Why you should visit Prosser wineries in Washington State
This blog post covers the best wineries in Prosser, Washington in the United States.
These Prosser wineries range from small boutique wineries to large wineries with multiple tasting rooms.
Some wineries are already popular. Perhaps you’ve seen their wine for sale at your local grocery store?
Others are small family owned wineries that fly under-the-radar. Boutique wineries are always worth a visit because most owners pour their heart and soul into the wine. Which makes it taste better in my opinion.
Prosser is a small town located in the heart of the Yakima Valley. The high-desert climate enjoys over 300 days of sunshine a year balanced by cooler nights.
Prosser is the perfect destination if you want to drink excellent wine in a setting that is, well, less pretentious than Walla Walla or the Willamette Valley. Don’t get me wrong – I love those places.
But the Willamette Valley and the Walla Walla Valley are well marketed. In contrast, the Yakima Valley and Prosser have a less polished presentation.
And that’s a good thing.
You can roll into town, drink some great wine, and leave all the unnecessary pomp and circumstance at the door.
How to access Prosser wineries in Eastern Washington
Prosser wineries are located within easy driving distance of several major cities and towns.
Prosser is a 3 hour drive from Seattle and a 2.5 hour drive from Spokane. It’s a mere 30 minute drive from the Tri-Cities.
Walla Walla is a 1 hour 20 minute drive from Prosser. Prosser is just off the I-182 W, which means you could easily stop in Prosser on your journey from Seattle to Walla Walla. By the way, we’ve compiled a list of the best Walla Walla wineries with lodging. Just in case you’re looking for a place to stay.
Many of the Prosser wineries on this list are clustered near the center of town. A few are located in Vintners Village, which is a collection of winery tasting rooms.
In Vintners Village you can easily walk from one tasting room to the next, which makes it easy (and safe!) to go wine tasting.
Five of the wineries on this list have tasting rooms in Vintner’s Village, so you should definitely check it out.
The best Prosser wineries for a wine tasting
Alexandria Nicole Cellars
Alexandria Nicole Cellars is among Eastern Washington’s nationally-acclaimed wineries and for good reason. They’ve been racking up accolades since 2001.
Alexandria Nicole Cellars crafts a number of excellent red wines from grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Merlot, and Petit Verdot.
Today, owners Jarrod and Ali have multiple tasting rooms across Washington State. Their Prosser tasting room is located a short six minute drive from historic downtown Prosser.
Guests can choose between either a “Classic” or “Reserve” wine tasting. If you’re looking for something more involved you can try the “Wine Pairing Reserve Experience.” This seated tasting pairs small bites with reserve wines.
The Prosser tasting room hours differ according to season. During the summer they’re open Monday through Thursday from 11 AM to 5 PM. On Friday and Saturday they’re open until 7 PM. On summer Sundays they’re open from 12-5 PM.
They welcome and encourage walk-ins.
14 Hands Winery
14 Hands Winery makes table wine for weeknight dinners. It’s affordable, drinkable, and widely distributed.
Their labels are instantly recognizable thanks to the big, bold horse drawings. Maybe you’ve seen them at your local grocery store?
The 14 Hands Winery tasting room in Prosser offers multiple tasting options. You can opt for a “Red Wine & Chocolate” pairing or a “Mystery Sips & Sweets” flight, which pairs three wines with small desserts.
The “Reserve Wine Flight” draws from their limited release collections.
Guests can enjoy their flight inside the cheerfully decorated tasting room. Or, if you’d like to make an afternoon of it, you can book a private cabana outdoors.
The 14 Hands Winery Prosser tasting room is open daily from 11 AM to 5 PM.
Airfield Estates Winery
Airfield Estates Winery is a family owned and operated winery in Prosser.
This family has farmed the region for four generations. Today, their estate vineyard spans 830 acres.
The name Airfield Estates Winery has an interesting backstory. During World War II part of their land was used as a training base for Army Air Corps pilots. Today, several original airplane hangars are still used as farm storage facilities.
Airfield Estates grows over twenty grape varietals on their land. Grapes such as Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Grenache, and Mourvèdre are turned into special red blends and single varietal wines.
Wine tastings cost $15 per person and are refundable with a wine purchase. You’ll find outdoor seating on the patio, which is dog friendly (always a plus).
The Prosser tasting room is open seven days a week beginning at 11 AM. In addition to their Prosser WA estate, Airfield Estates Winery also has a Woodinville location and a Vancouver, Washington tasting room.
By the way, if you’re looking for someplace to host private events, then their Prosser estate may be a good fit. It can accommodate quite a few people in their Tower Room, Barrel Room, and Cellar.
WIT Cellars
WIT Cellars prides themselves on creating exceptional wine and a fun atmosphere.
They focus mostly on big Washington red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec.
But they also make a nice selection of white wines such as Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Chardonnay. Sparkling wine – a sparkling rosé and a blanc de blanc – round out their offerings.
The WIT Cellars wine club is split into three tiers including the Founders Club, the Quick Wit Society, and the Half Wit Society. The half wits get half the perks for half the price. I do love a fun name.
The WIT Cellars Prosser tasting room is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 AM to 5 PM. They’re open until 6 PM on Friday and Saturday.
WIT Cellars also has a tasting room in Woodinville.
Martinez & Martinez Winery
Martinez & Martinez Winery is a family owned boutique winery.
The winery currently sources from two vineyards in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA: the Martinez Vineyard Estate and the Alder Ridge Vineyard.
The Martinez family makes single varietal red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Zinfandel, Pinot Grigio, Syrah, and Petit Verdot. They also make a few white wines such as Albariño, Chardonnay, Viognier, and Orange Muscat.
Martinez & Martinez Winery is part of The Winemakers Loft. This community of wineries shares one “indoor/outdoor tasting location” in Prosser.
When you visit The Winemakers Loft you’ll likely find one of the Martinez family members – Kristy, Monica, Sergio, or Andrew – manning their tasting room.
Desert Wind Winery
Desert Wind Winery is a winery, restaurant, and inn all rolled into one.
Southwestern style flows throughout the estate from their Adobe-style buildings to their well decorated rooms.
And if you think this winery is just a pretty face, think again. Desert Wind Winery sources fruit from two vineyards in desirable locations.
The first vineyard is located just outside their winery doors. Portuguese red wine varieties including Touriga Nacional, Souzão, and Tinto Cão thrive in this vineyard.
Desert Wind Vineyard located at the foot of the Saddle Mountains provides most of their fruit. Grapes varietals include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Chardonnay as well as Petit Verdot, Tempranillo, Mourvèdre, and Carménère.
You can taste Desert Wind wines at their Prosser tasting room, which is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 AM to 5 PM. On Friday and Saturday they’re open until 7 PM.
And if you get hungry, you’ll be in good hands because The Kitchen at Desert Wind offers a farm-to-table menu that pairs well with their estate wines. The menu revolves around dips, flatbreads, and salads, as well as hearty burgers and sandwiches.
Above the Curve Vineyard
Above the Curve Vineyard is perfect for small groups who want to delve deeper into wines and how they’re made.
This special estate nestled in the Yakima Valley boasts some of the oldest vines in the area. They work with a short but sweet list of grapes including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Semillon.
If you’d like to sample their delicious wine you can make an appointment. The tasting room is open Thursday through Sunday and closed Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
The tasting fee is $15, which is waived with the purchase of a bottle.
One of the best parts of Above the Curve Vineyard is their large patio deck, which has great views of the Yakima River. It’s the perfect location to spend the afternoon sipping and savoring their handcrafted wines.
Guests can also enjoy a seated tasting with snacks inside the tasting room. And if you’d prefer to explore then you can take a stroll through the vineyards.
Domanico Cellars
Domanico Cellars is a family owned winery with grapevines over forty-years-old.
Washington wine industry legends George and Dennis Carter began planting this vineyard decades ago. Between 1975 and 1980 they planted the majority of the vineyard with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Lemberger.
Today, the Domanico family tends to grapes including Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Malbec, Sémillon, and Sauvignon blanc among others.
Domanico Cellars has three tasting rooms in Washington State. There’s a tasting room in the Ballard Neighborhood of Seattle, which is more convenient for those who live in Western Washington.
The tasting room at the Prosser vineyard is a great place to visit if you’d like a vineyard tour. Owner and winemaker Jason often leads the tours and vineyard tastings. Tours are by appointment only so be sure to schedule yours in advance.
Their third (and newest location) is called Cork and Taps By Domanico Cellars and it’s located in the Vintners Village in Prosser. Cork and Taps offers wine tastings, wine by the glass, and wine slushies (yum!). There’s also beer on tap and a casual food menu.
Smasne Cellars Wine
Smasne Cellars Wine is the result of decades of hard work.
Robert Smasne discovered a passion for winemaking thanks to his family’s long history of farming. In fact, the Smasne family has farmed the Yakima Valley region for over 100 years.
Today Smasne Cellars Wine sources grapes from some of the top vineyards in Washington State and turns them into award-winning wines.
Wines include Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Malbec, Pinot Noir, Petit Verdot, and Carménère. If you’re looking for something new look no further than the 2019 “Ancient Rocks” red blend of Mourvèdre and Syrah co fermented with a bit of Viognier.
Smasne Cellars has two tasting rooms: one in Prosser and the other in Woodinville, Washington.
The Smasne Cellars Prosser tasting room is open Friday through Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM.
Similar wine regions to explore
Washington State wine destinations
If you’re looking forward to exploring Washington wine country I’ve got some suggestions for you!
Walla Walla, Washington is the heart of Washington wine country. And there’s no better way to experience a winery than to actually stay there. Which is why we’ve compiled a list of these 8 amazing Walla Walla wineries with lodging.
Spokane is Washington’s second largest metropolitan area (after Seattle of course). This city and its suburbs are well worth a visit, so we compiled a list of 18 wonderful Spokane wineries. Some wineries on this list are Spokane born and raised. While others are the Spokane satellites of well known Walla Walla wineries. Either way, you’re sure to drink some stellar wine while in town.
Idaho wine country towns to check out
Some say Idaho’s Treasure Valley resembles the Washington State wine industry twenty years ago. In other words, the Idaho wine industry is on the up and up!
Eagle is a small town in Treasure Valley (Idaho’s main winegrowing region). These Eagle, Idaho wineries make a range of great wines from big bold reds to light sparkling wines.
Boise is a growing city with a burgeoning wine scene. It also sits at the center of Treasure Valley. These amazing Boise wineries and wine bars provide a relaxed place to grab a glass (or two!) of delicious Idaho wine.
