Drinking Wine in the Cascade Valley

The Cascade Valley wine region stretches from Leavenworth to Lake Chelan in Washington, encompassing two American Viticultural Areas that each bring their own unique terroir to the grapes.

The Leavenworth area, known as a hub for mountain sports and for the town’s Bavarian theme, is home to a collection of outstanding wineries that source grapes from the best vineyards in Washington as well as several that grow their own in the area. Highlights include the modern Icicle Ridge Winery tasting room, the small-scale but bold wines of Boudreaux Cellars, the heritage-rich Stemilt Creek and the premium wines of Eagle Creek.

Moving east to Wenatchee, the region’s hub, you’ll find the impressive Pybus Market, which houses restaurants, shops and more in a former steel fabrication plant. There’s a tasting room here for Jones of Washington, one of the region’s premier wineries, which welcomes visitors for tastings and makes for a great addition to an afternoon of shopping and dining.

Continuing east, the Lake Chelan area is a popular summer vacation spot for Washingtonians, thanks to the beautiful lake and array of activities. Wine factors heavily here, and standouts include the Rhone-inspired wines at Cairdeas Winery, the incredibly scenic Mellisoni Vineyards, the restaurant-winery combo at Tsillan Cellars and at Vin du Lac, the uncompromising labels at WineGirl Wines and the impeccable picks at Rocky Pond.