I hope to be visiting Washington State in late August to mid September. I hope to get at least a day near Woodinville and one near Yakima. It seems that most of the wineries near Woodinville are only open on weekends, and since I am unlikely to buy more than a couple of bottles I don't want to make appointments.
Questions I have: Any tips on visiting those areas? Any good spots for photographing vineyards? How is quality in recent vintages? When is harvest expected?
Thanks, Jerry
"JK" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@corp.supernews.com:
Ste. Michelle says "Our winery is open to visitors daily. . .We are only closed on New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day."
Their web-site is
They also have a series of outdoor concerts at 2:30Pm or (not and) 7PM.
Columbia winery is open for tours and tastings only on weekends. The wine shop is open daily. Webside
Of the two Woodinville wineries that I've visited, Ste. Michelle has far the more impressive 'Chateau', and Columbai by far the more impressive Wine Library.
From
Regarding the date of harvest, from the Columbia Winery site, "average opening of September 12th". Their 2003 Harvest started September 6th, and if this year's weather pattern contingues, 2004 may well start earlier. Before I saw this, I thought that harvest started later. So take it as the earlier ripening grapes start being picked in early to mid September. I think picking & crushing goes well into October.
The Woodinville wineries get most (nearly all?) are the vines outside the wineries any more than show? of their grapes from Eastern Washington.
For the Yakima area wineries, I'd look at the Washington Wine Commission website:
The trip planner feature maps wines by region, and also its own Calendar of Events.
Personally, I prefer the wineries more toward the tri-cities area (Terra Blanca, Yakima River, Hogue among others). But I'm sure there are people who'd vote for the ones near Yakima.
If you are driving from Seattle to Yakima, check out SR 821 on the Transportation web site.
Remember that Seattle/Woodinville area and Yakima are two distinct climates. Cross the mountains to Yakima, and the weather is often 20 degrees warmer. Prepare accordingly.
Welcome and have fun.
I can appreciate that you don't want to "waste" winemakers' time, but the people at JM Cellars and DiStefano's are really quite flexible about this issue, and the wines offered for tasting there are much better than the commercialized tourist-oriented rooms at St. Michelle and Columbia.
Another way to go is to visit the downtown Seattle Pike Place Market's Tasting Room. This is a consortium of several very good wineries, and you can get $5 and $8 dollar tasting series
Have fun! If you make it down to Pike Place lunch at Matt's in the Market is a good choice.
Columbia's website is a little confusing on this but I can personally vouch for the fact that _tastings_ are seven days a week since the tasting bar is part of the wine shop. I have always found the shop staff to be well-informed and helpful. Columbia is right across the street from Chateau Ste. Michelle. Silver Lake, a smaller winery that is also open for tasting seven days a week, is just up the road.
As another poster has indicated, a lot of the smaller wineries around Woodinville make some very good wines and their tasting policies often are a little bit more flexible than the printed literature would suggest. However, keep in mind that the proposed visit is just prior to (or during) harvest season. This is a time when all wineries are very busy and an unknown caller is not likely to receive (nor should expect) a lot of personal attention from the staff at a small winery.
True in the summer. Just the reverse in the winter. In late September and early October all bets are off.
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