Wine Yakima Valley Wine Yakima Valley
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YAKIMA VALLEY WINERY GUIDE FIRST Winegrowing region established in Washington state MOST Vineyards in Washington state BEST Wines in Washington and beyond showcase our grapes Your Guide to Over 40 Exciting Wineries plus Maps, Accommodations, Dining & More! WELCOME TO WINE COUNTRY GROWN TO GREATNESS Exploring the Yakima Valley|2 WOMEN WINEMAKERS The Changing Face of the Valley|4 YAKIMA Wine Community|5 ROADS LESS TRAVELED Wineries Off the Beaten Path|12 VALLEY MAP|14 CATACLYSMIC EVENTS Lead to True Typicity|16 ZILLAH Wine Community|17 PROSSER Wine Community|23 SIMPLICITY IS THE KEY Pairing Wine for Grilling|27 ROSÉ REVOLUTION The Growing Popularity of Pink|28 RED MOUNTAIN Wine Community|29 10 N 9th St, Yakima, WA 98901 Mon–Fri, 8:30a–5:00p 800.258.7270 • 509.571.7483 WineYakimaValley.org Get social! Connect with us for info, updates, videos and chances to win wine goodies. Wine Yakima Valley Wine Yakima Valley @YakimaAVA WineYakimaValley Cover & this page: © Richard Duval Images GROWN TO GREATNESS Exploring the complexity and diversity of Yakima Valley’s rich cornucopia of wine. All photos this page: © Richard Duval Images The Yakima Valley AVA grows more than RATTLESNAKE Yakima Valley 47 wine grapes varieties. The success HILLS Appellation of this diversity can be attributed to the many different growing aspects within the AVA. The micro climates, heat variations, SNIPES and different soil types within the three Yakima MOUNTAIN RED MOUNTAIN Valley sub AVAs — Rattlesnake Hills, Snipes Mountain & Red Mountain — play a major role in successfully growing so many grape varieties. RATTLESNAKE HILLS AVA Rattlesnake Hills, located around the town of Zillah, is named after the Northern Pacific Rattlesnake that inhabits the area. Rattlesnake Hills is almost evenly split between red and white wine grapes, with reds having a slight edge. Riesling is a dominant white grape in this region producing wines with aromas and flavors of lime, lemon, and green apple. Other sites in the appellation offer flavors with a little more stone fruit, particularly peach. SNIPES MOUNTAIN AVA Snipes Mountain gets its name from Ben Snipes, a cattle rancher who built a house there in the 1850s. It's the second smallest appellation in Washington with just 820 of the 5,145 acres planted in over 30 vinifera varieties. Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon the most planted. Fruit from this AVA offer unique aromas and flavors which have made it desirable for winemakers to identify it as a Snipes Mountain-designated wine. RED MOUNTAIN AVA The Red Mountain AVA is located on the far eastern side of the Yakima Valley. It is the smallest appellation in Washington state with just 2,227 of the 4,040 vineyard acres planted. Cheatgrass, a plant that grows naturally in the region, turns bright red in early spring giving Red Mountain its name. The nearby Yakima River moderates temperatures and provides continual airflow, guarding against frost. Celebrating Our Founders he Yakima Valley Founders' program commemorates the founders of the Yakima Valley Twine industry and its legacy within Washington state. It's an opportunity to celebrate the success of the dream these visionaries had of creating one of the world's most prestigious wine growing regions. When you see these logos, know that the winemaker or grower involved with the business has been active and instrumental in the Yakima Valley wine industry for 25 years or longer. 2 SIGNATURE EVENTS isiting and tasting in the Yakima Valley is a treat any time of Vthe year, but a weekend trip during one of our Association- sponsored events can be especially memorable. SPRING BARREL TASTING April 26–28, 2019 The most popular annual event for Yakima Valley vintners and those who appreciate the fine wines coming from the Valley. Sample unfinished wine right from the barrel and gain insight into the artistic process at each winery. April 27–28, 2019 Yakima Valley’s newest event is the perfect opportunity to enjoy Spring Barrel Tasting festivities without the crowds. Participating winemakers will open their tasting rooms exclusively to Winemaker’s Table guests, offering exclusive tastings of library wines, current vintages and barrel samples. Learn the history, nuances and stories of each wine in an intimate seated tasting. In addition to these smaller tasting experiences, your Winemaker’s Table ticket will be honored as a Premier Pass to all participating wineries for the duration of the event weekend. Weekend tickets are $75. Tickets are limited and must be purchased in advance. Visit wineyakimavalley.org for more information. CATCH THE CRUSH October 12–13, 2019 Celebrate the harvest as each winery offers special events, including grape stomps, harvest and crush activities, tours, free-run juice, hors d’oeuvres, live music and, of course, wine tasting. THANKSGIVING IN WINE COUNTRY November 29–30, 2019 Visit during November as wineries celebrate the season. Take a leisurely tour and get first-hand recommendations from the winemakers on which wines pair best with your holiday festivities. RED WINE & CHOCOLATE February 15–16, 2020 The natural affinity between dark chocolate and red wine is no secret. During Red Wine & Chocolate event weekend, each participating winery pairs sumptuous chocolate confections with their very own remarkable red wines. WINE LOVER'S EXPERIENCE February 15–16, 2020 Scheduled tastings at participating wineries offers a sneak peek of new releases, reserve wines or those that have scored 90+ points. Reservations required. © Richard Duval Images For more info or to purchase tickets and Premier Passes, visit WineYakimaValley.org 3 WOMEN WINEMAKERS Meet the changing face of Yakima Valley Wine © Richard Duval Images At its best, wine tends to express feminine qualities. Taste a great wine and you enjoy delicate floral aromas, luscious fruit flavors, elegant textures, and soft tannins. There have also been hints, by Yale University scientists, that women have a better sense of taste than men. But yet, the industry is dominated by men. However, the tide is changing. .slowly, but it is changing. Jacki Evans, winemaker for Owen More women than ever before are entering the wine Roe winery in Union Gap, is originally industry, be it as a sommelier, viticulturist or winemaker. from Austin, Texas. Jacki earned a The Yakima Valley wine industry is part of that change. bachelor’s degree at the University The following winemakers are breaking stereotypes and of Texas with additional wine studies laying the groundwork for future women interested in at Napa Valley College and UC Davis. entering the world of wine. These women are creating She is a global harvest hopper with 16 phenomenal wines and playing huge roles for the coming harvests around the world, including generation of women winemakers. Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Napa Valley and Willamette Valley. She's Winemaker Sarah Fewel co-owns been in the Yakima Valley making wine Cultura Wine in Zillah. Sarah immersed at Owen Roe Winery since the 2013 vintage and recently herself into the industry by helping created her own brand, Sin Banderas. at neighboring wineries and taking classes to learn the business of wine Carolina (Cat) Warwick and winemaking. In 2005, she and her is the co-owner/co-winemaker at Wit husband launched their inaugural wines. Cellars in Prosser. Cat has worked in the One wine that sets Cultura apart wine industry in the Yakima Valley since is Merlot. In 2013, screenplay writer 2001 when she was pouring wine at Rex Pickett, best known from the Apex Cellars. She, too, knew the wine movie Sideways, visited the winery. industry was her calling. She enrolled He participated in a blind tasting and raved about the in the Yakima Valley College Viticulture Cabernet Sauvignon in his glass. Upon learning the wine and Enology program and became the was a Merlot, he was convinced it was a joke. Picket first graduate of the program. Cat has realized the wine in his glass truly captured a sense of place. © Richard Duval Images been making wine since graduating. Kerry Shiels is the winemaker Kelly Hightower is the co- for Côte Bonneville in Sunnyside. winemaker at Hightower Cellars on Shiels originally chose engineering as Red Mountain. Kelly’s love affair with her career of choice. After six years wine began while she was a student at of working for Fiat, she realized her UC Berkeley. While in Berkeley, she heart was in agriculture. She moved to enrolled at Santa Rose Community California and earned a master’s degree College to study viticulture and enology. in viticulture and enology from UC She couldn’t get enough of this complex Davis. She has worked grape harvests beverage. Unaware of how or where all over the globe. While in Australia, she would land, Kelly knew she would she became enamored with Syrah. She spend a career in the wine industry. © Richard Duval Images expanded the range of wines showcasing her family’s She landed her first job in the accounting department of DuBrul Vineyard, including Syrah in 2010 and Train Station Columbia Winery in 1994, met her husband, Tim, and Cabernet Sauvignon in 2013. together they started Hightower Cellars. 4 © Richard Duval Images 5 YAKIMA Yakima Valley Appellation ZILLAH RED MOUNTAIN YAKIMAPROSSER & VICINITY WINE COMMUNITY © Richard Duval Images SR 821 Harrison To Ellensburg & Seattle SR 823 N SELAH EXIT 26 1st St Wenas Valleyview Ave 82 Selah Rd EXIT Ackley Rd Wilridge Vineyard, EXIT 30 Winery & Distillery Naches River EXIT 31 Naches Heights Rd Powerhouse Rd Trailer Inns N 6 RV Park SR US N 1 Ehler Rd Ehler 22 th 12 Ave st N Naches Ave n St yo Tieton n Fruitvale BlvdRiver Rd a Cider C Orchard Madison s 40th k Inn B&B Works Hathaway c Ledgestone Hotel e P Fruitvale Blvd 6 th 9 Kern St Powerhouse Rd Ummelina Spa th Wine Yakima Valley U.S.