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POSTED: Tuesday, Jun. 16, 2009

Zillah home to a cluster of visit-worthy wineries

It would be difficult to dedicate adequate space to all of the wineries in Washington's Rattlesnake Hills Appellation.

So for the next couple of weeks I'll touch on some of the highlights I encountered during a visit last month to the area from Yakima to Sunnyside on the north side of Interstate 82.

Tefft Cellars, located in Outlook, a few miles east of Zillah, has a nice variety of wines at reasonable prices. A couple of favorites include the 2006 Merlot (about $16) and the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon (about $20). Both wines display dark fruit flavors, balanced by good tannins and a slightly oaky finish.

An added bonus is the three-bedroom, three-bath guesthouse adjacent to the tasting room - perfect for a weekend stay.

Even more variety can be found at Horizon's Edge and Maison de Padgett Winery, both of which feature some of Washington's most provocative wine labels. Although each winery near Zillah produces several red and white wines, their uniquely crafted sweet wines and ports really stand out.

Hyatt Vineyards, just north of Zillah, boasts beautifully landscaped grounds and a tasting room that showcases a full complement of wines. During my visit I enjoyed the 2008 Riesling (about $11), packaged in a beautiful cobalt-blue bottle. It's loaded with floral aromas, peach and pear flavors, and a lingering, honeylike finish.

For a laid-back atmosphere, you can't beat Paradisos del Sol, where chickens, cats and dogs roam at the kid-friendly facility near Zillah. Winemaker Paul Vandenberg has done an excellent job with his 2007 Sève (about $20), which could best be described as a heady, flavorful chenin blanc that will pair well with a variety of seafood and poultry dishes.

Many of these wines are available locally, but if you can't track them down, they can always be ordered from each winery's web site. Better yet, pay them a visit. By taking a trip east of the Cascades, you'll experience genuine hospitality and quality, unpretentious winemaking at its best.