Sandhill Winery
There is one subtle but noteworthy feature about Sandhill Winery’s tasting room: It has a dedicated space for kids, complete with toys, games, and pint-sized furniture. We realize that may not be a big deal to most, but after you have visited more than 200 wineries in Washington and only this one offers a play area for children, the Sandhill space is commendable for its kid friendliness.
Actually diverting the offspring’s attention to Mr. Potato Head is a wonderful strategy for allowing the adults to focus on Sandhill’s renowned cabernet sauvignon, merlot, or pinot gris. However, its number-one seller is its “Cinnamon Teal” red table wine ($10 a bottle), bottled under the Ridgefield label. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the “Cinnamon Teal” is donated to the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Ridgefield, Washington. Winemaker Pete Hedges produces more than 7,000 cases annually, using fruit exclusively from Red Mountain. And, yes, Pete Hedges is the brother of Sandhill’s next-door neighbor Tom Hedges, owner of Hedges Family Estate Winery.
WineTrails Note: We love Wine and Spirits’ description of Sandhill’s 2001 merlot: “Beautiful, precise Merlot. With its evergreen and mulling spice aromas, the wine is savory in its special red berry flavors. The structure is brisk and fresh, with a clean tannic grip that lifts and lengthens the wine.” We read this description and immediately thought of leg of lamb to pair with this merlot.
There are major advantages when a winemaker can focus on a few select varietals, especially when the vintner is blessed with what many consider to be the best grapes in the state. With wine this good, you will want to savor it. Enjoy the complex, full-flavored cabernet sauvignon and let the finish linger a little longer while your spouse finds the 5,000-piece jigsaw puzzle for your restless kids.
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Sandhill Winery was featured in WineTrails of Washington as part of the Red Mountain WineTrail on page 378!
