Piety Flats Winery

Get ready for some old-country-store charm. You might even decide to forgo the wine and go right to the Thomas Kemper Root Beer float served at Piety Flats! Partners Bryan Eglet and Jim Russi, along with winemaker David Minick, produce some unique Yakima Valley wines. The tasting room is situated in the 1911 Mercantile Building, full of antiquated charm, and is famous for its peach sundaes. Conveniently located right off the I-82 freeway, this rustic store still has the appearance of the past century, “complete with creaking wooden floors, old country store fixtures and memorabilia of yesteryear.” Visitors can enjoy the ambiance of bygone days while shopping from well-stocked shelves and sampling wine.

Each wine is served with pride by a very knowledgeable wine pourer. And what a line-up of wines to sample! Piety Flats produces a number of mainstay wines, including syrah, merlot, cabernet-merlot blend, and a pinot grigio–chardonnay blend. But it also features late-harvest viognier, cabernet port, black muscat, and chenin blanc. Have you ever tried black muscat? Or how about a late-harvest viognier? Or perhaps you like your cabernet port served chilled? These are some of the many distinguishing features of the Piety Flats establishment that set it apart from other wineries. By the way, as you are imbibing, check out the distinctive label and note the building across the way from the winery. Coincidence? I think not.

Many WineTrail enthusiasts like their syrah “big and intense,” and the Piety Flats syrah won’t disappoint. Aged 11 months in small oak barrels (30 percent new, 50 percent American, and 50 percent French), the winery has succeeded in preserving the great flavors that the Yakima Valley is known for. Think steak or even pepperoni pizza for this vintage.

Winery events are held in coordination with the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail Association. Visit www.rattlesnakehills.com for upcoming events, including Spring Barrel Tasting at the end of April; Going Vertical! on Labor Day Weekend; Red Wine and Chocolate in February; and the Thanksgiving Festival.

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  Piety Flats Winery was featured in WineTrails of Washington as part of the Wapato WineTrail on page 282!