By Mary Hopkin, Journal of Business
Since its first vintage was released, the only place wine enthusiast could taste the big red wines made by well known winemaker Victor Cruz for Anelare was at Canon De Sol, in Benton City. But now, Anelare owners Forrest and Kathryn Alexander and Jim and Cathy Campbell have opened a new tasting room in Kennewick, where Tri-Cities residents and visitors can taste the Anelare’s Nonna Viola, a red blend that took home a gold medal at the Tri-Cities wine festival in November.
The intimate and artfully decorated tasting room is conveniently located in the new Southridge Village development at the corner of Highway 395 and Hildebrand road, across the highway from Canyon Lakes Golf Course. Anelare has previously been a private, limited bottling winery that distributed only 600 cases of wine. In 2007, its production went up to 800 cases, said Kathryn Alexander. Now Anelare can be found in select local grocery stores and the new tasting room will also help introduce Anelare’s wines to more wine lovers.
The tasting studio at 3617 Plaza Way, Suite B in Kennewick opened Friday. The regular winter hours will be from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and non to 4 p.m. Sunday. Seasonal hours will be adjusted and the tasting room will likely be open more often in the spring and summer month, said Alexander.
The studio also features a private tasting room, which can be scheduled for private sit-down tastings or business functions at any time. the sit-down tastings are $15 per person and include antipasti and are free for winery club members.
For more information or to make reservations for a private sit-down tasting, call the winery at 509-588-6171. For more information about Anelare, visit the website at 222.anelare.com
