Spending a Weekend in Yakima for Food and Wine Lovers
Where can you go in Washington when you’re in need of sunshine? My hubby and I head to Yakima, also known as the Palm Springs of Washington, as it is said to see sun 350 days of the year. Plus, with more than 90 wineries spanning 70 miles, Yakima Valley makes a fantastic destination for wine and food lovers.
Our most recent visit took place over a glorious three-day weekend. In order to be walking distance to restaurants, we stay in downtown Yakima, usually at the Hilton Garden Inn. Our most recent trip found us settling in next door at Hotel Maison Yakima Tapestry Collection by Hilton. Honestly, they both seem quite similar.
Late Afternoon Arrival in Yakima
The drive is typically a little over two hours from Seattle. So, upon arriving in the Yakima Valley we don’t waste any time and head directly to a winery to kick off our weekend with some wine and a bite to eat. Sheridan Vineyards in Zillah, with its beautiful tranquil garden, breathtaking Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and satisfying charcuterie boards has everything a weary road tripper could want!
Then, it’s time to head to the hotel and take a little stroll downtown before dinner.
Dinner at Second Street Grill
If you yearn for familiar comfort food, Second Street Grill in downtown Yakima is the place to satisfy those cravings. It’s a casual spot with a vast selection of draft beers, and this place was bustling. The hubby’s Wagyu Burger and my Santa Fe Salad filled us up. Yet, when we caught a whiff of the house root beer being delivered to a table next to us, we couldn’t resist ordering a float to share for dessert. Talk about familiar, comforting and satisfying!
Yakima For Food and Wine Lovers Day Two
A great cup of coffee to start the day is a must for us. From the hotel we walk a few blocks to MAK Daddy Coffee Roasters. Then, we head around the block to Essencia Artisan Bakery. While they offer a variety of pastries, don’t miss out on their larger than life loaves of sourdough. We often buy one to take back to Seattle with us. Be warned that the bakery is closed on Sunday and Monday.
After fueling up for the day, it’s time to head to wine country! Our most recent visit coincided with Catch the Crush weekend, so we experienced different facets of winemaking at each estate we visited and spent time with the winery owners. If you’re new to wine, don’t worry, these friendly down to earth folks will make you feel right at home.
Dineen Vineyard
If your idea of a blissful afternoon of wine tasting includes exploring vines, cozying up to a firepit on crisp days or perhaps indulging in wood fired pizzas or pot pies on special weekends head to Dineen Vineyards. Under the guidance of Marissa Dineen, second generation, the picturesque vineyards are cared for with an emphasis on eco-friendly practices.
Two Mountain Winery
Come for the refreshing rosé and robust reds and stay for winery dogs Cash and Fievel!
VanArnam Vineyards
In addition to a tasting room, the VanArnam property sets itself apart by offering food on-site at their Tin Roof Grill. A special upgraded tasting experience guided by the winemaker in the barrel room is available. Who doesn’t love an upgrade?
Dinner at Crafted
No stay in Yakima is complete without a dinner reservation at Crafted. The farm-to-table concept is strong here, the wine list highlights stunning Washington producers, and the service is fantastic.
Day Three of a Weekend in Yakima For Food and Wine Lovers
After our usual coffee, we ventured to the Downtown Yakima Farmers Market which is open Sundays from 9 am to 2 pm, seasonally from Mother’s Day to the end of October. The market offers a mix of prepared foods and farm stands. We picked up a selection of cheeses from Tieton Farm and Creamery along with some organic produce for a little picnic dinner in our hotel room. Meanwhile, there’s time for more wine tasting in the Valley!
Fortuity Cellars
Founded by Emily and Lee Fergestrom in 2017, the charming couple and their boldly expressive wines have garnered quite a bit of attention and acclaim in a relatively short time. Lee provided us a terrific tour of the cellar where we witnessed grapes in various states of fermentation and tasted from barrel.
Dichotomy Wines
Check it out – a winery that makes fantastic vino in Yakima Valley, Washington AND McLaren Vale, Australia! Fun varieties, too, such as Nebbiolo and Mataro (that’s what the Aussies call Mourvèdre). Dichotomy is a winery to watch! There’s also a guest house available for rent if you want to sleep among the vines.
Late Lunch at Wacky Crab Shack
Recommended by a winery tasting room manager, we headed here late in the afternoon at that awkward time between wine tasting and dinner. Though fish boils seem to be the main event here, we were feeling snack-ish and ordered tacos – fish for me and carne for the hubby. They really hit the spot and held us over until our little hotel room picnic later that night.
Treveri Cellars
This family operation is dedicated to delectable sparkling wines. A visit to their expansive outdoor space is a must. In the winter, they set up festive outdoor bubble tents that are heated and feature comfortable seating and a special menu.
Departure Day
After checking out of the hotel, we headed to Naches for a visit to Cot’s Peak Coffee and fueled up with fantastic espresso drinks and locally made bagels. We happened upon a walking path so strolled around a bit before heading to our next stop.
Wilridge Vineyard
If you want to squeeze in some more wine (or cocktail) tasting, head to Wilridge Vineyard Winery and Distillery in Naches Heights AVA. Founder/vintner Paul Beveridge is growing exciting varieties rarely seen in Washington including a wildly tasty Zweigelt and nuanced old-world style Sangiovese. Plus, he’s serious about eco-friendly practices and was first in the state to obtain organic, biodynamic and Salmon Safe certification for his vineyard. It’s a beautiful site to hike or rock climb.
Precision Fruit Stand
Can you really say you visited Yakima if you don’t stop at a fruit stand? It’s practically mandatory in my book! So along I-82 we stopped at Precision Fruit to shop for antiques and produce.
Seasonal Events in Yakima Valley
Our Yakima visit in October happened during Catch the Crush Weekend, a celebration of the grape harvest. It’s a fantastic time of year to visit and see grapes in the vineyards, wine fermenting in the cellars, and to learn more about the winemaking process from the winemakers themselves.
Spring Barrel Tasting in late April is also an exciting time to visit the Valley.
To see the source of some of Washington’s award winning cheese, visit Tieton Farm and Creamery during their spring open farm experience, usually around April.
Downtown Yakima Farmers Market takes place Sundays 9 am to 2 pm, Mother’s Day to end of October.
Explore Nearby
We often stay in Yakima while on our way to Walla Walla wine country (Yakima is about halfway between Seattle and Walla Walla).
Stop off in Cle Elum along the way and visit Seth and Audrey Kitzke’s Upsidedown Wines tasting room and stock up on snacks at the local meat vending machine.
Head to Naches for remarkable coffee at Cot’s Peak Coffee from Basalt Roasters.
Visit Ellensburg’s burgeoning wine and arts scene.
Head to Red Mountain and the nearby Tri-Cities.
Nancy Croisier, a Seattle native, is a graduate of the Northwest Wine Academy, a Certified Specialist of Wine, and founder of VinoSocial. She is on a mission to get every winery on social media and a bottle of wine on every dinner table. Read more of Nancy’s writing in the Slow Wine Guide USA, Washington Tasting Room Magazine and on the VinoSocial.wine site. For more wine and food discoveries, follow @VinoSocialNancy on Instagram.
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