16 Best Sights in Washington Wine Country, Washington

With an attractive tasting room in the up-and-coming Port of Benton Wine and Food Park on the east side of town, Alexandria Nicole opened its eco-minded winery near the Columbia River—about 35 miles south—in 2004 and has steadily developed into one of the region's stars. The refreshing Viognier and lightly floral Shepherds Market Roussanne-based blend scores high marks from critics, while the cherry- and plum-inflected Tempranillo is a stellar choice among the reds. Ask about the four tiny houses for rent at the vineyard, which also has a seasonal (mid-March to mid.-November) tasting room. 

This fascinating, underrated living history museum is quite a sight to see, with rows and upon rows of antique farming equipment, including more than 150 tractors donated by families that have been farming the Yakima Valley for generations. This sprawling property is devoted to preserving the region's agrarian heritage, with additional exhibits that include pioneer-era homesteads and cabins, a vintage railroad boxcar, a vintage gas station, a blacksmith shop, a sawmill, and many more buildings. Just south of Yakima in one of the state's oldest towns, Union Gap, the museum occupies a good chunk of 15-acre Fullbright Park and offers access to trails along Ahtanum Creek and up into the high-desert hills. The grounds are open year-round, even when the buildings are closed.

Co Dinn, the owner of this downtown Sunnyside operation, spent nearly 20 years as the winemaker at renowned Hogue Cellars before establishing his own boutique winery. Top wine publications have taken notice and lavished praise on the complex unfiltered Chardonnay and juicy southern Rhône GSM (Grenache-Syrah-Mourvèdre). The tasting room is in a neatly transformed deco-style former water utility building with a pleasant side patio. 

Established in 2001 on the site of a historic apple orchard on the lower slopes of the Rattlesnake Hills, this popular winery with a focus on sustainability specializes in both estate-grown Bordeaux- and Rhone-style varietals, from the supple and earthy Cabernet Franc to a French oak-aged Roussanne-Viognier blend. The handsome tasting room adjoins a gable-roofed terrace surrounded by colorful gardens. 

This vaunted boutique winery with sweeping views specializes is a darling of those who appreciate exceptional Bordeaux wines, including one of the state's most accomplished Malbecs. The tasting room is modern, bright, and airy, and outdoor seating areas provide a spectacular backdrop for indulging in these rich wines, along with charcuterie and cheese platters. 

Established several miles south of Yakima in 2018 by a team of wine-loving architects, this stunning modern tasting room set on a hill with clear Mt. Adams views produces accessible Pinot Gris, Syrah, and several other balanced wines. The kitchen serves tasty flatbread pizzas and other wine-friendly fare, and the winery offers overnight stays in a couple of guest homes and a restored vintage Airstream. 

You could lose yourself for a couple of hours browsing the three floors of light-filled galleries within downtown's imposing 1889 Stewart Building. This community art center buzzes with creative energy, as artists often work on-site. Rotating exhibits showcase the area's considerable diversity of artistic talent, and there's a fantastic gift shop. Be sure to check out the top floor, which preserves many of the building's most striking Victorian architectural elements.

It's worth the 20-minute drive from downtown Yakima to experience a tasting at this beautiful family-run vineyard specializing in blends of Rhône and Bordeaux varietals and both lightly oaked and unoaked Chardonnays. During the warmer months, music concerts are held in the amphitheater, with breathtaking mountains forming the backdrop. 

At this 30-acre lavender farm and wine-making operation set in a stylishly modernized farmhouse a little northwest of Zillah, you can sample first-rate, mostly Bordeaux- and Rhône-style vin, along with a brick-oven-baked pizza made with a dough recipe passed down by one of the owner's Ukrainian families. You can also attend concerts, chef dinners, and other special events.

John Williams planted the first grapes on Red Mountain in 1975, made his first Kiona Vineyards wines in 1980, and produced the first commercial Lemberger, a light German red, in the United States. Today the winery boasts a beautiful 10,000-square-foot tasting room with 180-degree views of Red Mountain and the Rattlesnake Hills, an idyllic setting for sampling top-notch late-harvest Riesling, Chenin Blanc ice wine, Sangiovese, Syrah, and many others. You can order charcuterie and cheese plates to enjoy inside or on the patio.

One of the early Yakima Valley wineries, established in 1981, Portteus is beloved by red-wine drinkers. Production includes Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Syrah, Zinfandel, and port—as well as a robust Chardonnay. The family-run tasting room is often staffed by the second generation of the Portteus family. Grapes are grown at 1,440-foot elevation on 47 acres above Zillah.

This friendly winery on the fertile slopes of the Yakima River stands out both for its splendid gardenlike setting and its diverse selection of wines. You'll find everything here from peppery Carmeneres to inky Port-style Zinfandel dessert wines to lightly effervescent moscatos. 

Another of Prosser's crop of younger wineries that have developed a big reputation, Wit Cellars offers tastings in a dapper space in Vintners Village. In addition to producing an eclectic array of superb wines, from a old-world-style Cabernet Franc to a late-harvest Riesling and a port-style Petit Verdot dessert wines, the winery stands out for its exceptionally welcoming staff.