Things to consider making your experience complete!
Prep: Prepare your body and come hydrated! A hydrated body allows your taste buds to experience the wine for truth. PWE’s goal is to get you to 4 wineries, which means by the end of the day you will have consumed close to a bottle of wine if not more! If you find that four or five wineries are too much, you’re welcome to end the tour at any time…. or if you find it not enough you can extend it!
Eat: Most all wineries offer charcuterie boards for purchase, but you may want to bring your own snacks to complement the wine. Most wineries have areas to sit and enjoy your tastings, and snacks. A lunch stop can be arranged during your wine tour, just let PWE know if you want to go to lunch during our tour and we’ll make reservations at a local restaurant or winery. There’s some great restaurants that fit perfectly in with your wine tour and PWE highly recommends a lunch stop.
Seasons:
Spring/Fall Tours: Bring a light jacket and you may need sunglasses and or a hat depending on the weather. Wine country spring weather can vary from mid 40’s to 80 degrees, along with variable winds and occasional rain showers. Most wineries have seating outside which is highly recommend; wearing layers is ideal for this time of year.
Summer Tours: Bring your sunglasses! along with a shade hat. Prosser summers often have temperatures that range in the upper 80’s and lower 100’s. All wineries allow tasting indoors if you want to stay cooler, but depending on the time of day, outdoor wine tasting is wonderful. You’ll be glad you brought your sunglasses- and maybe a hat!
Winter Tours: First off thank you for coming out in the winter… this can be a great time to go wine tasting as crowds are at a minimum and the wine is wonderful- enjoying a warm glass of mulled wine is the perfect time (Airfield, or Domanico offer mulled wine). All the tastings will be indoors, but some wineries have limited heating as they may have wine barrels stored at the same tasting location, which they need to maintain a constant cooler temp. So bring a warm jacket and be prepared to be spoiled!
After the Tour: Plan your dinner prior to the tour: You may find after a long day of wine tasting you won’t want to cook (if RV’ing it or Air B&Bing). Prosser and Richland have some great restaurants, but they fill up fast during busy weekends. PWE recommends you make a reservation to ensure your seat. If you’re undecided we can talk about food and can help with choosing/reservations during the tour. PWE is happy to provide you round trip transportation to a Prosser restaurant, so you don’t have to drive after a long day of wine tasting.
Wine: You’ll want to keep your wine in a cool location, for summer tours you don’t want to expose it to the hot heat inside your car. If you’re staying in a hotel or RV, you’ll want to keep it stored in your cool room or RV, but if you prefer to store it in your car, I would recommend a ice chest that you can fill with some ice or a ice pack and keep it cool. During the wine tour PWE can provide a cooler to keep wine cool or the driver will visit the car frequently to turn on the AC and keep the car at a comfortable temperature for (you and) your wine. But if you prefer to bring you’re own cooler there is room! PWE’s van has tons of storage if you decide to buy cases of wine.
If flying in, I would recommend bringing some wine “diapers” to help ensure your wine stays snug in your suitcase, and to help prevent breakage, if you’re flying or doing a long road trip and want to bring home more than a few bottles of wine, I recommend considering joining a wine club or two of your favorite wines. You’ll get your wine tasting waved and get exclusive wine and deals. This is a great way to get favorite wine for reduced prices, and best yet- delivered to your door! There are specific rules about shipping alcohol to each state, and some states don’t allow alcohol sold from out of state, so check with the winery first if your state has any conditions.
If flying with Alaska Airlines, you’re allowed a case of wine (12 bottles) to fly for free. Wineries are always happy to provide an empty case to start your collection!
Thank you! PWE appreciates your business and would love to see you come back soon!