Why you should visit Red Mountain wineries in Washington State
This blog post covers the best wineries on Red Mountain in Eastern Washington State.
Red Mountain wineries produce some of the finest wines in the Pacific Northwest. Bordeaux varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah thrive in this tiny appellation near the Yakima River.
Red Mountain is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) known for its excellent growing conditions.
The area enjoys warm temperatures during the day, cooler temperatures at night, consistent winds, and low annual rainfall. There’s little precipitation during the growing season. Southwest-facing slopes get plenty of sunshine.
Soil types such as sandy loam and gravel with high alkalinity result in significantly smaller berry sizes. This plus high winds produces higher tannin levels.
The result? Supremely flavorful grapes.
Red Mountain fruit is highly coveted amongst Washington wineries. In the American wine industry it’s a badge of honor (and quality) to say you’ve sourced from Red Mountain. It’s an even bigger flex to actually have an estate within the Red Mountain AVA.
These five wineries source fruit, make wine, and maintain tasting rooms within the Red Mountain AVA. Each offers something special, whether it’s a fabulous view, a unique tasting flight, or a beautiful tasting room.
And of course each of these Red Mountain wineries makes fabulous wine!
How to access Red Mountain in Washington
The Red Mountain AVA is located on the eastern side of Washington State.
If you already live in Washington State, then great! You can simply drive to the wineries on this list.
But if you’re from out of state then you’ll need to fly into a nearby airport, rent a car, and drive from the airport to the wineries on this list.
Most wineries on this list are located in Benton City, Washington. Benton City is not a city though – it’s a very small town with a population of several thousand people.
Benton City belongs to the larger Tri-Cities metropolitan area, which includes the towns of Pasco, Richland, and Kennewick.
The Tri-Cities Airport (PSC) located in Pasco is the airport closest to Benton City. The airport has regular nonstop flights from cities including Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Phoenix, Minneapolis, and Salt Lake City. It’s 20 miles from the Tri-Cities Airport to Benton City, which is a roughly 20 minute drive.
The second closest airport is in Yakima, Washington. The Yakima Air Terminal (YKM) is located 65 miles from Benton City, which is about a 65 minute drive.
The third closest airport is in Walla Walla, Washington. The Walla Walla Regional Airport (ALW) is located 70 miles from Benton City, which is about a 70 minute drive.
When given a choice between these three airports I suggest you fly into the Tri-Cities airport. It’s the largest and busiest airport of the three. And it’s the closest to the Red Mountain wineries on this list.
The best Red Mountain wineries for a wine tasting
Fidélitas (Benton City, WA)
Fidélitas is a beautiful family-owned vineyard located in Benton City. They only work with fruit from Red Mountain vineyards.
Winemaker Charlie Hoppes and his family have allowed the idea of “fidelitas” (which means loyalty in Latin) to guide their work over the last several decades. Their dedication and commitment has paid off.
In 1988 Hoppes graduated from UC Davis. In 1989 he tried his first Red Mountain Cabernet. He’s worked at Chateau Ste. Michelle, Hamilton Cellars, and Anelare. In 2008 he broke ground on the vineyard and tasting room. Today, Fidélitas produces over twenty wines every year.
Fidélitas grows red wine grapes such as Cabernet, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot on their own estate vineyard. The winery also sources high-quality fruit from over ten different vineyards within the Red Mountain AVA. Their vineyard partners include well known names such as Ciel du Cheval and Kiona Vineyards.
You can sample Fidélitas wines at their tasting rooms in Benton City and Woodinville, Washington. The Red Mountain winery tasting room is open seven days a week. From Sunday through Thursday they’re open from 12–5 PM. Friday and Saturday the winery is open from 12–6 PM.
You can book a tasting at the Red Mountain tasting room via the Fidélitas Wines Tock profile.
Frichette Winery (Benton City, WA)
The vision behind Frichette Winery is simple: combine “stellar hospitality, beautiful views, and premium wines.”
Of course, these things are easier said than done. Thankfully the Frichette owners are doers!
Shae and Greg Frichette met and married in California. When it came time to start a family they discussed whether they’d return to her South Carolina roots or his Washington hometown. The decision was difficult so they flipped a coin. Fate led them to Washington.
Today Shae and Greg produce nearly 3000 cases of wine per year at their boutique winery. They work with Bordeaux varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec. Grapes such as Semillon, Syrah, and Zinfandel also make an appearance.
The Frichette Winery tasting room on Red Mountain is open daily from 12-5 PM. They offer several wine tasting experiences including the Signature Flight for $20 and the Mystery Flight for $22. The Winemaker Select wine flight ranges from $18-30 depending on which wines the winemaker selects.
If you’d like something more involved there’s a private tour and tasting for $85 per person. This two hour experience can be scheduled to begin at 10 AM any day of the week.
Hedges Family Estate (Benton City, WA)
Hedges Family Estate is a little taste of France in Washington State.
This Red Mountain winery makes Bordeaux style wines in a French château style building.
Hedges Family Estate works with grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Syrah, and Petit Verdot. They also employ popular Portuguese varieties Souzão, Tinta Cão, and Touriga Nacional.
Another important thing to know about Hedges – they’re biodynamic. Demeter Certified Biodynamic® to be exact. This certification is difficult to earn. Only wineries that are wholeheartedly committed to biodynamic farming qualify.
You can sample Hedges wines at their Red Mountain tasting room. They’re open Wednesday and Thursday from 11 AM to 5 PM. On Friday they’re open from 11 AM to 7 PM. Saturday and Sunday hours are 11 AM to 5 PM. They’re closed Monday and Tuesday.
The Hedges Family Estate tasting room serves a variety of dishes, which is great news if you prefer to enjoy wine with food. Small bites are available Wednesday through Sunday and full entrées are available Friday through Sunday. They serve pizza on Friday and house made pasta on Saturday. “Champagne Sunday” brunch features dishes such as French toast, shakshuka, and pide (a Turkish flatbread).
Domaine Magdalena Vineyard (Zillah, WA)
Domaine Magdalena Vineyard is a biodynamic winery located in Zillah, Washington.
The winery has been Demeter Certified Biodynamic® since 2011. Their wines utilize wild yeast and remain unfiltered.
Owner Maggie Hedges grows Cabernet Sauvignon on her 4-acre estate. Maybe you’re thinking “hey, is Maggie Hedges related to Hedges Winery?” The answer is yes. Maggie is married to Christophe Hedges and his parents Tom and Anne-Marie Hedges founded Hedges Family Estate.
It makes sense then that Maggie’s wines are Bordeaux-like biodynamic stunners.
Domaine Magdalena Vineyard recently built a tasting room so people can try these small production wines in person. The tasting room began taking reservations in November 2024. If you’d like to make a reservation you can contact the winery via the contact form on their website. The winery’s Instagram is another good resource for staying up to date.
Upchurch Vineyard (Benton City, WA)
Upchurch Vineyard is an 18.5-acre site located at the southern tip of Red Mountain.
Founders Thea and Chris Upchurch also own DeLille Cellars, which makes Bordeaux-style wines. The Upchurch Vineyard estate grows Cabernet Sauvignon grapes for both wineries.
Upchurch wines feature grapes grown in their own Red Mountain estate vineyard. In addition to Red Mountain grapes they also use grapes grown in the Candy Mountain AVA, Columbia Valley AVA, and Yakima Valley AVA.
The Upchurch Vineyard tasting room on Red Mountain is open seasonally. They’re closed throughout the winter and reopen in March. When they are open the tasting room hours typically range from 12-5 PM Friday through Sunday.
The tasting fee is $35 per person. Bookings are recommended.
Other wine regions to explore
Washington wine country destinations you should visit
If you’re interested in Red Mountain wines you’ll be interested in other Washington wine country destinations.
Prosser, Washington delivers solid wine in a low-key setting. Prosser’s Vintners Village is a collection of 11 tasting rooms that are all within easy walking distance of one another. It couldn’t be easier to sample the best wineries in Prosser.
Walla Walla is arguably the best place to taste wine in Eastern Washington. This small town is famous for golden wheat fields, gently rolling hills, and wonderful wineries. We’ve compiled a list of the best Walla Walla wineries with lodging. Because who doesn’t want to stay in a quaint cottage beside a vineyard?
Spokane, Washington combines small city charm and delicious wine. The best Spokane wineries are spread between downtown Spokane and its suburbs. Some tasting rooms are outposts of popular Walla Walla wineries. Others are Spokane-based but source grapes from further afield.
Oregon wine regions worth a look
Washington wine country is great, but it’s not the only place to explore in the Pacific Northwest. Oregon State is brimming with wonderful wineries.
Some of our favorite wineries are based in Hood River in the Columbia Gorge. The area’s different microclimates allow a wild variety of grapes to thrive. This list of the best Hood River wineries that make organic and biodynamic wine is a great introduction to the area.
Venture a big further south and you’ll find the Applegate Valley. The Applegate Valley is a fifty mile stretch of land in Southern Oregon State near the California border. These six Applegate wineries make delicious and unique (and sometimes organic) wines.
Ashland is another Southern Oregon gem that shouldn’t be missed. Most people come for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival but they should definitely stay for the wine. The best wineries in Ashland combine award-winning wines, beautiful patios, and spectacular views. Some focus on sustainability and regenerative farming, which is always a plus.
Idaho wine country towns to check out
Some say the Idaho wine industry is like the Washington wine industry twenty years ago. It’s full of promise and up-and-coming wineries.
Eagle is a small town nestled in Treasure Valley, which is the state’s main winegrowing region. These wineries in Eagle, Idaho produce people pleasing wines. Think bold reds and fun sparkling wines. There’s something for everyone!
Boise sits at the center of Treasure Valley, which is the heart of Idaho wine country. These amazing Boise wineries and wine bars prove the city’s wine scene is growing.
And if you can’t choose between Eagle and Boise, don’t worry. Our list of the best wineries in Treasure Valley can lead you on a tour of the area.
