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Step 1
Select a wine region to explore. Choose from Yakima, Puget Sound, Tri-Cities, Walla Walla, Columbia Gorge and Spokane. The Yakima Valley can be reached by car in two to three hours from Seattle, Spokane or Portland. The Puget Sound wine region contains 80 wineries and is just 45 minutes from Seattle.
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Step 2
Consider the time of year when making your travel plans. Avoid peak times if you don't like crowds. Go during a festival or special event for added excitement. Check out the various wine region websites for a calendar of events.
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Step 3
Purchase air transportation and book hotel reservations. Fly into Seattle, Spokane or Portland. The Puget Sound wineries are also convenient to Vancouver, British Columbia. Reserve a room in a bed and breakfast, cozy inn or chain hotel.
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Step 4
Get an idea of which wineries you would like to visit. Visit the websites in the Resources section to see a list of wineries by region. Factors to consider when selecting wineries include: the type of wines you like, whether you want to take a tour (some wineries offer tours, others don't) and location (it is more efficient to visit wineries that are close to each other).
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Step 5
Arrange ground transportation. Rent a car and explore on your own or sign up for a guided tour. A guided group tour is a good choice if you don't want to read maps and worry about drinking and driving. However, you are restricted to the tour's itinerary. For a special occasion, splurge on a private limousine tour.
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Step 6
Enjoy the other sites in Washington. If you fly into Seattle, spend a few days exploring the city before heading out to taste wine (stop at Pike's Place Market to watch the vendors play catch with fresh fish). Enjoy the beautiful scenery at Mt. Rainer. Visit the forest and sea at Olympic State Park. Take part in a variety of adventure sports like kayaking and wind surfing.
