Red Mountain: Two Days!
Friday, August 12
Known for its Cabernet Sauvignon and comprising 4,040 acres (about 2,043 acres of which is currently planted with wine grapes), Red Mountain is named for the red-hued native grass that grows on its slopes. Once a backwater eddy during the time of the pre-historic Missoula floods, the soil combination of sand, silt and loam is ideal for growing vinifera grapes.
The tiny Red Mountain appellation is the warmest in Washington state, producing grapes with ripe fruit character, great aromatics, and full tannins. The combination of heat, nutrient-poor soils, low rainfall and cool night temperatures leads to concentrated fruit and wines with amazing structure, power, and elegance.
10:20 a.m. pickup by Curated Walla Walla. Your driver for the day is Jamey.
Gayle, please share your lodging info with me when you have a chance.
Map: all included wineries
11:00 a.m. Hightower
19418 E 583 PR NE, Benton City, WA — Tasting Fee: $15 pp
With gentle winemaking techniques and a knack for blending, Tim and Kelly Hightower craft wines with great character that are naturally beautiful and free from pretense. This serene tasting room, nestled high among the lush vines of the 15-acre estate, boasts majestic views.
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12:15 p.m. Kiona Vineyards
44612 N Sunset Rd, Benton City, WA — Tasting fee: $15pp; waived for every $30 spent on wine
Starting in 1975, Kiona pioneered the Red Mountain viticultural area with its unique microclimate. Their vineyards supply more than 60 other Washington wineries, but Kiona produces wines of outstanding character themselves. This 20,000 square-foot facility is bright and airy, offering stunning views of the mountain and Kiona’s estate vineyards.
1:30 p.m. Lunch @ Terra Blanca Vineyard Grill
34715 Demoss Rd, Benton City, WA
Vineyard Grill is located at the beautiful Terra Blanca winery and estate vineyard, and offers chateau-inspired cuisine with panoramic views of the vineyards and the lower Yakima valley.
Menu below for your convenience.
Depart at 3:00
3:15 p.m. — Upchurch Vineyards
32901 Vineyard View PR NE, Benton city, WA — Tasting Fee: $35pp, waived w/ purchase of $50
Winemaker Chris Upchurch is something of a rock star and iconoclast. As a founding winemaker and partner at DeLille Cellars, he crafted some of the most award-winning wines in Washington. Since 2007 Chris—together with his wife Thea and Red Mountain pioneer Dick Bouchey—have been able to create something most winemakers only dream about: their own estate winery. These are lofty, truly special wines, created with unrivaled passion and a commitment to sustainable farming.
Saturday, August 13
10:20 a.m. pickup by Curated Walla Walla. Your driver for the day is Michael.
11:00 a.m. Fidélitas Red Mountain
51810 N Sunset Road, Benton City, WA—Tasting Fee, $20pp, waived w/ purchase
Fidélitas is a family-owned, family-run winery founded by veteran winemaker Charlie Hoppes. All wines are sourced from the Fidélitas Estate and a variety of vineyard partners on Red Mountain focusing on single vineyard, single varietal bottlings and classic Bordeaux style blends.
12:15 p.m. Frischette Winery
39412 N Sunset Rd. Benton City, WA—Tasting Fee, $18pp for a Signature flight; $20pp for the Mystery flight
Heads, Washington; tails, South Carolina. The coin landed heads up, and now Frischette is home to one of the most dynamic husband-and-wife winemaking teams on Red Mountain. Everything about their open-hearted approach to life and winemaking permeates this tasting experience, from the perfectly calibrated playlist to the “edutaining” approach of their staff.
1:30 p.m. Col Solare
50207 Antinori Road, Benton City, WA—Feature flight tasting, $50pp
A remarkable collaboration of Old World and New World winemaking traditions is at the heart of Col Solare. The enterprise began in 1995 after a consultant for Chateau Ste. Michelle, the Northwest’s oldest winery, invited 26th-generation winemaker Marchese Antinori to visit the Columbia Valley and learn about how wines were being made here. Since then, the partnership has led to the opening of their architecturally stunning new tasting room and production facility and the planting of their estate vineyard.
Lunch from Graze-A Place to Eat will be served courtesy of Curated Walla Walla. Please choose from the menu below.
3:00 p.m. Cooper | Red Mountain
35306 N Sunset Rd, Benton City, WA—Tasting Fee, $45pp, waived with $150 purchase
Cooper Wine Company is part of the legacy of great Estate Wineries on Red Mountain. A small, family-run operation, Cooper is all about Bordeaux-style reds. Bud, the chocolate lab, will be on hand to oversee your tasting experience.