Red Wine Basics
First things first, red wine is well…red, but why? It's color can be derived from a vast assortment of grape varietals ranging from grapes that are reddish, deep purple, and even a beautiful blue on the color scale. These grapes give rise to a wine that is color classified with such descriptors as garnet, almost black, dark red, light red, ruby red, opaque purple, deep violet, maroon and the list goes on. It is the grapeskins that are responsible for the red wine's distinct color spectrum. The skins are in contact with the grape's juice during the fermentation process, allowing the dispersion of both color and tannins. The individual wine's particular red hue depends on the grape type used in the process and the length of time the skin's pigmentation is in contact with juice. There are right around 50 key red wine varietals that consistently manifest themselves in today’s worldwide wine market.
Red Wine Glass Choice
Red wines will put their best foot forward when poured into and sipped out of a wine glass with adequate room. A distinctly oval or egg-shaped bowl that narrows slightly at the top as opposed to a slender flute-like glass is necessary to enjoy a red wine to the fullest . The ideal red wine glass will accommodate between 10-22 ounces of liquid, allowing more room to swirl your wine and better surface area for allowing the wine to breathe a bit. On the serving note, keep in mind that most red wines are at their best when serving temperatures are between 60-65 degrees Farenheit – serve them too warm and the taste of alcohol is overly evident, serve them too cold and they will quickly veer towards bitter and more astringent on the palate.
Key Red Wine Varietals
The top red wine varietals that you are likely to encounter are: Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Shiraz, Sangiovese, Malbec, and Grenache.
Sometimes, you will hear of red wines referred to by their popular regional names. For example, a "Bordeaux" is a red wine from France that is made primarily from three varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot grapes. Or move to ordering a wine from Italy and you will often hear of a Chianti- made from the Sangiovese grape varietal, or look at Piedmont's Barolo or Barbaresco wines (both of which hail from the Nebbiolo varietal).
This information and more available at about.com
Yakima Valley Red Wines
The Yakima Valley is well known for its many wine varietals and the reds are the favorites of many. Paired deliciously with chocolate over President's weekend each year, Yakima Valley reds will dazzle your palette. Below is a year-round trail for you to discover some of the Yakima Valley's reds on our Red Route. Follow the map and ask to taste these reds – from casual blends to complex cabs. If you miss a visit to a winery, stop by the Visitor Information Center and find all of these reds in stock and ready for you to take home. Check with the wineries to confirm their operating hours.
Yakima Valley Red Route Map | All Yakima Valley Wineries Map
1. Running Springs Winery
9950 Highway 12 • Naches, WA 98937 • 509-574-3889
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Syrah
- Sangiovese RSW
- Cabernet-Merlot
- Palms Springs Merlot
- Villa Toscana
2. Wilridge Winery
250 Ehler Rd. •Yakima, WA 98908 • 509-966-0686 • wilridgewinery.com
- Red Mt. Melange 20046
- Sangiovese 2004
- Syrah 2004
3. Naches Heights Vineyard
250 Ehler Road •Yakima, WA 98908 • 509-678-4271 • nhvines.com
- Pino Gris 2006
- Riesling 2006
- Syrah 2006
4. Donitelia Winery
321 East Yakima Ave. - Suite B • Yakima, WA 98907
509-452-9900 • donitelia.com
- Duetta
5. Masset Winery Downtown Cellars
312 E. Yakima Ave • Yakima, WA 98901
509-248-5251 • massetwinery.com
- Basket Press Syrah
- Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
- Le Petit Rouge 2006
- Margaret Alice 05
- Merlot 2005
- Sandra Jean 2005
6. Kana Winery
10 So. 2nd St. • Yakima, WA 98901 • 509-453-6611 • kanawinery.com
- Dark Star
- Old Vines
- Tempranillo
- Working Mans Red
7. Gilbert Cellars
5 North Front Street • Yakima, WA 98901
509-249-9049 • gilbertcellars.com
- 2005 Syrah
- 2006 Estate Claret
8. Windy Point Vineyards
420 Windy Point Drive • Wapato, WA 98951 • 509-877-6824 • windypointvineyards.com
- Estate Cabernet Sauvigon
- Merlot 2003
- Pointless Red 2005
9. Masset Winery
620 East Parker Heights Rd. • Wapato, WA 98951 • 509-877-6675 • massetwinery.com
- Basket Press Syrah
- Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
- Le Petit Rouge 2006
- Margaret Alice 05
- Merlot 2005
- Sandra Jean 2005
10. Piety Flats Winery
2560 Donald-Wapato Road • Wapato, WA 98951 • 509-877-3115 • pietyflatswinery.com
- Junkyard Red
11. Bonair Winery and Vineyards
500 South Bonair Road • Zillah, WA 98953 • 509-829-6027 • bonairwine.com
- Yakima Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
- Cabernet Franc 2005
- Morrison Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
- Touriga Port 2006
- Grand Reserve Merlot 2005
- Yakima Valley Merlot 2006
- Rattlesnake Hills Malbec 2006
- Rattlesnake Hills Pinot Noir 2007
- Bung Dog Red (red blend)
12. Wineglass Cellars
260 N Bonair Rd • Zillah, WA 98953 • 509-829-3011 • wineglasscellars.com
- Capizimo
- Yakima Valley Syrah
13. Two Mountain Winery
2151 Cheyne Road • Zillah, WA 98953 • 509-829-3900 • twomountainwinery.com
- Hidden Horse red
14. Agate Field Vineyard
500 South Bonair Road • Zillah, WA 98953 • 509-829-6027 • agatefieldvineyard.com
- Red Wine (Year 2002)
- Red Wine (Year 2003)
15. Paradisos del Sol
3230 Highland Drive • Zillah, WA 98953 • 509-829-9000 • paradisosdelsol.com
- Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
- Paradisos Red
- Under 10 Buck Red
- Yakima Valley Red
16. Portteus Vineyards
5201 Highland Drive • Zillah, WA 98953 • 509-829-6970 • portteus.com
- Petite Sirah 2005
- Portteus Malbec 2007
- Rattlesnake Red
17. Claar Cellars
1001 Vintage Valley Pwky • Zillah, WA 98953 • 509-829-6810 • claarcellars.com
- Merlot 2003
18. Eaton Hill Winery
530 Gurley Road • Granger, WA 98932 • 509-854-2220 • eatonhillwinery.com
- Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
- Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
- Gamay 2006
- Port Style Cab/Sauv 03
19. Tucker Cellars
70 Ray Road • Sunnyside, WA 98944 • 509-837-8701 • tuckercellars.com
- First Row Merlot
- Gewurztraminer 2005
20. Milbrandt Vineyards
508 Cabernet Court • Prosser WA, 99350 • 788-0030 • milbrandtvineyards.com
- Traditions Merlot
21. Apex Cellars
357 Port Street • Prosser, WA 99350 • 509-786-1278 • apexcellars.com
- Cabernet Sauvignon
22. Willow Crest Winery
590 Merlot Drive • Prosser, WA 99350 • 509-786-7999 • willowcrestwinery.com
- Syrah Cuvee 2002
23. Alexandria Nicole Cellars
2880 Lee Road, Suite C • Prosser, WA 99350 • 509-786-3497 • alexandrianicolecellars.com
- Quarry Butte 2003
24. Cowan Vineyards
2880 Lee Road, Suite E • Prosser, WA 99350 • 509-788-0200 • cowanvineyards.com
- Cab Franc 2004
- Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
- Merlot
25. Kestrel Vintners
2890 Lee Road • Prosser, WA 99350 • 509-786-2675 • kestrelwines.com
- Lady in Red
- Merlot 2004
26. McKinley Springs Winery
1201 Alderdale Rd • Prosser, WA 99350 • 509-894-4528 • mckinleysprings.com
- Cabernet/Sauvigon 2002
- Syrah
27. Columbia Crest Winery
Hwy 221, Columbia Crest Drive • Paterson, WA 99345 • 509-875-2061 • columbia-crest.com
- Shiraz
28. Maryhill Winery
9774 Highway 14 • Goldendale, WA 98620 • 877-627-9445 • maryhillwinery.com
- Cabernet Franc Rose
- Cabernet Sauvignon
