Ginkgo Forest Winery

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Near the Mattawa home of Ginkgo Forest Winery is the Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park. Many moons ago – about 15,000,000 years ago – this area was wet and humid with swamps and lakes and a forest populated by ginkgo trees. During the 1930s petrified wood was discovered which led to the creation of 7,470-acre Gingko Petrified Forest State Park.

Bordering the Wahluke Slope AVA a couple miles from the town of Mattawa resides Ginkgo Forest Winery owned and operated by Mike and Lois Thiede. Although the Wahluke Slope boasts about 20% of the states grape production, (grapes love the high heat units of this high desert domain) there are few wineries. It’s not exactly a crossroads of sorts where tourists come to visit. And that’s what makes a visit to Ginkgo Forest Winery so bloody nice – it’s a wine oasis of sorts where, if you’ve come this far, you might plan to stay for the afternoon.

You won’t need to empty the bank account either. For example, their Ginkgo Red Wine sales for around $12 and here’s what Wine Press Northwest’s had to say, “This blend…creates notes of cooked cherries, blueberry and plums with pleasing allspice, vanilla and light oak accents.” Just the words “cooked cherries” got me drooling!

For this WineTrail trekker the best part of Gingko Forest Winery is the celebration of Wahluke fruit --- riesling, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, syrah and more. Why showcase other grape growing regions of the State when the best varieties can be had in your own backyard!