Spring Barrel Tasting in Yakima Valley WA

Spring Barrel Tasting is a celebratory time of year in Washington wine country. It’s the largest wine festival in Washington’s wine country, a celebration of spring, new wines and a peek at the warm summer months ahead. The winemakers and staff are on hand to mingle with visitors, conduct tours and answer questions. Most open a barrel or two of future vintages for sampling. Many wineries have live music, appetizers and just a festive mood of celebration.

As the event grows and more wineries come on line, a little pre-planning helps to best enjoy the festivities. Here are a few tips to help make the celebration fun for all.

• It’s social so be social: Gather friends and get a limo or join an organized tour. It’s best to plan at least one night stay. For a listing of local hotels in the Yakima Valley click here.

• Take responsibility: If you do not hire a professional driver, designate a non-drinking driver. And treat the designated driver like a king or queen by buying their lunch and a bottle or two to enjoy at a later time. Note: Even if you have a designated driver, the tasting room staff is not allowed to serve you if you are impaired… it’s the law.

• Get the scoop: Wineries and wine organizations have different offerings and fees (or no fees) during the weekend. Before you arrive, visit the wine association websites for the details on their offerings and programs for the weekend. Visit Wine Yakima Valley and the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail websites for the details (see below for their contact information and websites).

• Get oriented: When you arrive, stop at the Yakima Valley Visitor Information Center for maps, updates and local trip planning information (address and info listed below).

• Timing is everything: Friday and Sunday tend to be quieter so visit on those days.
  
• Do it differently: Go to wineries early and in the opposite direction as everyone else is traveling. Many folks start at one end of the Yakima Valley and head to the other so consider starting with wineries in the middle of the map.

• Be realistic: It’s not a marathon race. Visit no more than 5-6 wineries per day. Your taste pallet will grow numb.

• Be prepared: Bring a cooler filled with bottled water and snacks. Pack a picnic, as many of the Yakima Valley wineries have picnic grounds or plan on eating lunch at one of the wineries that will be serving food. A good meal helps you to regain your palate and provides a needed break. Plus, bring a wine glass per person or be prepared to purchase one at a winery. Wine glasses are required at most wineries during event weekends. Also, if it is warm, consider a cooler for your purchased wines. Heat is bad for wine.

• Try something new: Tasting from the barrel is very different then trying a finished product out of a bottle. Talk to the winemaker and staff. Ask about the flavor, process and how the wine will taste when finished. It’s a great time to gain a greater appreciation of the winemaking process.

• Be Patient: The weekend draws a lot of people and staff at the wineries are working as fast as they can.

• Be Respectful…of other tasters and the staff. Try not to get too pushy or grouchy. Everyone is having fun and there are just a lot of people.

• Be aware: When it is busy in the tasting room, it’s important that you step up to the bar and receive your taste, then step back and take your time smelling and tasting the wine. This allows others up to the bar to get a taste. In other words, don't monopolize the bar space in front of others who are trying to participate.

• Don’t wear it: 70 to 80% of our ability to perceive flavor comes from our sense of smell. So please do not wear perfume, cologne, aftershave or any other fragrance, as it interferes with everyone's ability to smell, and hence taste the wines. You should also refrain from chewing gum and breath mints.

• Spitting and dumping is good: Just because wine is in your glass doesn’t mean you should drink it all. Believe it or not, you will enjoy it more if you don’t drink every drop. Your mouth won’t fatigue, you won’t become as intoxicated, and you will have more fun. Dumping excess wine into the provided bucket is okay. If you like the wine, buy a bottle or two.

• Leave it outside: All alcohol from outside the winery being visited is not permitted. This means beer, bloody Mary’s, screwdrivers, mimosas, cosmos, etc. The wineries can actually lose their license if there is outside alcohol brought into their facilities.

• Have pets? Kids? Children are always welcome at the wineries, but the crowds and focus of the event may not be suited to them. And while a few wineries are dog friendly, it’s best to leave the pups at home.

• Buy-buy! No that is not a typo, it’s an encouragement to buy wine during the event. The wineries spend a lot of time and their resources to stage a great weekend. Show your gratitude by buying wine for another day. They’ll appreciate the business, and you’ll take home some premium wines, many of which are only available at the winery itself.

Follow these tips and everyone will have a great time during Yakima Valley Spring Barrel. Enjoy your visit and see you soon!

Resources to plan your trip:

Yakima Valley Visitor Information Center

101 North Fair Avenue, Yakima, WA 98901

Hours: Monday - Saturday 9-5, Sunday 10-4

(509) 573-3388 or 800-221-0751

Local map to Visitor Information Center

Yakima Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau

www.visityakimavalley.org.

Click here for their Spring Barrel Tasting Website

For a handy map of the wineries in the Yakima Valley click here.

For details on the wineries and their offerings, visit the Yakima Valley’s two winery associations. Policies may vary from winery to winery.

Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail

509-965-4521 or 888-375-7498

http://www.rattlesnakehills.com/

info@rattlesnakehills.com

Wine Yakima Valley

509-965-5201

http://www.wineyakimavalley.org

wineyakimavalley@msn.com

Special thanks to the winemakers, tasting room managers, wine fans and others who contributed to this article.

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.

"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.

The Story - Chalk Art Rose' by Two Mountain Winery

What is the meaning of "Chalk Art" Rose' produced by Two Mountain Winery?
Two Mountain Winery's Chalk Party, each year artists young and old to try their hand at chalk art. The participants enjoyed fine wine, food, live music, creative artistic expression and survive the numerous art critics to vie for the coveted prize.

The prize? The winning Artwork becomes a new label of Chalk Art Rose'. The Pegasus Project is supported by a portion of the purchase price on each bottle. The Pegasus Project, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization of the North American Riding Handicapped Association (NARHA), provides therapeutic riding and equine-assisted activities to those with special needs and disabilities. Founded in 2003 as a pilot project with seven riders with special needs and one instructor, the tremendous response from the riders and their families and remarkable benefits enabled the Pegasus Project to expand its therapeutic riding services. Located at Tumbleweed Ranch on Hi-way 12 in Yakima, WA on a beautiful twenty-six acre site.

Plan on coming for the fun in June of next year to "Celebrate being a kid again!" Draw with chalk on the floor of the winery tasting room, be creative! In the meantime when you visit the winery in the Rattlesnake Hills of the YakimaValley, buy "Two Mountain Chalk Art Rose' Wine" to support this great program.