Washington Water, Washington Wine

The ride begins and ends in Zillah. Take Exit 52 or 54 off Interstate 82, following the signs into Zillah. You will be on First Avenue, Zillah's main street. Parking is available on the south side of First between 6th and 7th streets, or on the one-way (westbound) street immediately south of and parallel to First.

0.0 Begin at the corner of First Ave. and 6th St.
Head north (uphill) on 6th St. 

0.1 Stop sign.
Turn right on Second Ave. Head east through residential Zillah, climbing slightly. Pavement is patchy; watch for cross-traffic. 

0.85 Zillah High School on your right, heralding the end of town.
Pavement changes to chip-sealed texture for the next 1/4 mile. Road name changes to E. Zillah Dr. 

1.1 Stop-sign intersection with Yakima Valley Highway.
Continue straight on E. Zillah Dr., rolling into your first 1/4-mile downhill, followed by a 1/4-mile uphill, characteristic of the rollers throughout the ride. You are surrounded by vineyards and orchards as you leave town on this two-lane, shoulderless, well-paved road. 

1.6 Lucy Ln. intersects to the right, followed immediately by a crossing of Sunnyside Canal, a critical irrigation source for the wine region.
 
1.7 Turn left on Lucy Ln., a well-paved and shoulderless road through mature orchards.
 
2.7 Unmarked road intersects in both directions.
 
3.2 Glacier Rd. intersects from the right.
 
3.7 Stop-sign T-intersection with Highland Dr.
Turn left. 

4.25 Turn right on Vintage Rd.
This well-paved spur road takes you to your first winery. 

4.8 Hawkins Rd. intersects on the left.
 
5.8 Triple-pronged Y-intersection.
Extreme right hand fork is a dirt and gravel road that drops down into the vineyard. An unimproved road goes ahead and to the right, marked END OF COUNTY ROAD. Take the left fork, which is the most obvious and the only paved fork, up an incline to Covey Run. 

5.95 Covey Run parking lot.
This winery, originally named Quail Run, lost its name in a dispute with a California winery of the same name. It is one of Washington's most established and respected vintners. Tasting room is open daily, 10 am to 5 pm April through November, and 11 am to 4:30 pm December through March. View cellar operations through windows. 509-829-6235. After visiting the winery, return down the hill, and turn right at the bottom to head south on Vintage Rd. the way you came in. 

7.1 Hawkins Road intersects to the right.

7.6 T-intersection with Highland Dr.
Turn right. Travel through young orchards as you head west. 

8.1 Hawkins Rd. (an L-shaped road) intersects on the right.
 
8.6 Turn right on Roza Dr.
 
9.65 Turn left on Gilbert Rd.
 
10.2 Cheyne Rd. intersects, shortly after which you can see the red-roofed Hyatt Vineyards facility off to your left across the field.
 
10.7 Turn left on a packed dirt and gravel road to access the winery.
The entry drive takes you past labeled plantings of white riesling, merlot and chardonnay grapes. 

10.85 Arrive at Hyatt Vineyards winery, a friendly barn-shaped structure situated amidst 101 acres of grapes.
Enjoy tastings that may include chardonnay, merlot and cabernet plus the sweeter late harvest riesling, black muscat and ice wines. Facilities include a picnic area and a retail gift shop. Open daily 11 am to 5 pm (11 am to 4:30 pm in winter, closed in January). 509-829-6333. Leave the same way you came in. 

11.0 Intersection of Hyatt access road and Gilbert Rd.
Turn left on Gilbert Rd. 

11.5 Turn left, following the sign for Bonair Winery.
This road, which may be unmarked but is named "N. Bonair Rd.," is chip-sealed, therefore somewhat rough. 

12.0 Darby Rd. (gravel) intersects on the right.
 
12.25 Wineglass Cellars is on the right.
This winery opened in the fall of 1995; tastings available. Call for current information. 509-829-3011. 

12.5 Stop-sign intersection with Highland Dr.
To reach the fourth winery, proceed straight ahead on S. Bonair Rd. Surface is rolling, hardpacked dirt. Use caution. This is the longest dirt road on the route—a beautiful, if bumpy, 1/2-mile ride through mature orchards. 

13.05 Stop your mileage computer at the gate of the Bonair Winery.
Enjoy their picnic grounds, which include a pond and waterfall. Bonair has been producing Washington wines since 1985. Their fine offerings include cabernets, chardonnays, a dry riesling, a Johannisberg riesling, and several light wines. 509-829-6027. Tasting room is open daily 10 am to 5 pm (10 am to 4:30 pm, weekends only, in winter). Leave the winery the same way you came in, re-starting your computer at the gate. 

13.55 Turn right on Highland Dr.; return to pavement.
 
13.8 N. Manuel Ln. intersects in both directions.
 
14.6 Turn right (south) on Cheyne Rd.
 
15.6 Stop-sign intersection with Yakima Valley Highway.
Continue straight on Cheyne Rd. into the west edge of Zillah.
 
16.1 Zillah Middle School on your right.
 
16.5 Stop-sign intersection with First St.; Cherry Patch convenience store and gas station on your left.
Downtown Zillah is to your left down First Ave. Turn right for a spur route to one final winery. Large fruit-packing facility on your right as you head down the grade. Note that Interstate 82 is just ahead; use caution and watch for automobile traffic going on and off the freeway.
 
16.7 Turn right just before the freeway on Vintage Valley Pkwy.
This newer development is designed to take advantage of freeway traffic, and offers such eye-catching fare as a Subway sandwich shop, Vintage Valley Grill, the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, gas stations, convenience stores and, of course, espresso stands.
 
17.0 Entrance to Zillah Oakes Winery on the right.
Stop your computer. Wines available for tasting may include semillon (a popular Washington white), chardonnay, rieslings, muscat canelli, and Zillah Oakes' own Maywine. Hours 10 am to 5 pm daily, 1 l am to 4:30 pm Mon.-Sat. in winter. 509-829-6990. Return the same way you came in, out Vintage Valley Pkwy.
 
17.2 Stop sign.
Turn left, going back up the hill, curving to the right toward Zillah. Again, watch for traffic exiting freeway.
 
17.4 Back at the Cheyne Rd. intersection.
Cherry Patch convenience store on your left, cemetery on your right. Continue straight, curving to the right to go back into Zillah.
 

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