The Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail is wine country like it used to be with wineries in the vineyards and owners tending the tasting bars. The Rattlesnake Hills is often referred to as the 'green' tour of the Yakima Valley. Situated in the low rolling hills, the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail takes you through some of the best orchard and vineyard land in the area. Each winery offers a unique setting in which to enjoy the fruit of the vine. The tasting rooms vary from Northwest modern architecture to traditional European with everything in between. All tasting rooms are open to the public without reservations during their published hours.

Wine tasting in the Rattlesnake Hills is real wine country, only 2 ½ hours from Seattle via the I-90 interstate. The Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail extends from Union Gap, the beginning of the Yakima Valley, where the Yakima River squeezes between Ahtanum Ridge to the west and the Rattlesnake Hills to the east, then down to the Sunnyside Gap where Highway 241 heads for Vernita. The 17 winerieson the Wine Trail guarantee that you will have a fabulous time and will take home some of the best wines that you have ever tasted.

The Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail Association is The Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail, a nonprofit, 501(c)6 association of the 17 wineries within the Washington State Rattlesnake Hills AVA, is dedicated to providing a fun and educational tasting experience, offering wine tasting, vineyard tours, and entertaining events, and is open to the public year-round.

Our mission is to promote the wines produced in the Rattlesnake Hills AVA and to promote wine tourism within our area through high quality wines, education, and positive tasting room experiences.

• The first commercial vineyards in the region date back to 1968.
• The first commercial wineries in the area opened their doors in 1980.
• With 18+ wineries and 29 vineyards, it provides many Washington producers with:

  White Wine Grapes: Aligote, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Madeline Angevine, Mueller-Thurgau, Muscat Canelli, Muscat Ottonel, Orange Muscat, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Rousanne, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Siegerrebe, Viognier
  
  Red Wine Grapes: Barbera, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Lemberger (Blue Franc), Malbec, Merlot, Mouverdre, Nebbiolo, Petit Syrah, Petit Verdot, Pinot Noir, Sangiovese, Syrah, Zinfandel

• Wineries in the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail association produce over 40 wine varietals.
• In additional to one-wine varietals, a lot of our wineries, craft ‘fanciful’ wine blends with labels like ‘Junkyard Red’ or 'Bung Dog Red'.
• In recent years, Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail wineries amassed over 150 wine awards on their wines through national and international competitions.
• Awarded American Viticulture Area status in March, 2006, the Rattlesnake Hills AVA is the ninth federally designated appellation in Washington State.
• Located approximately four miles southeast of Yakima, the 68,500 acre (27,721 hectares) appellation has 1,500 acres (607 hectares) under vines.
• Encompassing an expanse of hills running east to west along the northern point of the Yakima River and south of Moxee Valley, the Rattlesnake Hills AVA lies within both the established Columbia Valley and Yakima Valley appellations.
• Beginning at an elevation of 850 feet and rising up to 3,085 feet, the viticultural area sits higher in elevation than the surrounding Yakima Valley region.
• Vineyards are typically located on ridges and terraces and in areas with good air drainage to avoid late spring and early fall frost and winter kill.
• Every year the Rattlesnake Hills Wineries and AVA receive national and international wine awards recognizing the superb quality of both the grapes grown in our area and the wines produced.  See the most current listing of Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail Wine Awards receipients.

Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail works closely with these Partners to promote tourism in Yakima Valley Wine Country:

City of Granger City of Wapato City of Yakima City of Zillah Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce The Seasons Performance Hall Yakima Valley Visitors & Convention Bureau Zillah Lakes

Opportunities are now available for wineries to join the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail. Read the Membership brochure for more information.

Each year the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail publishes a brochure in the form of a fold out map. Limited advertising opportunities are available for businesses to partner with the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail through ads in the brochure. Read the Advertising Information for more information.

Shannon Hitchcock began her role as Executive Director of the Rattlesnake Hills Wine Trail in August 2010 and brings fifteen years of marketing and communications experience to the group. A native of Washington, Hitchcock and her family spent four years in Wyoming where she was the Sales and Marketing Director for the statewide newspaper.

“After four long winters in Wyoming we decided as a family we missed Washington. When I saw this position advertised online I immediately thought to myself “dream job!” I am thrilled to join this dynamic group of passionate winemakers and look forward to lots of hard work and laughs as we continue to tell the story of the outstanding wines and people found in the Rattlesnake Hills.”

Shannon has been married to Sam Hitchcock for 14 years and they have three children, Sammy age 11, Raelynn age 10 and Olivia age 3 who keep her on her toes. When Shannon is not on the Wine Trail you may find her fly fishing the Yakima River, reading a book or mastering the art of gourmet cooking. Shannon and her family make their home in the West Valley area of Yakima.