The wine tasting rooms of eight local boutique wineries will be open this weekend for the 2011 Spring Chehalis Valley Wine tour.
Two new wineries join the list this spring — Bateaux Cellars of Toledo and Agate Creek Cellars of Chehalis.
“This is an unbelievable value,” said Scatter Creek vintner Andrea Keary. “You can taste wine all weekend and ‘shop ‘til you drop,’ as we say at Scatter Creek.”
At Scatter Creek Winery in Toledo, owners Terril and Andrea Keary have hired a D.J. to play music and invited local vendors to set up shop for the weekend — cheese makers, chocolate crafters and more.
“All of the local wine favorites will be available,” said Keary, “including Dave’s Rajing Red.”
Rhett Mills of Widgeon Hill Winery in Chehalis will also offer cheese and chocolate tasting along with his handcrafted wines. Rosecrest Farms, Chehalis, will bring their swiss cheeses.
“And Blissful Wunders out of Olympia has made a dark chocolate truffle with my cabernet,” said Mills.
Heymann Whinery, Centralia, is looking forward to releasing their ’07 Merlot at this weekend’s tour.
“We’ll have lots of food and good wine,” said Flossie Heymann, “we’re looking forward to seeing everyone.”
Heymann Whinery is serving spaghetti this year. They will also feature local cheeses from the Black Sheep Creamery and an etched glass artist. The band Ravenwolf will play both days.
Bateaux Cellars in Toledo is one of two new additions to the wine tour.
“We’re rolling out our Vilaine this weekend,” said Kas Kennedy, one of the four vintners who spent this last weekend in Yakima bottling their product. “It’s a white blend and a fun, easy drinking wine.”
Bateaux Cellars will tempt guests with pasta dishes and cheese from Willapa Hills Farms.
“Every winery has their own distinct style of wines, foods, vendors and entertainment,” said Andrea Keary of Scatter Creek Winery. “It makes for a really great weekend.”
Pre-purchase “passports” at the Heymann Whinery in downtown Centralia at a $2 discount, or start the tour at any of the eight wineries and purchase your passport for $15.
Visit all eight wineries and get your passport stamped at each winery to enter to win a gift basket of wines.
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Kimberly Mason is a freelance writer based in Cinebar. She can be contacted at kz@tds.net.
