Here are some of the best places in the state of Washington for tasting wines.
Instructions
1. Understand the regions before you go anywhere. Wine regions, even within a certain area, are divided into "appellations," areas that bring certain characteristics to the grapes grown there and therefore impart those characteristics into the wines made from them. If you can determine wines that you like and where they come from, that is a great first step in deciding where you want to go tasting.
2. Decide if you like reds or whites. Washington is becoming known for its big reds, especially Cabernet and Syrah. Some of the best in the state are being crafted in the Walla Walla region, the southern Yakima Valley and Red Mountain.
3. Bring cash or a credit card. Most places charge a tasting fee. The fees range from the very affordable to upward of $15 per flight of wines. Gone are the days when regions outside of the Napa Valley offered free tastings in exchange for the possibility that you might buy more bottles to take with you.
4. Budget things. Looking for a great weekend? Hit one of the big regions on the eastern side of the state. Want a day trip? Try Woodinville, east of Seattle. While almost all of Washington's wineries grow their grapes in eastern Washington, a great number have tasting rooms in the Woodinville area, including big names such as Chateau Ste. Michelle, Columbia, Januik and many others. See Resources below for links.
5. Know your limit. Unless you take a limo ride out to the wineries, have a designated driver or a driver who is either spitting or not trying every wine along with the rest of the group. Even if nobody is driving, trying too many wines can turn counterproductive, since when you get too buzzed, the pallet goes and you can't remember specific wines any more.
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