On to Yakima Valley

September 25, 2010

Now that the WineTrails of Walla Walla book is at the printer I can turn my attention to the next phase: The Yakima Valley. With over 100 wineries from Yakima to the Tri Cities, the Yakima Valley is a wine destination all by itself.

I arrived in Yakima yesterday and went directly to The Tasting Room at Wilridge Vineyard about 10 minutes to the west of the downtown. Surrounded by acres of still ripening grapes, the Craftsman style house is the perfect venue to sample Wilridge Winery, Harlequin Wine Cellars, Mountain Dome (love those sparkling wines), and Naches Heights Vineyards. I opted for the Wilridge Nebbiolo out of curiosity having just got back from Italy's Piedmont region. I liked it...not as structured (read that complex) as the Barolo or Barbaresco but definitely quaffable.

I'd never been to The Tasting Room (Yakima) and so I snapped some pictures with the late afternoon sun doing its golden thing. Then, with camera in tote, I headed through the vineyards to pick up the Cowiche Trail leading down to the canyon's floor. Glorious. Stunning. All those overused words apply. A setting sun forced me to head back after 45 minutes of late fall delight. However, fellow Trekkers, I will no doubt return here.

Today I will take my camera and head for the wineries. I was hoping to capture grape harvest images but due to our quirky summer, I think we're two or three weeks away from picking. Bummer. I guess I am just going to come back...again and again.