Tri-City Area and Real Estate Blog

Along Hwy 240, you may notice a large plywood building shell, partly painted blue.  This spring, that building will be transformed to Thomas O’Neil Cellars.  Construction began in August for the 3,000 square foot building that will include a tasting room, production facility, and outdoor patio and stage. 

Owner, Tom O’Neil, had a passion for viticulture when his college, Michigan State University, created a certificate program for it.  He comleted his internship at Chateau Ste. Michelle in Patterson and has been working with wine ever since. 

They will be concentrating on mostly red wines like cabernet, syrah, and merlot; however, they will also feature chardonnay and Riesling.  Future plans also consist of holding small concerts and events next summer. 

For more information, find him on his upcoming website, www.thomasoneilcellars.com, find him on Facebook or call 737-0851

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The Mid-Columbia vineyards have again taken honors for our outstanding wines during the recent Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition. See below for results:

• Kiona Vineyards Winery on Red Mountain won best in show for its – ’2008 chenin blanc ice wine’. Kiona won the top award for limited-productions wines and also won gold for its ‘reserve sangiovese’.
• Domaine Ste. Michelle in Paterson won gold medals for ‘blanc de blanc’, and its ‘blanc de noir’ sparkling wines.
• Barnard Griffin in Richland won gold for ‘rose of sangiovese’.
• Tagaris of Richland won gold for its ‘Alice Vineyard mourvedre’.
• Tasawik Vineyards of Prosser won gold for its ‘Hailstorm Red’.
• Hogue Cellars of Prosser won gold for its ‘Genesis Riesling’.
• Gamache Vintners of Prosser won gold for its “viognier’.
• Columbia Crest in Paterson won gold for its “Grand Estates cabernet sauvignon’.

Go to www.winepressnw.com/winners for the list of medal winner in all categories.

Benton City: A local winery is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a weekend of celebrations August 28-29.

Canon del Sol Winery, owned by winemaker Victor Cruz, will have a dinner Friday evening, which is sold out, and a party Saturday for 300 guests.

Tickets are $40 per person for the event, which will feature food catered by Aphonzo Villa Taco Wagon, music by Curtis Nettles and a pinata filled with corks offering discounts on wines.

Source: Tri-City Herald

The City of West Richland invites you to enjoy our growing amenities as you visit area wineries and destination points of interest. West Richland is adjacent to the Red Mountain American Viticultural Area, attracting thousands of tourists and local citizens each year.

The city is home to the West Richland Wine Park, part of the Red Mountain Center – 1 320-acre multi-use development designed around the wine destination theme. West Richland is also home to the Pacific Rim Winemakers, a $7 million winery which is receiving regional and national acclaim (www.rieslingrules.com), as well as the Red Mountain View Wine Village, opening this year.

West Richland features breathtaking panoramic views, an excellent quality of life and is one of the fastest growing cities in the state. The city has rapidly become a first choice for families seeking residential excellence and a relaxed lifestyle. West Richland’s many public parks and sports complex have become hubs for exciting community activities throughout the year. Events including a Summer Concert Series, Hogs & Dogs, and the Veterans Day Parade contribute to West Richland’s growing economy and offer families high quality recreational experience near home.

The City of West Richland upholds a tremendous visions to serve its citizens, businesses, industries, and tourists with an increasing number of amenities fitting to their needs.

Source: Tri-City Visitor & Convention Bureau Offical Guide

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