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Prosser Wine Tasting Opportunities Expand
Thanks to
continued development by the Port of Benton County, wine tasting
opportunities for tourists have expanded dramatically in and near downtown
Prosser.
Two areas at opposite ends of town are becoming wine magnets. The ten-year-old Prosser Food and Wine Park is located east of the Hogue Cellars' tasting room facility and includes facilities for Alexandria Nicole Cellars, C. R. Sandidge Wines, Cowan Vineyards and, in a separate facility, Kestrel Vintners. Chinook Wines tasting room is located just southwest of this complex at 220 Wittkopf Lane off Wine Country Road. See Prosser-area wineries map. The Port of Benton recently completed sales of winery sites in the new North Prosser Business Park (now named Vintner's Village) off Merlot Drive. This area is one-half mile east of a complex of motels, fast food franchises, gas stations and other small businesses that cater to tourist traffic. Thurston Wolfe and Willow Crest Wineries have completed construction here and are open for business. Both facilities offer inviting tasting rooms and courtyards for relaxing with a snack. Thurston Wolfe owners Wade Wolfe and Becky Yeaman are offering wine by the glass and prepared snack items, as well as opportunities for events. "We are so excited to have space!" exclaimed Becky Yeaman. "Wade is excited about the wine production facility, which includes separate bays for case storage and fermentation and barrel aging. There is also a large crush pad."
Across from Thurston Wolfe, construction is well underway at The Winemaker's Loft, a winery incubator where six wineries will share space. Currently scheduled to open in the fall of 2006, The Winemaker's Loft includes Michael Florentino Winery, Martinez Family Vineyards, WyndStone Cellars, Canyons Edge Winery, Kitzke Wines and Preston Family Cellars. Scheduled for construction in the North Prosser Business Park this summer on adjacent properties are wineries for Olsen Brothers Vineyards (opened Memorial Day weekend of 2007), the Andrews family and others. Other visits include the superb Snoqualmie Vineyards facility on Frontier Road and Hinzerling Winery on Sheridan Avenue (making exclusive aperitif and dessert wines now). Construction continues on Desert Wind winery's tasting and hospitality facility, scheduled for opening President's Day Weekend 2007. Outside of town Pontin del Roza and Vineheart Winery offer tasting at their wineries, and Don Waddle has opened Waddle Family Cellars in the former Willow Crest tasting room on Snipes Road. Tasting Highlights of Prosser area wines
Thurston Wolfe
Offers bright floral aromas with hints of apple and vanilla. Palate is rich with tropical fruits and a finish of lychee.
Thurston Wolfe Spicy black cherry and cassis layered with toasty oak and hints of vanilla. Enough grip to accompany steaks from the grill, yummm.
Thurston Wolfe Your guests will cry out, "Where you been hidin' this stuff?" Wave after wave of citrus and floral aromas come from your glass, buoyed by the brandy fortification. I suggested to Becky that it be served in a snifter and treated like Grand Marnier. Spectacular.
Alexandria
Nicole Cellars Aromas of ripe summer berries with floral notes announce a refreshing wine with portions of Roussanne and Syrah. It is a tad sweet on the palate - great for sipping by the pool.
Alexandria
Nicole Cellars This red table wine is a blend of five varietals that express the character of the winery's home vineyard, Destiny Ridge. It offers juicy berry aromas with barrel spice and hints of coffee and chocolate. On the palate it is rich and ripe with a smooth finish.
Alexandria
Nicole Cellars This intriguing wine is not normally offered for tasting, but you should ask to buy a bottle for later enjoyment. Amazing cherry and grapefruit (!) aromas with plum and black pepper. The palate is long and complex and reminds one of the best Rhones from Chateauneuf.
Cowan Vineyards Custom crushed at Tefft Cellars, David Cowan shepherds this distinctive Cabernet to maturity, creating a wine with aromas of cassis and barrel spice and a palate of raspberry, earth and hints of vanilla on the finish.
Kestrel Vintners
This dry rose offers great possibilities for pairing with summer picnic fare. Floral and strawberry aromas lead to a palate of light berry and mineral notes.
Kestrel Vintners
A blockbuster Merlot with a powerful nose of blueberry, cherry and cedar. On the palate, one finds flavors of dark cherry, raspberry, coffee and chocolate mingling with vanilla and toasty oak.
Copyright © 2006 - 2007 Susan R. O'Hara. All rights reserved. |
But Becky is most proud of the tasting room and expansive patio where winter
visitors can relax by the fireplace indoors with a glass of wine, and summer
visitors can move outside to enjoy a snack seated at wrought iron tables and
chairs. 
