When looking to sample a variety of wines, from merlots to chardonnays, wine lovers should consider a visit to the hundreds of wineries in Washington. As Washington is the second largest wine producing state in the United States, it is easy to explore the variety and bounty of these hand-crafted Washington wines with self-guided winery tours.
Washington has an ideal climate for growing wine with more than 30 wine grape varieties grown here. From wineries situated in the rolling hills of the Yakima Valley to the lush vineyards of Western Washington, there are more than enough wineries to satisfy the tastes of both novice wine lover and wine connoisseurs. Touring wineries is a fun weekend activity that can introduce you to many new varietals while getting an intimate peek into the production of these wines. It's easy to create your own self-guided tours. A good place to start is by exploring the website of the Washington Wine Commission (see Resources). Using their interactive online tool allows you to plan and map your own vineyard tours. You can search more than 600 vineyards by location, winery, wine varieties or location amenities.
Prosser has more than 30 wineries to explore. Located in Yakima Valley of south central Washington, Prosser is a three-hour drive from Seattle, Portland and Spokane. Wineries run the gamut from small family-run vineyards where vintner's dogs greet you to larger wineries with a more formal feel. Check out Airfield Estates where you can sip wine amid replica WWII airplane hangars and a vintage water tower. If you want to taste a variety of Prosser's wines without having to travel from vineyard to vineyard, then visit The Winemakers' Loft in Prosser's Vintner Village. A Tuscan-style building houses seven different tasting rooms under one roof. Prosser hosts wine-related events and festivals throughout the year. For a different touring experience, you can even tour vineyards by horseback or hire a limousine to drive you through the rolling hills.
Closer to Seattle and on the western side of the Cascade Mountains, wine lovers should head to Woodinville in the Sammamish River Valley approximately 30 minutes from downtown Seattle. Here you can visit more than 70 wineries and tasting rooms. Several warehouses have been converted to tasting rooms for wineries across Washington. Smaller, boutique wineries are also available for wine-tasting. Woodinville's wine industry is anchored by the famous Chateau Ste. Michelle. As the oldest winery in Washington, Chateau Ste. Michelle has an old-world European feel. This winery offers wine tastings, gourmet food and wine classes and a variety of other events. Chateau Ste. Michelle hosts a summer concert series on their grounds. Concertgoers can relax on the amphitheater's lawn on warm summer nights listening to musical performers with a bottle of wine and food from a variety of vendors.
Many of the vineyards are clustered in certain regions of Washington, so choose a region to explore and then design your own self-guided wine tours. Many of the wineries offer tastings, tours and wine sales. Washington offers a variety of different types of wines. You can also plan a trip to coincide with different wine-related festivals and events.
