Coyote Canyon Winery

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Located in Prosser’s Vintner’s Village, Coyote Canyon’s tasting room/winery reflects the terroir of the vineyard to the south in the Horse Heaven Hills. It’s in the Horse Heaven where owner/grower/winemaker Mike Andrews cultivates 1,135 acres of premium wine grapes representing 26 different grape varieties on their own rootstock. And, as you can imagine, Coyote Canyon Vineyards sells its grapes to a host of renowned wineries throughout Washington including Northstar, Syncline and Columbia Crest. If it all starts in the vineyard, nice-guy Mike Andrews must be doing something correcto-mundo.

In fact, you might hear the words “sold out” at the tasting room but don’t worry, there are plenty of wines to sample under three different wine labels: Downtown Red and White, Coyote Canyon and H/H Estates Reserve. Moreover, don’t be surprised if the guy behind the counter doffing the Coyote Canyon baseball cap is Mike himself. Usually sporting a smile, Mike shows no pretense despite being a vineyard baron on a grand scale. He’s happy to answer questions and attend to your empty wine glass.

A winner of many awards at the Seattle Wine Awards, Coyote Canyon Winery your challenge is finding the wine that you like the most. It’s a palate teasing exploration. For me, I thought I had nailed it with my taste of their deep ruby black cherry superbly balanced Primitivo (genetically very close to Zinfandel). But then I experienced H/H Estates Reserve Robert Andrews Red (a Rhône-varietal blend) and I had had visions of a grilled pepper steak as it hit my mid-palate. Oh decisions, decisions.