Seattle, WA

Something I failed to mention in my previous entry is the Wine Passport. You can purchase your Rattlesnake Hills Wine Passport at any of the 16 wineries on the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail (or the Visitors Center) for a nominal fee of $5. I suggest you purchase yours at your very first stop in order to reap the benefits right away. As you visit each winery, present your passport and get it stamped. Each winery has it’s own unique stamp and each winery offers a unique gift ranging from 10% off your purchase to 50% off a specific bottle. After visiting 10 of the 16 wineries you will receive a special prize and an invitation to attend the annual Passport Party where I’m given to understand that there are lots of great prizes as well as wines to taste. Your passport NEVER expires so if you can’t hit all the wineries, just hold on to it for your next visit.

Here is a list of the current benefits.

Okay, now that I’ve gotten that out of the way, on to my next winery.

Paradisos del Sol
3230 Highland Drive, Zillah 98953
Phone: 509.829.9000 or 509.829.5590
Fax: 509.829.6227
Hours: Daily 11-6. Winter hours may vary, please call ahead.
Wine Tasting: Free

After reading through the descriptions of the various wineries, I settled on Paradisos del Sol“We, Paul and Barbara, drink more of our wines than anyone else. It has to be wholesome, wholistic, hedonistic, and yummy. Traditional wines with our unique twist. Slow wines for slow food, friends, family, and fun. No faux château here—it’s “the House” with chickens, geese, cats, dogs, fish, frogs . . . family friendly. Kevin’s Jellybean Store (Valley’s best cherries and melons). Come Taste Paradise in a garden of the sun!”

True to the description we were greeted upon our arrival to free-range chicken strutting around the yard and a very humorous sign reminding you not to leave your wine to bake in the sun.

Owner, Paul, was busy installing a new roof with the help of his brother. He thanked us for getting him in out of the heat for more enjoyable pursuits. A man after our own hearts, Paul immediately brought out food to pair with his wines; and act that would only endear him to us. First up was a wonderful Artichoke Crab Dip which Paul served with their Rosé Paradiso. The pairing worked well and the Rosé Paradiso had a crisp, lightness to it that was perfect for a summer day.

Next Paul traded the Artichoke Crab Dip for their Bleu Ribbon Dip (aka Glop) paired with the Paradisos Red, a full-bodied red with the aroma of oak and berries. This is a wine that would be perfect with our homemade pizza, with lasagna or any hearty red sauce.

My current favourites are dessert wines and ports so with that in mind, Paul pulled out his Flaming Pears with Angelica G, a dessert wine so yummy that I wanted to crawl inside the glass and lick it clean from the inside!

Lastly, Paul brought out brought out a bottle of Late Harvest Botrytis Riesling. He told us that it took his 9 year old son to find a food to pair with this wine. He set two candles out and lit them. What Kevin suggested was toasted marshmallows. Paul brought out a bowl of mini-marshmallows and we slowly cooked them over the flame. What resulted was indeed a match made in heaven. Finally a wine you could sit by the fire sipping while toasting marshmallows with the kids!

Our visit to Paradisos del Sol was our overall favourite. Paul is a down-to-earth kind of guy who has let success grow his wines, not his ego. Be sure to stop by and shoot the breeze while trying out some fabulous wines and tell him you read about his winery in my blog!

Back to Part One of this series.
On to Part Three in this series.
On to Part Five in this series

Rattlesnake Hills, Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail, wineries, Yakima Valley, Paradisos del Sol, wine, vineyards, Washington