Distance from downtown Seattle:
215 miles; 3 hours, 20 minutes

About 20 minutes east of the Tri-Cities is the epicenter of Washington State’s Bordeaux blends; Red Mountain, aptly named for the vineyards’ burnt-orange color around harvest time. Luxuriate in the natural beauty of the landscape, the sun-kissed climate, the slower pace, and the rich red wines this mountain has become famous for. Passion, artistry, and great wine are everywhere here, so you’ll want to spend at least a couple of hours meandering from one winery to the next. Then head to the Tri-Cities for great dining, shopping, and lodging—and soak it all in.

Taste Generations of Experience
At the top of Red Mountain sits one of the most talked-about wineries in Washington, Col Solare (Italian for “shining hill”). This breathtaking winery was built from sustainable materials in three conceptual parts: a traditional barricaia as the foundation, rooted in the history of the old world, a stunning reception pavilion of new world design, and the cellar with its bell tower representing the juncture of the old and new worlds. Each vintage of Col Solare is crafted to reflect the joining of these two worlds and two distinct cultures, Washington and Tuscan, with concentrated flavors, aromatics, and supple tannins that lead into a seductive, lingering finish. Plus—the panoramic views from the winery of Red Mountain and Horse Heaven Hills are unparalleled and not to be missed.

Marvel at the Winemaking Magic
Drive down the winding road from Col Solare and you’ll hit Fidelitas, where renowned winemaker Charlie Hoppes works his magic. Charlie is one of Washington’s most respected winemakers— a guy who knows just about every vineyard site in the region like the back of his hand. Charlie makes wine from the grapes each appellation has to offer—harvested at their peak;
crushed, destemmed, sorted, and obsessed over for weeks on end. He tests and tastes, examines, extracts and ages the wine to perfection—to ensure the right flavors come to fruition at precisely the right time. You’ll want to spend some time tasting the end results.

Talk about the Terroir
Terra Blanca Winery and Estate Vineyards sits on 300 unique acres of Red Mountain with white earth, or “terra blanca.” It all began around 16 million years ago, when a series of lava flows burned up the land (for 10 to 14 million years or so) and became basalt, which settled into layers over a mile thick. A series of catastrophic floods tore through the area 14,000 years ago and as the flood water receded, high levels of calcium carbonate coated the basalt soils of Terra Blanca’s Red Mountain Estate Vineyard. They say that’s what makes their wine taste so darn good. Did we mention that winemaker Keith Pilgrim also trained as a geologist?

A delicious picnic lunch and a glass of wine in a beautiful vineyard setting is one of life’s greatest pleasures, and there is no better place for it than at one of the wineries on Red Mountain. Simply pack a picnic basket with the essentials—plates, utensils, wineglasses, small cutting board, table cloth, napkins, corkscrew, and small ice chest—then pick up lunch fixings as you go. Saturday farmer’s markets abound in nearly every wine country town, many wineries sell gourmet delights such as cheeses, crackers, local salsas, and chocolates, and in Benton City, you’ll find a couple of great places to grab sandwiches, salads, or pizza to go.