Wine Country

Many of our visitors are surprised to learn that Washington State is the second largest producer of wine in the nation.

Our oldest winery is Chateau Ste. Michelle with its vineyards in the Columbia Valley in the eastern part of the state. However, you can sample wine from this vintner at a French style chateau and tasting room in Woodinville. It’s about 30 minutes from Seattle and is located near the northeast end of Lake Washington.

Visit the winery for tours and a full lineup of entertaining summer concerts. The Chateau grounds are a wonderful setting for music and a picnic supper under the stars, even if it rains.

Neighboring Seattle communities have growers that produce hand-crafted wine to sample in their tasting rooms. There are 35+ wineries in the Puget Sound region alone.

The best winery touring happens in eastern Washington’s Yakima and Walla Walla Valleys. These vineyards are in the same latitude as the great wine producing regions of France and Italy. Award-winning wine is produced each season.

Book a bed and breakfast and make it a weekend wine tour. Pick up locally made bread and cheese to go with fruit from area orchard and enjoy a picnic on one of the winery grounds.

Use the www.washingtonwine.org as your planner and choose several wineries to sample.