In 2018 we will be offering a number of optional pre-conference excursions, post-conference excursions, and Thursday dinner excursions. Pre-conference and post-conference excursions cost $25 (not including lodging) and dinners cost $20 – obviously an incredible deal. Friday evening wine country excursions are included in the conference and do not require pre-registration.
Click here to register for an excursion today!
Please note:
- All 2018 pre-conference and post-conference excursions are open only to citizen bloggers, published writers, and their family members or significant others who are also registered for the conference. Winery staff, association employees, and wine marketing/communications professionals are not eligible. Thursday dinner excursions are open to all attendees. Please contact us if you have questions about this.
- If you must cancel your spot, your conference registration fee and excursion fee are 50% refundable through September 4, 2018 and not refundable after that.
Pre-Conference Excursions ($25/person)
SOLD OUT!! Wine Yakima Valley, WA
Wednesday – Thursday, October 3-4, 2018
Yakima Valley’s grape vines and hop bines will fulfill your appetite for fine wine and craft beer.
The flavors of two of Yakima Valley’s most notable agricultural products, wine grapes and hops are defined by soil, elevation changes, water, and weather patterns.
Join the farmers who grow these award-winning grape vines and hop bines for an immersive experience of producing craft beverages for the Unites State and beyond.
The Yakima Valley encompasses significant diversity of climate, topography and soil; yielding more than 46 wine grape varieties totaling 30% of the state’s vineyards. The Valley is also the largest U.S. hop growing region and one of the largest global hop growing areas.
This excursion explores the microclimates and how they impact the flavor profiles of these popular craft beverages. This educational excursion will demonstrate why these specialty crops are grown so successfully in this region. Share the story of where the materials for these beverages are sourced and what makes them special.
Host David O’Reilly will lead the excursion at his Yakima Valley winery and vineyard. Enjoy the opportunity to smell, taste and learn with a sunset dinner paired with local wine and beer along with their growers, throughout the region.
Dinner will highlight the diversity of the vineyard(s) and its influence on the wines paired with a menu of Yakima Valley’s finest, locally sourced ingredients by chef Craig Singer.
You will enjoy a good night’s sleep at Yakima’s newest boutique hotel, Hotel Maison. On Thursday, we’ll enjoy breakfast and bubbles while we travel through the birthplace of Washington’s wine industry. Owner Joe Hattrup will lead you through a tour of Elephant Mtn. Vineyard, one of Washington’s premier Rhône variety vineyards. Walk the rows, taste grapes, and experience the elevation and views of the Valley. Before leaving the vineyard, you can grab a quick lunch from one of the Valley’s authentic taco trucks.
- Max capacity: 25
- Pickup: Wednesday, Oct. 3, 1:15 PM at the Tri-Cities Airport
- Drop Off: Thursday, Oct. 4, 1:00 PM at the Marcus Whitman
- Host Hotel: Hotel Maison – group rate: $155, 509-571-1900, Group code: Wine Yakima Valley
- Itinerary:
- Wednesday, October 3
- Wine Yakima Valley and Owen Roe Winery offers a “mini-camp” on the flavor profiles of Yakima Valley’s most sought after craft beverages and specialty crops—vines and bines.
- 1:15 PM: Pick up at the Tri-Cities Airport
- 2:30 PM: Arrive at Owen Roe Winery and Vineyard to experience the winemaking heritage of this innovative winery. Upon arrival, each guest will be welcomed with a glass of wine and enjoy the pristine agricultural setting.
- 3:00 PM: Enjoy a three-part excursion exploring various growing aspects in the region and how they impact the flavor profiles of wine grapes, hops, and even agricultural bounty such as Pink Lady apples. This educational excursion will include a “mini flavor camp” identifying how wine grapes, and ultimately the wine, are defined by soil, elevation, water and climate. You will experience a hop sensory exercise demonstrating how Yakima Valley hops influence various flavors in beer. Lastly, you will learn why specialty crops are grown so successfully in this region. We will share the story of where the materials for these beverages are sourced and what makes them special.
- 5:30 PM: Join the growers of the Yakima Valley at an outdoor reception amongst vineyards, orchards, and majestic Mt. Adams in the distance.
- 6:00 PM: Seated dinner hosted by David O’Reilly and the wine grape growers of the Yakima Valley. Enjoy the wines of the region with a specially prepared meal featuring the agricultural bounty of the Valley.
- 9:00 PM: Drop off at Hotel Maison, Yakima, WA
- Thursday, October 4
- 9:00AM: Pick up at the Hotel Maison, Yakima, WA. Enjoy bubbles and breakfast as you travel to the vineyard.
- 10:00 AM: Arrive at Elephant Mtn. Vineyard to experience the ‘Always Authentic’ Yakima Valley lifestyle. You will be driven up through the steppe landscape and take in iconic views of the Valley. Participate in a vineyard hike learning how this vineyard is one of the best up-and-coming Rhone -style grape growing vineyards in Washington State. Then, you will be escorted to the “Top of the Hill” so you can sample wines and enjoy lunch from an authentic Mexican food truck. Here, the group will have a photo opportunity atop the vineyard with a glass of wine to welcome you to Elephant Mtn. Vineyard.
- 11:00 AM: Depart Elephant Mtn. Vineyards for Walla Walla, WA
- Wednesday, October 3
SOLD OUT!! Red Mountain AVA Alliance
Wednesday – Thursday, October 3-4, 2018
The Red Mountain AVA Alliance and its winery and vineyard members will be hosting a two-day pre-conference excursion including overnight accommodations at the new Lodge at Columbia Point in Richland, WA. Attendees will be taken out to Red Mountain for a tasting event and Experience Red Mountain mini-seminar Wednesday afternoon followed by dinner on the mountain. Thursday morning, attendees will take a vineyard tour with Red Mountain Trails as your guide, then return to Walla Walla by noon.
- Max capacity: 25
- Pickup: Wednesday, Oct. 3, 1:30 – 3:00 PM at the Marcus Whitman or Tri-Cities Regional Airport
- Drop Off: Thursday, Oct. 4, 12:00 PM at the Marcus Whitman
- Host Hotel: Lodge at Columbia Point; Attendees should contact The Lodge at Columbia Point directly by phone at (509) 713-7423 or toll free at (844) 200-8641 and reference the Red Mountain AVA Excursion.
- Itinerary:
- Wednesday, October 3
- 1:30 – 3:00 PM: Transportation will be provided to transport attendees from Walla Walla and the Tri-Cities Regional Airport to the Lodge
- 3:00 – 4:00 PM: Check in at the Lodge. Transportation will board attendees at 4:00 to head to Red Mountain for the evening.
- 4:30 –6:30 PM: Experience Red Mountain tasting event and mini-seminar hitting on the 5 Pillars of what makes Red Mountain so unique.
- 6:30 – 9:00 PM: Dinner
- 9:00 – 9:30 PM: Transportation will take attendees back to the Lodge
- Thursday, October 4
- 8:00 AM: Attendees will be picked up at the Lodge to take out to Red Mountain.
- 8:30 – 10:00 AM: Breakfast and wagon/walking tours of Red Mountain vineyards will be provided by Red Mountain Trails.
- 10:00 – 12:00 PM: Transportation will take attendees back to Walla Walla
- Wednesday, October 3
Force Majeure in Walla Walla Valley – Vineyard Tour, Winery Tour and Wine Tasting
Thursday, October 4, 2018
Limited seats available – email sara@zephyrconferences.com to reserve your seat today.
Join Force Majeure, one of the most exciting up-and-coming wineries in the Pacific Northwest, for an intimate reception, tour, seminar and tasting at their new winery in the Walla Walla Valley. Learn about the past, present and future of Force Majeure (and the Washington/Oregon wine growing region at-large) through vineyard tours, special guests and an extensive tasting and seminar. Led by former Napa cult winery Bryant Family Vineyard winemaker Todd Alexander, the morning will be spent touring the spectacular hillside site of one of Force Majeure’s future estate vineyards, followed by a tour and tasting seminar at Force Majeure’s new winery in the Walla Walla Valley. Special guests will include Whitman College Geologist Kevin Pogue to explain Pacific Northwest geological history and terroir, and SJR Vineyard/Delmas winery owner Steve Robertson. This duo was also responsible for crafting the “Rocks District” AVA in Oregon, which is part of the Walla Walla Valley AVA. Lunch and transportation will be provided.
- Max capacity: 35
- Pickup: Thursday, Oct. 4, 9:00 AM at the Marcus Whitman
- Drop Off: Thursday, Oct. 4, 1:00 PM at the Marcus Whitman
- Itinerary:
- 9:00 AM: Attendees will be picked up at the Marcus Whitman to tour a new viticultural region within the Walla Walla AVA, and the future site of a new Force Majeure estate vineyard. Dr. Kevin Pogue will be on hand to explain the geology of the area
- 10:15 AM: Tour of new winery facility and adjacent estate vineyard in Milton-Freewater, Oregon (Walla Walla Valley)
- 11:00 AM: Tasting & Seminar with Winemaker Todd Alexander
- 12:00 PM: Lunch served by Andrae’s Kitchen
- 1:00 PM: Return to the Marcus Whitman
Thursday, Oct. 4 Dinner Excursions ($20/person)
SOLD OUT!! Embark on a wine journey with Mullan Road Cellars
Join vintner Dennis Cakebread for an evening of wine and Walla Walla history at the historic Kirkman House. Guests will enjoy wines from Mullan Road Cellars paired with a casual barbecue dinner at the museum, just a short 2 block walk from the Marcus Whitman Hotel.
- Max capacity: 55
- Thursday, Oct. 4, 6:30 PM at the Marcus Whitman
- Thursday, Oct. 4, 8:30 PM at the Marcus Whitman
- No transportation will be provided since it is a short 2 block walk to the Kirkman House from the Marcus Whitman hotel
K Vintners: Rock Out with Charles Smith
Join us in Downtown Walla Walla (within walking distance) for an evening of live music, food trucks and amazing wines!
- Max capacity: 100
- Pickup: Thursday, Oct. 4, 6:30 PM at the Marcus Whitman
- Drop Off: Thursday, Oct. 4, 9:00 PM at the Marcus Whitman
SOLD OUT!! Dine under the Stars at the Glasshouse with Cadaretta Winery
Join Cadaretta Winery for a wine dinner at their Glasshouse overlooking all of Walla Walla Valley. The Glasshouse is at the top of Cadaretta’s Southwind Vineyard and is never open to the public. This is an opportunity to dine with Kris Middleton, hear stories about the Middleton family’s 120 years in business in Washington State and taste their amazing wines. It is a night under the stars and not to be missed!
- Max capacity: 40
- Pickup: Thursday, Oct. 4, 6:30 PM at the Marcus Whitman
- Drop Off: Thursday, Oct. 4, 9:30 PM at the Marcus Whitman
Post-Conference Excursions ($25/person)
Maryhill Winery & Cathedral Ridge Winery: Gorge-ous Wine Country Experience
Sunday, October 7, 2018
Limited seats available – email sara@zephyrconferences.com to reserve your seat today.
Enjoy a “Gorge-ous” wine country experience in the Columbia Gorge with Maryhill Winery and Cathedral Ridge Winery. The Columbia Gorge wine region is one of the best-kept secrets of the Northwest. Less than 60 miles east of Portland, America’s most unique AVA features wild beauty, traffic-free touring and relaxed tasting rooms. With an amazing diversity of grapes grown from Albariño to Zinfandel, you are invited to come discover the “World of Wine in 40 miles” for yourself.
Receive an insider’s look at Maryhill Winery, located in Goldendale, Washington and enjoy a tour of the full production facility and tasting room where Maryhill produces more than 80,000 cases annually. Upon return, guests will taste a curated flight of wines from our classic, Proprietor’s Reserve, and Vineyard Series wines in our Wine Club exclusive Reserve Room with views of the jaw-dropping Columbia River Gorge and Mt Hood paired with an exquisite lunch.
You’ll then tour through the Gorge, crossing the Columbia River to Cathedral Ridge Winery, located in Hood River, Oregon and enjoy a cellar and reserve tasting with the Cellar Master, a tour of our grounds and winemaking process, and an extraordinary dinner prepared by a local chef, paired with our award-winning, small-batch wines. The evening will conclude with transportation to Portland for an overnight stay (optional).
- Max capacity: 25
- Pickup: Sunday, Oct. 7, 9:30 AM at the Marcus Whitman
- Drop Off: Sunday, Oct. 7, 7:00 PM at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Portland
- It’s suggested you fly out of Portland International Airport (PDX) on Monday, Oct. 8
- Host Hotel: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Portland; $159.00/standard, $179.00/deluxe; click here to book today
- Itinerary:
- 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Travel time to Maryhill Winery
- 12:00 – 12:45 PM: Maryhill Winery Tour
- 12:45 – 2:00 PM: Maryhill Winery Lunch and Tasting
- 2:00 – 2:30 PM: Maryhill Winery Experience (relaxation on the grounds, including photo opportunities, live music, Bocce, etc.)
- 2:30 – 3:30 PM: Travel time to Cathedral Ridge Winery
- 3:30 – 4:30 PM: Cathedral Ridge Cellar and Reserve Tasting
- 4:30 – 5:00 PM: Cathedral Ridge Tour
- 5:00 – 6:00 PM: Cathedral Ridge Dinner
- 6:00 – 7:00 PM: Travel to Portland, drop off at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Portland and the Portland International Airport (PDX)
Explore the Heart of Washington Wine Country: Tri-cities
Sunday, October 7, 2018
Experience Tri-Cities, a growing metropolitan area in southeastern Washington where visitors enjoy everything from outdoor recreation to award-winning Washington wine. With more than 300 sun-filled days a year, the Tri-Cities is the perfect destination for a weekend getaway. Join Visit Tri-Cities for a familiarization tour featuring inspired cuisine, unique experiences and interesting story angles that will appeal to a variety of editors and publications.
- Max capacity: 25
- Pickup: Sunday, Oct. 7, 8:30 AM at the Marcus Whitman
- Drop Off: Sunday, Oct. 7, 9:00 PM at the Courtyard by Marriott
- It’s suggested you fly out of Tri-Cities Airport on Monday, Oct. 8
- Host Hotel: Courtyard by Marriott; click here to book – Special thanks to Visit Tri-Cities and the Port of Seattle for covering the accommodation costs!
- Itinerary:
- Sunday, October 7
- 8:15 – 9:20 AM: Travel to the Tri-Cities: Visit Tri-Cities will pick up attendees at the Marcus Whitman Hotel at 8:15 a.m. for an 8:30 a.m. departure time. Enjoy the scenic drive of rolling landscapes from Walla Walla to the Tri-Cities.
- 9:30 – 11:45 AM: Goose Ridge Winery & Estate Vineyard: The first stop takes us to Goose Ridge Winery & Estate Vineyard in Richland. This family owned and operated winery dedicated to limited production, handcrafted wines from estate-grown grapes. The Monson family has deep roots in the Tri-Cities region and has farmed in the Columbia Valley for four decades building a reputation for quality. Here you will enjoy a tour and tasting led by Winemaker Andrew Wilson.
- 12:00 – 2:15 PM: J. Bookwalter: Lunch will be enjoyed at J. Bookwalter, one of Washington state’s pioneering wineries, with Winemaker Caleb Foster. Ten generations of the Bookwalter family have been involved in American agriculture. But it was Jerry Bookwalter, generation nine and father of current company president John Bookwalter, who led the family into viticulture. Today J. Bookwalter has grown from one of Washington’s oldest wineries into one of Pacific Northwest’s most recognized boutique wine brands, relying on exceptional vineyard sources and meticulous winemaking to produce some of the world’s finest wines. *Please contact Visit Tri-Cities to accommodate any dietary restrictions.
- 2:30 – 4:30 PM: Red Mountain Visit: After lunch we will head to Red Mountain for educational tasting featuring renowned Red Mountain wineries. At 4040 acres (1,635 hectares), the Red Mountain AVA is the smallest, warmest wine-grape growing region in Washington. It has a unique combination of diverse geology, gentle south slope, consistent winds and notable heat profile. A complex mixture of the most rare and highly valued soil types in Washington was created by wind-blown silt and sand over glacial outflow. The AVA’s red wine grapes such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah are highly prized for creating wines of superb concentration and depth, which consistently earn critical acclaim.
- 5:00 PM: The group will be dropped off at the Courtyard by Marriott where the accommodations are paid for by Visit Tri-Cities and the Port of Seattle. (Please continue to book your rooms through the provided link).
- 6:00 – 9:00 PM: Water2Wine Cruises: The Courtyard by Marriott is located along the Columbia Point Marina, which is where we will board the Chrysalis, a luxury yacht, for dinner. We will cruise along the Columbia River while enjoying a four-course dinner and regional wines. *Please contact Karisa@VisitTRI-CITIES.com at Visit Tri-Cities with any dietary restrictions.
- Monday, October 8
- 8:00 AM: Take the opportunity to experience the Columbia River one last time before departing the Tri-Cities. Enjoy scenic views with a walk along the Richland Riverfront Trail which winds through beautiful parks. The more adventurous may enjoy stand up paddleboard yoga with Northwest Paddleboarding in Columbia Point Marina. The boards are wide and yoga provides more touch points to the board so it is unlikely anyone will be taking a dip! *The class has limited spots, please contact Karisa@VisitTRI-CITIES.com at Visit Tri-Cities if you’re interested in participating in this activity.
- Sunday, October 7
Experience the Beautiful Southside District of the Walla Walla Valley
Sunday, October 7, 2018
Visit Walla Walla’s picturesque Southside district, with expansive vineyards and sweeping views of the Blue Mountains. The tour will include five wineries with plenty of time at each destination to tour the tasting room and talk with the winemaker. Guests will get an up-close experience with the wines and their stories, with everything onsite from vineyard to cellar to tasting room. The Southside district, one of five distinct areas in the Walla Walla AVA, is one of the best ways to see the Walla Walla Valley. With over 25 wineries and hundreds of acres of vineyards, this destination is an idyllic escape in the heart of Washington’s wine country. Guests will appreciate the laid-back pace of the Valley, and the peaceful atmosphere will have you wishing you could stay for more. Participating wineries: Solemn Cellars, Watermill Winery, Va Piano Winery, Pepperbridge Winery, Amavi Cellars, Saviah Cellars, Revelry Vintners, Castillo De Feliciana and Balboa/Beresan Winery.
- Max capacity: 25
- Pick up: Sunday, Oct. 7, 9:30 AM
- Drop off: Sunday, Oct. 7, 5:00 PM
- Host Hotel: Marcus Whitman, stay an extra night to enjoy all the winery stops!
- Itinerary:
- 9:30 AM: Meet in Marcus Whitman lobby and split into two groups
- 9:45 AM: Group A will head to Va Piano Winery & Pepperbridge Winery, Group B will head to Revelry Vintners & Amavi Cellars
- 12:15 PM: Enjoy a tour at Watermill Winery and then lunch with all participating wineries
- 2:30 PM: Group A will head to Saviah Cellars & Castillo De Feliciana, Group B will head to Balboa/Beresan Winery & Solemn Cellars
- 5:00 PM: Return to Marcus Whitman