Wine Tasting in Tri-Cities
A few weeks ago, I took an impulse trip to the tri-cities to
visit my Mom, Dad and Aunt. My Mom had called me up, asking if we’d head up for
the weekend to go see her cousin in an Eagle’s tribute band, and go wine
tasting. While an Eagle’s Tribute band isn’t really my thing, wine tasting
definitely is! So my boyfriend and I loaded up the car Friday night and headed
up to the Tri-cities. This was a big deal for many reasons.
- This was my boyfriend and my first real road trip together! You’d think after four and a half years one would have happened by now, but nope this was our first one.
- It had been since Easter that I’d seen my parents, and for us that is quite some time.
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Gorgeous look at Hedges the winery |
Stop #1: Wine O'Clock
The next day was the day I was stoked about though. WINE
TASTING. We had been planning on going wine tasting in the Tri-Cities since
Christmas and were finally able to do it. My Aunt toured us around, taking us
to her favorite vineyards. It was amazing to have a local’s perspective on the
wineries. Our first vineyard, Bunnel Family Cellar, had a restaurant called Wine O’Clock whose
name is amazing. Wine O’Clock is located in Prosser Washington. They
offer a beautiful lunch menu; they have a patio reminiscent of a secret garden.
They have lanterns strewn through the trees, that surround the cobblestone
patio. Black wrought iron furniture brings you straight to the Italian
countryside. We had a lovely wine-tasting flight, and some pizza’s we split
between us. The food was reminiscent of Tuscan pizza. The pizza had fresh
vegetables, rich olive oil, and a flaky crust. It tasted amazing. That was the
precursor to good things to come.
Stop #2: Gamache
We then went to my Aunt’s favorite winery, Gamache. We walked
into an incredibly modern open space, and tasted an amazing grouping of reds.
Unfortunately, at this point in time, I had had quite a bit of wine, and do not
quite remember all the ones we tried 😊. But! We all sat out on their gorgeous
patio, and looked out over the valley. Tri-Cities, and Eastern Washington in
general tend to get a bad rep. But the Eastern side of the state is gorgeous. Green
rolling hills surrounded us; trees were decorated with blooming flowers. The
land it perfect for cultivating grapes and other produce. The city is alive;
there are fun events. It’s definitely a place to check out.
Stop #3: Hedges
Our final winery was Hedges, and that is where I finally
remembered to take pictures. The venue was gorgeous. Inside the bar was richly
decorated with a large baby grand piano, and a deep wood bar. Everyone was
super friendly, and the wines tasted amazing. We were able to snap some gorgeous
pictures before we had to rush back to meet the rest of our family for dinner.
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The View from the final winery |
To me, wine is more than just an alcoholic beverage. It reminds me of family time. Mom, Dad and I drinking wine in our Fancy Room on Friday nights discussing the our weeks and the goings on in the family. It transports me to the Trattorie lining the streets of Florence, where my roommate and I would sit, eat dinner and dink Chianti that was cheaper than the water. Wine is a big deal in the Catholic faith as well. Every week since I was seven, I would drink wine during communion, partaking in the Eucharist. When we were out among the beautiful green hills and vineyards, I was reminded of the most important events in my life. Yes we taste wine, and judge it on its body, smell and mouth-feel, but I love wine tasting for the memories it evokes, and the memories it helps create. Family time is hard to come by now. I live about 500 miles from my family, and those Friday night wine talks I used to take for granted are things I now cherish.
- Embrace each day and each moment with your family.
- Take time to spend with them, even if it means driving six hours in a weekend and going to an Eagle’s Tribute band.
Have you all ever gone wine tasting? What is your favorite
region to visit? Comment below!
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My Boyfriend and I at the last winery we went to |
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