April looks like a fine month to be a wine lover. I just got a note from Jim Russi of Piety Flats Winery with a list of spring events for the Rattlesnake AVA over the next few weeks. Jim also mentions that he may have lost some email addresses when he updated his computer recently. If you find that you’re no longer receiving updates, you may want to contact Jim and get back on his mailing list.

Spring is a beautiful time to visit the Yakima Valley wine country. Without further ado, here is a list of upcoming events:

April

18, 19 & 20 Pre-Barrel Tasting on Friday, Saturday and Sunday The annual weekend before Spring Barrel Tasting is PRE-BARREL TASTING weekend, where the wineries roll out the barrels in a quieter, more intimate event featuring new wine releases, conversations with the winemakers about their hand-crafted wines, and great wine specials. Avoid the crowds that will be at all the wineries next weekend. Come to the wineries this weekend to sample new releases and blends. What’s the difference between this weekend and Spring Barrel Tasting the next? It’s all about the wine this weekend! Smaller crowds, no live bands, no fees or tickets, and more one-on-one with the winemakers. Some wineries will offer futures for sale on their soon-to-be released, hand-crafted wines. (Complimentary – no ticket required)

25, 26, & 27 Spring Barrel Tasting on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (Three full days of wine sampling and festivities.) Wine is not all you’ll experience during Spring Barrel Tasting weekend in the Rattlesnake Hills. Several wineries will have other things to tease you out of your winter doldrums, including live bands, BBQ at reasonable prices, and artists displaying their art. But the real entertainment is the barrel tasting, where winemakers offer samples of their hand-crafted wares while discussing terroir, grape cultivation, fermentation, or the fruit forwardness of the barreled wine. Learn the art of tasting the fruit of the vine, made and refined in the newest American Viticulture Area that is so close to Yakima, the Rattlesnake Hills! (Complimentary – no ticket required) Most of the wineries do not charge a tasting fee, except for their reserve wines, and no ticket is required to visit any of the wineries on the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail. We want you to experience the wines in the Rattlesnake Hills. Once you do, we’re sure you’ll want to buy! However, great discounts and/or free reserve tasting can be yours with a $5 Passport. Ask about them at any of the 15 wineries on the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail or at the Visitor Center in Yakima off I-82 at exit 33A. Three exciting days of great new wines, live bands, BBQ, artists, and more are on the Trail during the annual Spring Barrel Tasting! Just 2 hours from Seattle, and 2.5 from Portland, the Rattlesnake Hills wineries are just outside Yakima, WA and offer full estate wineries where the grapes for many of Washington’s premier wines are grown. For more information on this or any other Rattlesnake Hills event, E-mail info@rattlesnakehills.com or call 888.375.RHWT..

Those sampling wines from the barrel will need a glass. Glasses may be purchased at the wineries.

WINERY EVENTS during SPRING BARREL TASTING:

Bonair Winery – The fun and fabulous Bonair staff will offer barrel samples of our 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Rattlesnake Hills, Morrison Vineyard. This intense full-bodied 100% cabernet is from the oldest vineyard in the Rattlesnake Hills, planted 40 years ago in 1968.
Claar Cellars - Claar Cellars will be barrel tasting our 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon. Rattlesnake Hills Passport holders are also invited to try a special barrel tasting of our Fouled Anchor Port. Bruno Corneaux, our winemaker will be on hand the 25-27th to talk about our wines.
Eaton Hill Winery – While St. Patrick was in the Rattlesnake Hills chasing out the snakes, he blessed Eaton Hill with Angel’s Posole’ – A heavenly soup divinely perfected to compliment our devilishly delicious Hungarian Oak Estate Rose’ de Franc and Riesling.
Horizon’s Edge Winery – Enjoy a bottle of wine while listening to the music. Live Band from 12:00-3:00PM on Saturday the 26th. Tasting from the Barrel: Vanilla Port Style Desert Wine. Passport holders receive free Food and Wine Matching Wheel with any Case purchase (one wheel per person) and 12% off all wine purchases, and 20% off with each case purchase.
Hyatt Vineyards – Barrel samples and new releases are featured this fabulous weekend. Don’t miss the live band, Blind Lemon Pie, on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons until closing, General Grant’s BAR-B-Q, and Ron’s Original Kettle Korn. Also, bottled water will be for sale, benefitting Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. This is always the weekend to be at Hyatt Vineyards!
Maison de Padgett Winery – Stop here for the fun and wine! Live Band from 12:00-3:00PM on Saturday the 26th . Tasting from the Barrel: Malbec Port. Passport holders receive a free poster with any 3 bottle purchase (one poster per person) 12% off all wine purchases and 20% each case purchase.
Masset Winery - Masset Winery will feature two unique wines to sample from the barrel and we will also be showing off our new releases! Also, please stop by to check on the progress of our latest Masset art project! Chairs and a gazebo on the lawn to relax in front of the historic 1905 Angel Farmstead Barn, maybe some cheese from our gift shop/tasting room? Don’t miss our new Chardonnay and dry Rose’ - perfect for summer. See you soon, the Massets
Paradisos del Sol Winery - For the 24th year, The Man in the Wild Pants will attempt enlightenment in the Arcane Magick of barrels and wines. Barrel One – Lemberger resting for 30 months. Barrel Two – Lemberger, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Tempranillo, and Sangiovese married for 30 months. Dave Ettl will also be attempting enlightenment via his own brand of Magic on Saturday afternoon, April 26.
Piety Flats Winery – Sample our scintillating 2006 Syrah direct from the barrel, browse the famous gift shop for wonderful treasures, or picnic on the lawn with a bottle of one of our award-winning wines.
Portteus Vineyards – We’ll have a couple of delicious reds from the barrel, but you’ll have to stop in to discover what they are!
Severino Cellars - Join Severino Cellars for it’s very first Spring Barrel Tasting! We will be serving wines from 10am-6pm and can’t wait to share our wine with you. Our new spring release is a 2005 Chardonnay and we will be sampling Cabernet Sauvignon from the barrel. For those of you who may need a snack during the day, we will have oysters on the half shell, hot off the BBQ (we really enjoy them with the Riesling). For more information please contact us at 509-829-3800.
Silver Lake at Roza Hills - Come Taste what the future has in store for Silver Lake Winery’s award winning wines during the Spring Barrel Tasting event! Sample newly fermented wines straight out of the oak barrels and compare them to their already bottled counterparts. Enjoy your sipping and sampling while relaxing in front of an incredible panoramic view of the valley with a great meal and some wonderful music all afternoon and into the evening on Saturday, April 26th. Stop here for your bottled water, too. This weekend only, take home all your favorite Reserves and Grand Reserves with our weekend 25% off Sale!
Steppe Cellars - Steppe Cellars will be sampling its 2007 Malbec from the barrel during the spring barrel tasting weekends. This will be one component of our Bordeaux style blend. Enjoy a fantastic picnic on Saturday prepared by Guerra’s Gourmet. We will serve grilled local asparagus along with grilled sausages, bread and salad on the Saturday of Barrel Tasting - (April 26). You can always purchase picnic goodies from the tasting room and make your own picnic. If you are looking for a great way to spend evening Friday evening, come to Steppe Cellars’ wine-maker’s dinner at Buhrmaster Bakery in Yakima. Wine-maker Anke Friemuth-Wildman will discuss our wines as you sample them with this delicious and thoughtfully paired dinner.
Tefft Cellars - We have a Vintage Wine Dinner on Sat 4/19 $35.00 Spanish Tapas ending with Paella and tasting older vintages. All SBT specials will be in effect. By reservation only 5-8 P.M. Limited seating – make reservations early! During Spring Barrel Tasting, we will be offering samples of our 2007 Viognier from the barrel and many other ‘specials’.
Two Mountain Winery – During Barrel Tasting weekend, not only will we offer barrel samples of our delicious wines, but for the first time, we will be having the band ‘Distant Satellite’ playing from 4-6pm on Saturday! Mariano’s famous Tacos Uruapan will be available for purchase all day. Per co-owner Pat Rawn, “They are the best tacos in town (or Mexico in my opinion).”

Remember the most important thing. Bring a glass or purchase one from any of the wineries.

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