Cave B Estate Winery

Few Washington wineries can boast that they are a “destination winery.” But Cave B Inn and Cave B Winery are in a position to brag. Most reviewers consider Cave B to be the no. 1 destination wine resort in the state—and for good reason.

Halfway between Spokane and Seattle, near Vantage, lies Cave B Inn and Cave B Winery. Just follow the signs to the Gorge Amphitheater off I-90. Once there, you will marvel at the stunning views of the Columbia River Gorge and the surrounding vineyard. The Inn’s grand lobby, with its iron-turned chandeliers hanging from the soaring ceiling, huge wrap-around fireplaces and eager staff at your service, will quickly squash any concerns you had about your getaway. Inside the Inn the critically acclaimed Tendrils Restaurant at SageCliffe offers elegant Northwest cuisine prepared by Fernando Divina. The menu includes suggested wine pairings for each course, always a nice touch for WineTrail travelers. Reservations are highly recommended.

If you are staying at the Inn for any length of time, you may want to turn off the flat-screen plasma TV and get off the all-too-comfortable bed, with its 300-threadcount Egyptian cotton linens, and head for the spa. Whether it’s a massage, a facial or getting your nails done, you will be pampered and made to feel like a wet noodle—just in time to hit the tasting room.

The Cave B Winery tasting room features the wonderfully rich, full-bodied wines of Cave B as well as its second label, SageCliffe. Located in the RoundHouse, the Cave B tasting room houses a 17-foot-long tasting bar, handcrafted from used French oak wine barrel staves crafted by highly skilled local artists. It’s a comfortable space in which to relax and sample Rusty Figgins’ (of Walla Walla fame) reds and whites, both the Cave B and SageCliffe vintages. If they are still in stock, you might experience the chardonnay, semillon, semillon ice, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and a Bordeaux-style blend called “Cuvee de Soleil.”

WineTrail Tip no. 1: If you go online and join the Cave B Wine Club at the “Explorer” level or higher before your visit, you can enjoy as much as 15 percent discounts on Inn charges, Tendrils Restaurant charges, spa services, and purchases of wine. In short, if you plan on going to Cave B for any length of time, you will get your money’s worth.

WineTrail Tip no. 2: Time your visit to coincide with a concert at the Gorge. See www.barstop.com/gorge/ for a concert schedule.

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  Cave B Estate Winery was featured in WineTrails of Washington as part of the Columbia River WineTrail on page 224!