Tri-Cities Wine Country: A Local’s Guide
The Tri-Cities sit right in the middle of Washington wine country. The region is part of the huge Columbia Valley wine region, which holds nearly all of the state’s wine-grape acreage, and dozens of tasting rooms are clustered in a few easy-to-visit wine neighborhoods. Here’s where to go.
Red Mountain
Just 15 minutes northwest of Richland, near Benton City, Red Mountain is Washington’s smallest and warmest wine region, home to more than 15 wineries and some of the most sought-after vineyard land in the Pacific Northwest. It’s best known for bold reds, especially Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes up about 60% of plantings. The wineries sit close together on the mountain’s slopes, many with sweeping views of the Yakima River valley, so it’s easy to visit several in one afternoon.
- Kiona Vineyards
- Hedges Family Estate
- Col Solare
- Fidelitas
- Terra Blanca Winery
- Avennia Red Mountain
Richland: Tulip Lane and Queensgate
You don’t have to leave town for great wine. Along Tulip Lane, near the Columbia River, a cluster of tasting rooms offers food and wine in an urban setting. Barnard Griffin, one of the area’s oldest wineries, sold the first Red Mountain wine back in 1978. A few minutes away in south Richland, Market Vineyards pours Red Mountain wines in a cozy tasting room at Queensgate Village.
- Barnard Griffin Winery
- Bookwalter Winery
- Tagaris Winery
- Market Vineyards
Kennewick: Columbia Gardens
Near the Columbia River in Kennewick, Columbia Gardens is an urban wine and artisan village with several tasting rooms in one walkable spot. It’s a relaxed, local favorite, especially on weekends.
- Gordon Estate Winery
- Bartholomew Winery
- Monarcha
- Muret-Gaston
Prosser: Vintners Village
About 30 minutes west, Prosser calls itself the Birthplace of Washington Wine. Just off I-82, Vintners Village is a walkable wine park anchored by the Winemakers Loft, where you can go door to door between several wineries, with many more tasting rooms on the surrounding streets. Nearby, the Walter Clore Wine and Culinary Center is a great place to learn about the history of Washington wine.
- Airfield Estates
- Milbrandt Vineyards
- Thurston Wolfe
- Smasne Cellars
- WIT Cellars
- Martinez and Martinez
- Coyote Canyon Winery
- Bunnell Family Cellar
- Wautoma Springs
- Cork and Taps by Domanico Cellars
Day Trip: Walla Walla
About an hour east, Walla Walla is one of the most famous wine destinations in the Northwest, with more than 100 wineries and a charming downtown full of tasting rooms and restaurants. It deserves its own day, and it makes a memorable one.
Tips for Visiting
- Call ahead. Many tasting rooms offer tastings by appointment, and hours change with the seasons.
- Plan a safe ride. Choose a designated driver or book a local wine tour company.
- Go in the fall. September and October bring harvest season, cooler weather, and lots of winery events.
- Beat the summer heat. In July and August, go in the morning or early afternoon, and bring water.
- Pace yourself. Three or four wineries in a day is plenty.
Know a winery we should add? Share a suggestion.