Taste of Wahluke Slope wine tasting event approaches

MATTAWA - Something in the air and something in the soil makes the Wahluke Slope grape a celebrated variety in the wine industry.

The Mattawa Area Multi-Cultural Chamber of Commerce is planning their second annual Taste of Wahluke Slope wine tasting event to bring the harvest back to the people of the slope.

Chamber member and Ginkgo Forest Winery owner Lois Theide said her fields have over a dozen varieties of grapes. At one point the slope was supplying upwards of 25 percent of wine grapes in Washington, she said, and the area still supplies about 15 percent.

Theide said the chamber event is to draw interest to the slope, a hidden gem in the Eastern Washington wine country.

All proceeds will go toward area Mattawa area business promotion, she said.

Wine will be provided by Desert Wind, Gilbert Cellars, Ginkgo Forest Winery, Milbrandt Vineyards, Palencia Winery and Tagaris. Representatives from several of the wineries will be serving their wines and answering any questions.

“It gives people an idea what they’re getting into,” Theide said.

Food will be available and snacks provided.

The event takes place 5 to 8 p.m. June 28 at the Desert Aire Golf Course Clubhouse multipurpose room. Tickets are available for $25 a person and $45 a couple at the Ginkgo Forest Winery and Mattawa Columbia Bank.