This winery near Tri-Cities was voted best U.S. tasting room. Which is your favorite?

Shaun Goodwin

The Tri-Cities region is often described as the Heart of Washington Wine Country, with over 200 wineries crammed within a 50-mile radius of the Richland, Kennewick and Pasco areas.

But perhaps we should start calling the Tri-Cities the Heart of the United States Wine Country. Just 42 miles east of the Tri-Cities is USA Today’s top-rated wine tasting room in the country: Long Shadows Vintners.

USA Today recently announced its top 10 wine tasting rooms in the U.S. The list is just one of many contests that the broadcasting company runs, letting its readers and viewers vote on many wide-ranging contests.

Long Shadows Vintners in Walla Walla topped the list and is Washington’s only representative. The West Coast chipped in with seven of the top 10: Three in California and three in Oregon joined Washington’s sole pick.

Gilles Nicault is the director of winemaking for Long Shadows Vintners in Walla Walla, Wash., and his work includes award-winning Riesling under the iconic Poet’s Leap brand.
Gilles Nicault is the director of winemaking for Long Shadows Vintners in Walla Walla, Wash., and his work includes award-winning Riesling under the iconic Poet’s Leap brand.

The Chihuly Tasting Room is the starting point of your Long Shadows tasting adventure before transitioning to the winery’s cellar for a barrel tasting and tour of the production facility.

That’s followed by a sample of five current releases accompanied with cheeses, cured meats and olives, and a final tasting of a special, limited-time wine.

USA Today describes the Chihuly Tasting Room as featuring work by the famous glass artist Dale Chihuly, including a custom chandelier and a custom-designed installation inspired by the fields of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The rest of the top 10 list is ranked as follows:

  1. Long Shadows Vintners - Walla Walla, Washington

  2. Corner 103 - Sonoma, California

  3. Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery - Hammondsport, New York

  4. Stoller Family Estate - Dayton, Oregon

  5. Turnbull Wine Cellars - Napa, California

  6. Rava Wines - Paso Robles, California

  7. Sokol Blosser Winery - Dayton, Oregon

  8. Argyle Winery - Dundee, Oregon

  9. Big Cork Vineyards - Rohrersville, Maryland

  10. Newby Tasting Room - Rome, Georgia

With over 200 wineries within driving distance of the Tri-Cities, we want to know what your favorites are for a future story, so tell us in the survey below:

Advertisement