Hyatt Vineyards

Leland and Lynda Hyatt established Hyatt Vineyards in 1985 and produced their first vintage in 1987. Since that time, they have witnessed a number of changes, including the designation of their area—Rattlesnake Hills—as an American Viticultural Area (AVA). The production facility and tasting room command a large footprint of real estate, with a windmill as the centerpiece of their well-manicured lawn. Upon viewing the grounds, you might think that this would be a great place for a wedding, and you’d be right. You can book the property, arrange for chairs, caterer and a preacher, and have yourself a heck of a wedding—especially if both Mount Rainier and Mount Adams decide to make an appearance. And there’s certainly plenty of wine to go around.

Hyatt’s winemaker, Andy Gamache, gets most of his grapes from four estate vineyards within 2 miles of the winery. With an annual production of approximately 30,000 cases, Hyatt wines sell for around $9 a bottle. For their more upscale Roza Ridge label, plan to spend a wallet-friendly $15 a bottle and this clearly explains why the Wine Enthusiast named Hyatt’s 2006 merlot and cabernet sauvignon “Best Buy” wines.

Although you can sample the Hyatt wines free at its tasting room, there is small fee for sampling Hyatt Roza Ridge Wines. It’s interesting, and educational, to taste the difference between Hyatt’s regular wines and its premium Roza Ridge reserves, including “Roza Ridge” syrah, cabernet sauvignon, and merlot.

If your trip takes you to Hyatt during fall harvest, make sure to pluck a few grapes from the vineyard. If you have never experienced the full onslaught of sugar laden juicy chardonnay or cabernet, here’s your chance!

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  Hyatt Vineyards was featured in WineTrails of Washington as part of the Rattlesnake Hills WineTrail North on page 292!