More than 40 wineries in Washington’s oldest wine region will fling open their doors for their annual pre-spring celebration of Valentine’s Day.
The Yakima Valley’s Red Wine & Chocolate Weekend takes place Feb. 13-15, which also happens to be Presidents Day weekend.
Wineries from Yakima to Red Mountain will be open to visitors, and many of them will have chocolate-themed events or foods, particularly desserts to pair with red wines.
Most wineries will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. that weekend.
Patrons who purchase a Premier Pass will have all tasting fees waived at participating wineries. Premier Passes cost $30 in advance.
Red Wine & Chocolate typically is Washington’s first large multi-winery event of the year, leading up to such weekends as Spring Barrel Tasting Weekend in April and Walla Walla’s Spring Release Weekend in May.
The Yakima Valley is the Northwest’s oldest wine region. The Yakima Valley American Viticultural Area was approved by the federal government in 1983, making it the first AVA in the Pacific Northwest. Some of the Northwest’s oldest vines are grown in the valley, dating back to 1917. The Yakima Valley also is Washington’s largest grape-growing area, with more than 17,000 acres of vines in production.
Red Wine & Chocolate wineries
The following wineries will be participating in the Red Wine & Chocolate weekend:
Yakima to Wapato
- Antolin Winery
- Gilbert Cellars
- Kana Winery
- Lookout Point Winery
- Owen Roe Winery
- Southard Winery
- Treveri Sparkling Cellars
- Wilridge Winery & Vineyard
Zillah/Rattlesnake Hills
- Agate Field Vineyard
- Cultura Winery
- Dineen Family Vineyards
- Horizon’s Edge Winery
- J Bell Cellars
- Knight Hill Winery
- Maison de Padgett Winery
- Masset Winery
- Paradisos del Sol Winery
- Portteus Winery
- Severino Cellars
- Silverlake Winery
- Two Mountain Winery
- VanArnam Vineyards
Prosser/Sunnyside
- 14 Hands Winery
- Airfield Estates Winery
- Barrel Springs Winery
- Chinook Wines
- Co Dinn Cellars
- Côte Bonneville
- Thurston Wolfe
- Yakima Valley Vintners
Red Mountain/Benton City
- Chandler Reach Vineyards
- Frichette Winery
- Hamilton Cellars
- Hightower Cellars
- Kiona Vineyards & Winery
- Kitzke Cellars
- Purple Star Wines
- Sleeping Dog Winery
- Tapteil Vineyard Winery
- Terra Blanca
- Tucannon Cellars
Ethen says
We are really excited for our second annual Red Wine and Chocolate event at Tucannon Cellars. This year we’re making the mouth watering Chocolate Pizza again in our wood fired oven. Not to mention we’re releasing some killer 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon and Cab Franc for the event. You can always check out what we’re up to at TucannonCellars.com!
Great article Andy!