month 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Heavens Cave: Daily 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Hogue Cellars: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily, with the exception of major holidays. Please call ahead for winter hours—December 1st through March 1st.toll free (800) 565-9779 ext 3
Mckinley Springs: Closed November - January

South of Prosser in Patterson, WA:

Columbia Crest Winery : Open 10 a.m. to 4:30 pm daily. Guided tours weekends at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. Self-guided tours are available daily.12 - 4 p.m. Sun-Fri Sat 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.

The Yakima Valley blog articles feature members of the Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau. If you would like to receive additional information regarding membership, Click here, or to request a membership application, please contact Michele Hopkins at (509) 575-3010.

The Perfect Day Challenge

The "Perfect Day Challenge" in the Yakima Valley in September involves wild, whitewater action, wine tasting, a great dinner, and late night entertainment. This is only for those able to stand the fierce action and non-stop fun.



Start your day in the early morning on the Tieton River by running the Class III rapids. This is a trip of a lifetime, whitewater rafting down the river during the annual "Flip Flop!" You will experience the warmest white water rapids in the Pacific NW. The water has been warming up all summer in the Rimrock Lake to be released to irrigate the Yakima Valley only during the month of September. The morning trip down the river with Osprey Rafting is the way to go! As they say " It's 12 miles of foam eating fun." Your trip includes a great BBQ lunch afterward to view the pictures and share the experience!


Time for wine tasting! After your trip down the river, as you head back to Yakima, take the scenic route through orchards and farmland. Turn right at the first light in Naches(S. Naches Way) then right onto Naches Heights Road, follow to Ehler Road (map) to stop at The Tasting Room-Yakima . Four wineries offer tastings in a 100 year old farm house. Sit and relax on the porch, enjoy the wine, sunshine and view. Add a hike though the 85 acre vineyard down to the Cowiche Canyon Trail.

Time for a great dinner in downtown Yakima! The beautiful September weather and warm evenings are great for outside dining. Second Street Grill, Russillos, Santiogos all offer great downtown dining.
Locally owned restaurants offering fine dining are Gasperettis, Greystone, Apple Tree Grill, Zesta Cucina to name a few.

Live entertainment ends this perfect day! The SportsCenter Resturant & Lounge in Yakima offers live music on most weekend nights. The Seasons Performance Hall regularly features live music with an emphasis on Jazz. Downtown wineries, Gilbert Cellars, Tim's Tasting Room and Kana, offer wine tasting and live music most weekends.

The perfect day in the Yakima Valley - For those up for the challenge of extreme fun!


Any Questions?


Osprey- Rafting the Tieton
Blog-Whitewater Rafting The Flip Flop on the Tieton River
Yakima Valley Live Music listing

Updated 1.5.11

Tourism Matters!

Tourism Ambassador for South East Washington, from the Yakima Valley, is Martin Olsen of Olsen Estates Winery.

Martin says "People are just starting to learn about the Yakima Valley and its richness. What we've got here is something really special." The amount of growth and infrastructure here in the past five years is really measureable. I think that's all directly related to tourism....."

Come to the Yakima Valley for Spring Barrel Tasting April 24-26 and ask Martin "Why Tourism Matters!"

Spring Barrel Tasting,the last weekend in April is a great opportunity to learn about the growth of the wine industry in the Yakima Valley, take tours of the vineyards, talk to the winemakers, learn about food and wine pairing or just sample great wine, bask in the sunshine and listen to live music.

April 24-26: Come experience springtime in full bloom in the Yakima Valley! Meet Martin, his brother Leif and winemaker, Kyle Johnson at Olsen Estates for a guided tour of Olsen Brothers Ranches 2,600-acre Olsen farm started by his father 25 years ago. The Olsen family has a 100 years of interesting history in the Yakima Valley, maybe Martin will share more of his families saga. The tour will begin at Olsen Estates winery, where you board a bus and travel 15 minutes to the farm visit several vineyard sites, get an overview of the Olsen’s diversified crop production, which include cherries, apples, hops, and blueberries. The tour concludes at sunset among the vineyards atop Olsen Hill, with wine tasting and hors d’oeuvres. Package includes a photo keepsake to take home as a reminder of your Spring Barrel Tasting weekend! $50/person, 20 people max 3:00 - 6:00 PM

OR

April April 24-26: Kick off your Spring Barrel Tasting weekend with our Vine to Wine tour at Olsen Estates! On Friday from 3-6pm, the Olsen's are offering a guided tour of Olsen Brothers farm and vineyards, including wine tasting and hors d’oeuvres ($50/person). Then, relax on the patio where we’ll be featuring the smooth sounds of R&B guitarist, Wayman Chapman, on Friday and Saturday afternoons. Tapas available, as well as barrel samples and wines by the glass or bottle. $5 event fee (waived with Wine Yakima Valley premiere pass). 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM Olsen Estates Winery.

Check the numerous events happening at over 60 wineries in the Yakima Valley during Spring Barrel Tasting Weekend.

There is something for every member of your family, Bike Rides, Dinosaurs, winemaker dinners, art and craft fairs,Fresh Asparagus,antique car show, fun, live music at wineries, wine tasting, dueling pianos, BBQ oysters, sunshine, evening wine tasting & live music, dancing in downtown Yakima at the Sportscenter and Taste of Washington and much more!