Whitman Hill Winery offers easy access on Roza Drive, an area that beckons with postcard-like charm amid a bucolic mixed-use setting of vineyards, hops, orchard farms and horse ranches near the epicenter of Zillah’s winegrowing region about 20 minutes from Yakima. Owners Scott and Denise Whitman (whose maiden name is Hill) purchased the former winery, Agate Field, in … [Read more...] about Whitman Hill Is Yakima Valley’s Newest Destination Winery
Guide to Wine Scores
Our wine reviews are based on evaluative tastings by Tasting Room Magazine’s editors. Overall score ratings are based on aroma; flavor; typicity of character; structure and balance. Quality-to-price ratio (QPR) can play a factor, meaning that an $80 wine with a score of 90 pts. falls in a much higher league than that of a $15 wine given the same score.
95-100 pts. – Extraordinary: a truly great wine of its variety
91-94 pts. – Outstanding: exceptional quality, character and complexity
88-90 pts. – Excellent: very well made and highly recommended
85-87 pts. – Recommended: a solid wine, may offer superior value if the price is right
Glacier View Cellars Mixes Passion for The Great Outdoors With Handcrafted Wines
Owner and vintner Stephanie Jones is an avid hiker and backpacker, and she brings that enthusiasm into Glacier View Cellar’s new Woodinville tasting room in ways that capture the spirit of naturalist John Muir’s holistic vision of the great outdoors. “When you tug at a single thing in nature, you’ll find it attached to the rest of the world,” Muir wrote. He was likely referring … [Read more...] about Glacier View Cellars Mixes Passion for The Great Outdoors With Handcrafted Wines
Cairdeas Brings Rhône-Inspired Wines to South Seattle
Fans of Rhône-inspired wines on the western side of the state will be cheered to hear that owners Charlie and Lacey Lybecker have opened Cairdeas’ long-anticipated Seattle tasting room. The location is south of downtown and is part of the SODO Urbanworks complex on 1st Avenue at the intersection of Andover. The Lybeckers, who released their first vintage in West Seattle back … [Read more...] about Cairdeas Brings Rhône-Inspired Wines to South Seattle
Sparkling Wine Producer Pops Up in Prosser
Launched by three WSU Viticulture and Enology graduates in 2021, Tirriddis’ name is an amalgamate of Tirage, Riddle and Disgorge—the three key steps to produce sparkling wines using the traditional method. Although it can be said there is little else that falls under the category of “traditional” from the entrepreneurial-minded team of Andrew Gerow, Gabriel Crowell and Matthew … [Read more...] about Sparkling Wine Producer Pops Up in Prosser
Reviews: Single-Vineyard Designates
We take a deep dive into the study of terroir with reviews of 21 unique vineyard designates, most often called single-vineyard wines. … [Read more...] about Reviews: Single-Vineyard Designates
Tsillan Cellars Continues Tradition of Excellence with the 2021 Bellissima Rossa
Winery founder and owner Bob Jankelson, along with head winemaker Garrett Grubbs, have garnered much attention lately for their praise-worthy red and white estate wines grown near the shores of Lake Chelan. A combination of a unique growing site, coupled with the “lake effect” make wines from the Lake Chelan AVA highly noteworthy. Tsillan Cellars is one of the appellation’s … [Read more...] about Tsillan Cellars Continues Tradition of Excellence with the 2021 Bellissima Rossa
Reviews: New World Red Bordeaux-Style Wines
In the Fall 2023 print edition we featured 28 Bordeaux-style red wines shown below from Washington State producers. … [Read more...] about Reviews: New World Red Bordeaux-Style Wines
Mercer Wines Shine With Terroir of the Horse Heaven Hills AVA
Armed with world-class grapes from their family vineyards farmed in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, proprietors Rob and Brenda Mercer have branched out over time with several Mercer Wine brands. The brands range from premium Mercer Reserves to Small Lot selections to Mercer Bros, and Subsoil value-buys. The Mercer family planted the first wine grapes in the Horse Heaven Hills in … [Read more...] about Mercer Wines Shine With Terroir of the Horse Heaven Hills AVA
Muret-Gaston Winery Brings Premium Wines and Mediterranean Bites To Kennewick
Kyle and Amy Johnson are the power-couple behind the success of Muret-Gaston Winery and sister wineries, Purple Star and Native Sun. The husband-and-wife winemaking team established their Benton City production facility in 2012. Most recently, in mid-2022 they opened a sleek modern tasting room and wine bar in historic downtown Kennewick that offers patio seating overlooking … [Read more...] about Muret-Gaston Winery Brings Premium Wines and Mediterranean Bites To Kennewick
Damsel Cellars Opens 2nd Tasting Room in Woodinville
Mari (pronounced Mary) Womack has been earning respect and praise for crafting singular wines of distinction since her inaugural 2012 and 2013 releases of Cabernet and Syrah [eaerning her “winemaker to watch” in Washington Tasting Room Magazine’s Summer 2016 issue]. Mari’s killer winemaking instincts and trusted palate honed from her earlier restaurant background are … [Read more...] about Damsel Cellars Opens 2nd Tasting Room in Woodinville