Discover Yakima Valley wine country with sparkling wine tastings, farm-to-table dining, biking trails, and rafting adventures.
Everything in Washington State’s Yakima Valley comes back to water. It shapes the land, fuels the farms, and powers the adventures. So when you visit, where do you begin? With a rush of class III whitewater rapids—or with a glass of world-class sparkling wine?
Water 101
Both experiences trace back to the same source. The Yakima River and its tributaries make this valley what it is, whether they’re feeding a thrilling whitewater run or irrigating the desert-like landscape that sustains vineyards and orchards. Here’s a quick Water 101: In winter, snow piles up in the Cascade Mountains just west of the Yakima Valley. As summer arrives, the snowpack melts, and the water flows into reservoirs. One of the most important is the Tieton Dam, which holds back the Tieton River and helps regulate the flow on which the entire region depends.
The normally slow-flowing Tieton River receives a significant surge of water at the end of August or early September. Water is released from the dam, which helps fish spawn, and aids vineyards and the farmers with late-season demands. Our favorite benefit is September whitewater rafting.
The annual release of the dam and the big surge of water is called the “annual flip-flop.” The result is Class 3 rapids to enjoy the large waves and wild ride. Wildwater River Guides and Blue Sky Outfitters are two guiding companies for the Tieton River. They will guide you through the 13-mile stretch, which brings continuous wild and wet fun. Partway through this scenic ride, you can guarantee getting wet from the waves at the “High Noon” of the river. Very welcome on this warm day. No experience is required, and both guide companies provide all the gear you need to keep safe and warm.
After this rewarding trip, perhaps it is time to get rewarded with some bubbles to celebrate the triumph.
Waves and plenty of splashes to enjoy on the Tieton River. Photo courtesy of Wildwater River Guides
Yakima Valley Wine
The water defines Yakima Valley Wine! This is a semi-arid region, with some areas receiving annual rainfall of less than 10 inches. The stored water from winter snowmelt is critical for irrigation, helping this wine region thrive.
Yakima Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA) is a heavy hitter in terms of wine production, with nearly one-third of Washington’s planted vinifera acreage. Within the Yakima Valley AVA, there are also these sub AVAs: Candy Mountain, Goose Gap, Rattlesnake Hills, Red Mountain, and Snipes Mountain. Red Mountain is a warmer site that features some bold, red wines from highly regarded wineries.
The cooler site is Rattlesnake Hills, especially the western parts, which is closer to the Cascade Mountains and at higher elevations. Rieslings do very well in those cooler spots. Yakima Valley AVA is part of the large Columbia Valley AVA. 99% of Washington’s planted vinifera acreage is grown here. Ready for some tasting of sparkling wines?
Most of the wine is grown in the warm, sunny Eastern Washington. Photo courtesy of Washington Wine
Treveri Cellars
Treveri Cellars creates world-class sparkling wines that have been served at the White House, State Department receptions, and at the James Beard Foundation. Some of this happened within one year of them opening their doors. Why such early success?
Jürgen Grieb, head winemaker and founder, learned his craft in Germany, where he earned his degrees in winemaking and sparkling wine. Jürgen came to the Yakima Valley in 1982 and worked in the wine industry for close to 30 years before starting his business. Jürgen had this dialed in!
Treveri Cellars produces only sparkling wines, and the entire production is done in-house, with a strong German focus on winemaking. Thus, they use riesling and gewürztraminer to create crisp, delicious, and interesting wines.
Dosage occurs after the secondary bottle fermentation, in which, in many cases, sugar is added to help balance the wine. Treveri’s Blanc De Blancs Brut Zero has no sugar added during dosage and is one of my preferred sparkling wines. Next was the Blanc De Blancs Brut, which is a little sweeter but still dry, and we certainly enjoyed this wine, made from 100% chardonnay. The delicious pear-and-bacon flatbread was an excellent pairing.
The Sparkling Gewürztraminer with light spice and notes of tropical fruits was excellent. Jürgen Grieb’s son, Christian, is Assistant Winemaker, and he suggested that this is an excellent choice for holiday dinners. The final one was the Sparkling Syrah Brut, and we think it would pair very well with a turkey dinner. The vineyards used are within a 20-mile radius and are in the Yakima Valley AVA.
Assistant Winemaker Christian Grieb is pouring some of their finest sparkling wines. Photo by Michael Fagin
Tirriddis
Tirriddis opened in 2021, so they are the new kid on the block in making sparkling wine in the Yakima Valley. The three owners, Andrew Gerow, Gabriel Crowell, and Matthew Doutney, met while studying and earning their degrees in Washington State University’s Viticulture & Enology Program. They even opened a small wine shop while in school and noticed how well they got along together. After they received their degrees, they decided to continue to work together and start their own business.
Three vintner students meet in college and then start a winery. Photo courtesy of Gabriel Crowell, Tirriddis Sparkling Wines
Much of their wines are from the Rattlesnake Hills AVA, which is a sub-AVA of the large Yakima Valley AVA, and the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. Horse Heaven Hills is not part of the Yakima Valley AVA, but it is close to it. It is located south of the Yakima Valley, an area near the Columbia Gorge, and thus tends to be a windy site.
M.V. Blanc de Blanc Rendition No.5 is 100% chardonnay with citrus fruit notes, a light minerality, and just a touch of sugar added during the dosage. This is a great stand-alone wine or pairs well with a snack of potato chips or raw oysters. M.V. (multiple vintages or years) and renditions are a progression for the wines starting with one.
The MV Washington Blend Rendition No. 2 is sweeter, with 15 g/l (15 grams of sugar per liter) added, while the first was only 5 g/l. This was certainly an interesting blend, with, as the name suggests, a mix of great Washington varietals: pinot gris, chardonnay, syrah, riesling, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, albariño, and syrah.
We also enjoyed the 2022 Above The Curve Semillon, a 100% semillon with refreshing pineapple notes.
Relaxing on the patio to enjoy some sparkling wine. Photo courtesy of Gabriel Crowell, Tirriddis Sparkling Wines
Other Wineries
Our focus for this trip was sparkling wine made in the traditional method. However, we encourage you to sample some of the wines from the Red Mountain AVA. This is a sub AVA of the Yakima Valley AVA. Our recent article highlights several wineries from that region. Here is a brief list: Kiona Vineyards & Winery, Frichette Winery, and Hedges Family Estate are just a few of the highlights. There are many more wineries to enjoy in the Red Mountain AVA, and the other wineries that are part of the Yakima Valley AVA. Explore and enjoy!
Hedges Family Estate Winery: Enjoy the beautiful patio and sip their fine wines and cuisine. Photo by Michael Fagin
Dining
There are many dining options in the Yakima Valley. The popular phrase “farm-to-table” is sometimes overused, but the Yakima Valley is home to many locally grown foods, and the term often fits. Yakima County is the leading county in the US for apple production and grows about 75% of the US hops. The Yakima Valley AVA accounts for close to a third of the state’s planted wine grapes. The list goes on: sweet cherries, pears, and dairy. Time to eat!
Yakima Steak Company
Owners of Yakima Steak Company, Jamie Whitney and Alan Riches, have deep roots in the Yakima-area restaurant industry. They bring this experience, along with their friendship, which dates back to their teenage years, to create an excellent dining experience. The restaurant features two separate lofts upstairs, along with tables on the first floor. The lofts feature signage and tributes to local wineries. They also encourage local artists to showcase their work there through revolving exhibitions. Supporting other local small businesses is a focus.
For dinner, we started with stuffed mushrooms with garlic and pesto, which were excellent! One main course was the Steelhead Lemon Caper Pasta. The steelhead filet with the angel hair was a perfect pairing with sautéed spinach. An equally delicious main course was the filet mignon in béarnaise sauce, topped with succulent grilled shrimp.
Steelhead and angel hair with lemon capers. Photo by Michael Fagin
Other Restaurants
Main Stop on the Ave is located in the old Northern Pacific Train Depot, where you can get great coffee and breakfast goodies to power your day. Apple Tree Restaurant is located at Apple Tree Golf Course. We do not golf, but we really enjoyed the dining. The Avocado Chicken Burger with mango sauce was one of the highlights. The Grilled Steak Salad was also excellent, with tender steak cooked to perfection, crisp greens, candied walnuts, and blue cheese crumbles.
Learn more about Washington Wines on Wander With Wonder
Here are some restaurants we enjoyed during our prior visits: Caffé 11th Ave, Cowiche Creek Brewing Co. (beer and food), and Los Hernandez Tamales. You will be satisfied with all the excellent dining options.
Grilled Steak Salad with a nice, tender steak. Photo by Elizabeth Fagin
Biking
The Yakima Greenway boasts over 20 miles of paved trail going from Naches, which is northwest of town, to Union Gap. We were staying at the very comfortable and convenient Oxford Suites Yakima, which is adjacent to the Yakima Greenway Trail. It is easy to grab your bike and pedal southeast next to the scenic Yakima River to the Yakima Area Arboretum. Then explore the 46 acres.
Park your bike and explore the Arboretum. Photo by Michael Fagin
Looking for a fun guided bike tour? Kyle Bisconer with Cycle Yakima Tours offers a variety of tours. Two of his favorite tours are through Yakima Valley vineyards or the Cowiche Canyon Preserve trails. Alternatively, you can design your own ride. Kyle brings vast biking experience to his business.
Kyle Bisconer is leading us on the Yakima Greenway Trail. Photo by Michael Fagin.
The Yakima Valley wine and food experiences are exceptional, and each time we go, we discover new places to explore. The Yakmia Valley also offers so many outdoor activities. However, during this visit, we did not have time to enjoy the many hiking trails. No worries, we will return soon since it is only a little over two hours from Seattle or three from Portland.
Let Wander With Wonder help you find the best Washington wines and other things to do as you explore the Pacific Northwest.
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