TEAM WINO:  Janet Russell (LEPRECN), Ken Russell (KENRU), Jack Grouell (CINIMIN) and Linda Grouell (WOODSTOCK) have been working behind the scenes on the planning for this event.  So, here's what we've got so far, with details to be ironed out.  The biggest challenge has been narrowing down some of the choices - so many wineries, so little time....

First, let me state that the wineries we've contacted to date are very excited to have us and most are bending over backwards to provide us with an enjoyable experience.  One of the winemakers has even offered a free bottle of their estate wine for the first one to offer him a ride in one of our MINIs!

We're planning to drive over on Saturday the 17th, but in order to allow as much time for the wineries as possible, we're going to have a Southern Route and a Northern Route.  The Southern Route Group will head over White Pass (exact route still in planning) and the Northern Route will head over Stevens Pass, Blewett Pass, and the Yakima Canyon to meet up with the Southern Group at Sagelands Winery in Yakima.  We're planning on having a picnic lunch there and visiting the winery.

Then, we plan on visiting at least one more winery on our way to Prosser, where we will visit 4-5 wineries in the same general area.  That will be a go at your own pace, individual preference / choice.  After a reasonable amount of time in Prosser, some of us will take off and head to Dessert Wind Winery (on the edge of Prosser) and on down to the Tri-Cities.  Our plan is to give you all the option of visiting additional wineries of your choice on the way down so you may splinter into preference groups or linger at your favorite winery.  We will have additional info on wineries to choose from and their locations.  (See note below on that topic)

Once in the Tri-Cities, we will have a hotel on the river (we’re finalizing that now and we’ll amend this post once we have it in place) and a dinner (with options for those who want to eat elsewhere).  Breakfast buffet will be included at the hotel on Sunday.

Sunday, we’ll stop at a couple of wineries on the edge of the Tri-Cities and in the Red Mountain area (Benton City).  There are some there not to be missed.  You do have the option of heading for home at any point, but we’ll continue on to Yakima where those that wish to take the Northern Route up through the Yakima Canyon and then head home via I-90 or up over Blewett & Stevens Passes can do so or those that wish to take the Southern Route back over White Pass can take off that direction.

We’re still nailing down the winery and hotel arrangements, but wanted to get as much as we know out to you so you’d know this was still planned and we’re looking forward to it!  We’re also trying to work with clubs and members in Eastern WA to have them join us while we’re in their neck of the woods.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! May 17-18, 2008

Linda Grouell (WOODSTOCK)

Janet Russell (LEPRECN)

Ken Russell (KENRU)

Jack Grouell (CINIMIN)

A note on choice of wineries:  Ron & Linda Carignan (CHILI-S) introduced us to a new book titled Wine Trails of Washington by Steve Roberts.  It was also mentioned in some of the local newspapers a few weeks ago.  It’s a great book and will be useful for future wine tours throughout the state since he covers wine destinations with suggestions for your own tour.  We talked with Steve about buying multiple copies of the book for our club members at a discount (which at $19.95 is already a good price) and he will give us a 10% discount on 25 or a 20% discount on 50.  More about that as we go, but it would be a very useful tour guide for each of you and we could hand them out in Yakima.  Steve says he’ll even sign them for us.  We’ll create a means of requesting the book via a future post, if you want one.