Preston Premium Wines

Preston Premium Wines was the third bonded winery in Washington state when it took root in 1976. That is ancient by Washington wine standards. However, it was the dream of Bill and Joann Preston to establish a 160-acre vineyard and put Washington on the map for premium wine production. They also saw it as their duty to educate the public about winemaking. To this end, they created a mini-museum at their winery, where, among other items of note, visitors can get an overview of cork production in Portugal and examine Joann’s extensive collection of corkscrews.

The elevated tasting room provides a commanding view of the Preston vineyard, where mature vines produce such varietals as merlot, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, gewürztraminer, and white riesling. Winemaker Dave Harvey can boast that most of its wines are estate wines, with the exception of the syrah, which comes from Gamache Vineyard. For port fans, Dave is also responsible for producing Preston’s very successful “Tenrebac” port (“Tenrebac” is cabernet spelled backwards).

The winery’s spacious tasting room also features a well-stocked gift shop and is the portal to the wine museum downstairs. Of particular note, however, is the large outdoor seating area used for picnicking and listening to live music on Friday nights during the summer. These summer concerts, known as “Vino Notte” (Italian for “wine night”), include hors d’oeuvres and desserts in addition to Preston’s current vintage releases. So be sure to bring your appetite with you.

For those WineTrail trekkers seeking a winery for a corporate event, family hoedown, or wedding, take note of the winery’s many amenities. From the deck outside the tasting room, you can see Preston’s manicured park, which includes a gazebo, a pond, an amphitheater, and a waterfall.

Directions: From I-182 [US-12] take exit 14B onto US-395 toward Spokane. Go 5 miles on US-395 (north) and turn right onto E. Vineyard Drive. Go .5 miles on E. Vineyard Drive and look for Preston Premium Wines entrance on right.

Events: Sweet Retreat and Catch the Crush in conjunction with the Columbia Valley Winery Association.

Addresses

• Tri-Cities WineTrail

  Winery/Tasting Room

  502 East Vineyard Drive, Pasco, WA 99301
  Hours: Daily 10–5:30 except major holidays
  46.32167-119.0823