Sip and be merry: Wineries gear up for Thanksgiving

Here's a nice intro to the upcoming Thanksgiving wine tasting in our area put together by Loretto J. Hulse, a staff writer with the Tri-City Herald. We thought it would be nice to share this with you:

Don’t fight the shopping crowds the day after Thanksgiving. It’s called Black Friday for a reason. Instead pack up some turkey sandwiches, a couple of wine glasses and a few other goodies and hit the road for a wine tour.

Yakima Valley

Next weekend, Nov. 28-30, wineries in one of Washington’s top wine producing areas, the Yakima Valley, will be celebrating Thanksgiving in Wine Country. Over 50 wineries will hold open houses, offering a chance to meet winemakers and chefs, taste library wines and new releases, nibble on savory tidbits, tour wineries and learn how to pair holiday foods with complimentary wines.

Buy a $25 Premiere Pass ($20 in advance) and you’ll be treated to a variety of specialty food and wine pairings, library tastings and tours not available to the public. They’re available online at www.wineyakimavalley.org along with a complete list of participating wineries, directions and the discounts and specials available at each. Or calll 800-258-7270.

Rattlesnake Hills

If you’re willing to drive a bit farther, head for the Zillah area. The 15 wineries along the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail are also celebrating the Thanksgiving weekend, Nov. 28-30, with special tastings and discounts, tasty foods to nibble and a chance to hobnob with winemakers and winery owners.

Buy an optional $5 Passport, and you’ll receive deeper discounts on purchases and/or complimentary reserve and port tastings. All the wineries sell the Passport cards, which are good at all 15 establishments along the Wine Trail.

For a list of the participating wineries, maps and information on the specials at each, go to www.rattlesankehills.com or call 888-375-7498.

Walla Walla Valley

Can’t get away over Thanksgiving weekend? Walla Walla-area wineries will treat you to special tastings, savory food and art and craft displays the first week of December. The wineries are generally open Dec. 5-7 but some will open a day early, some a day or two later. Hours vary widely too, running mainly 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Going to their websites is the best way to find out which are open when, for directions and what the specials are at each. You’ll find them listed at: http://wallawallawinenews.com/ or call 509-214-0315. Several wineries charge a nominal tasting fee, which is generally refunded with a purchase.