Other Great Pairings
Washington state is rich with wine-and-golf pairings. While they may not be at one location like Swiftwater Cellars and Rope Rider, here are some other winery-course combos that make for a delightful — and delicious — trip, whether going for a day, or for a weekend.
Chelan
Lake Chelan Golf Course • lakechelangolf.com
Tsillan Cellars • tsillancellars.com
Sitting atop a bluff on the north side of Lake Chelan, Lake Chelan Golf Course has been a favorite of locals for its low rates, open routing and unbeatable views of the lake and surrounding mountains. Play it in the morning, then spend the afternoon tasting wines in Washington’s No. 1 recreation and wine-tasting region. Make sure to stop in for lunch at Tsillan Cellars on the lake’s south side, where winemaker Bob Jankelson will take you out on a personal tour of the vineyard — and pour some of his award-winning juice, to boot. While you’re in the area, be sure to go across the street to Nefarious Cellars (pictured above) for some killer views and amazing reds at one of Washington’s hottest young wineries.
Leavenworth
Leavenworth Golf Course • leavenworthgolf.com
Icicle Ridge Winery • icicleridgewinery.com
A day trip to Leavenworth is a great way to feel like you’ve had a vacation, without actually going anywhere. Play Leavenworth Golf Course — one of Washington’s most incredible mountain courses, with stunning views, huge elevation changes and the lowest rates of any destination track of equal quality — then head into town and spend the rest of the day in winery tasting rooms. Tops among them is Icicle Ridge, whose sparkling syrah, estate cabernet and chocolate cherry dessert wines put those from larger wineries to shame. Visit the winery just outside of town, in Peshastin, for a free tasting and numerous special events.
Yakima/Zillah
Apple Tree Golf Course • appletreegolf.com
Portteus Winery • portteuswinery.com
A must-stop on any tour of the Washington golf wine trail — or any golf road trip at all, really — Apple Tree winds 18 spectacular holes through active apple orchards, all leading up to the par-3 17th and its apple-shaped island green. After the round, taste the cabernet sauvignon rated among America’s best by Wine Enthusiast magazine at nearby Portteus Winery in Zillah.
Walla Walla
Wine Valley Golf Club • winevalleygolfclub.com
K Vintners • kvintners.com
Obviously, if you’re going all the way to Walla Walla, you’re staying more than one day. If so, be sure to hit Washington state’s founding wineries, Woodward Canyon and L’Ecole No. 41, as well as Leonetti, Basel Cellars and the dozens of other top picks. But, if you only hit one, make it K Vintners. Founded by former rock-band manager Charles Smith, K Vintners pleases fans of reds and whites alike with a syrah ranked among America’s top-10 and a Kung Fu Girl Riesling that is the best example of the state’s signature white grape. Hit it after a round at brawny, sprawling Wine Valley — about as close to Bandon as you can get within our four borders — and you’ll be in heaven.