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s this the southwest or the northwest? You thought you were in Prosser, but now you’re wondering if you time-traveled from the Yakima Valley to new

Mexico when you pulled off interstate 82 onto Wine country Road, passed banks of lavender and riotous baskets of brightly-colored annuals and parked in front of the striking adobe-style building that houses Desert Wind Winery.

staying in one of the winery’s luxuriously appointed guest rooms (acclaimed by Travel + Leisure magazine) is the perfect way to explore nearby wineries as well. there are just four rooms located on a private, secure floor over the winery, so you’ll want to begin planning your getaway now and book early.

SouthweSt Style lodgingthe tasteful guest rooms are

named after early-american explorers: sacagawea, Jean Baptiste, charbonneau, Lewis and clark. the southwestern desert theme is thoughtfully carried into every detail from the furnishings to wall décor. Deluxe amenities include a sitting area, large flatscreen satellite television, Bose sound system with cD player, mini-bar, even plush his-and-her guest robes.

if the drive to the winery has left you a little thirsty, the first thing that may attract your attention is the welcome complimentary bottle of wine waiting in the room, complete with corkscrew and crystal wine glasses. it’s tempting to settle into the comfy chairs on your private balcony and sip your

Rising above the banks of the Yakima River,

DeseRt WinD WineRY is a relaxing haven

for vacationers seeking gourmet food and wine in Prosser

oasis in the DesertWRiteR Linda Hagen Miller

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Desert Wind WInery has four luxury guest rooms on a private floor above the winery which make a perfect base for exploring Prosser's wine country.

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wine as the sun sets over the Yakima River below. if it’s a bit chilly outside, curl up on the soft sofa in front of the kiva-style fireplace.

Wake up the next morning to an ample European-style continental breakfast basket of fresh fruit, artisan cheese, bakery goods, fruit juice, milk and French-press coffee delivered to your room.

wine taSting & lunchDownstairs in the high-ceilinged

tasting room, a gift boutique overflowing with fine art and classy kitchen items leads the way to the roomy tasting bar.

here you can taste their lineup of wines from chardonnay to tempranillo to Port-style La Puerta. Desert Wind’s popular signature blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet Franc and Merlot is called Ruah. in keeping with the winery’s setting and theme, Ruah translates to “breath of god” or “wind” in hebrew.

stroll to the opposite side of the cavernous winery to enjoy lunch at Mojave by Picazo, a southwest- inspired restaurant, focusing on casual wine country cuisine, paired with Desert Wind wines. set with elegant table seating and oak wine barrels racked halfway up the wall, it’s open for lunch from thursday to saturday, or by appointment for private groups.

to attend a Desert Wind cooking class, or one of their many food and wine events, check out the winery’s website.

tieS to duck Pond cellarSchristened for the area’s hot, dry

weather, Desert Wind opened in 2007, joining 30 or so wineries in the small town of Prosser (population 5,500) at the southeast end of the Yakima Valley. growing with every vintage, the winery now produces in excess of 25,000 cases of wine a year.

TOP Mojave by Picazo is the winery's Southwest-inspired restaurant ABOVE Paprika-dusted pork chop, roasted garlic mashed potato cake, Cabernet carrots, Romesco sauce and herb salad. Pair with Desert Wind 2008 Tempranillo. Desert Wind's brick-lined

courtyard adjacent to the winery's tasting room makes an ideal spot to enjoy a glass of wine and food.

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it’s tempting to settle into the comfy chairs on your

private balcony and sip your wine as the sun sets over the Yakima River below.

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use desert wind as a base to explore other Prosser wineries. TIP if you time your visit during a Friday from May through September, you can join the locals for Sip n’ Stroll. happy hour specials, winery tours and tasting, a smattering of art exhibits, entertainment, and small plate noshing at participating Prosser wineries make for a memorable evening.

Mercer Estates Winery is a collaboration of the Mercer and Hogue families just a block next door and well worth a visit to taste their luscious wines by winemaker David Forsyth. also close by and across the street is Chinook Winery, a vital part of the local wine community for the past 27 vintages. the husband and wife team of Kay Simon, distinguished winemaker, and respected viticulturist Clay Mackey are the perfect marriage! call ahead for a tasting appointment during the winter months. Minutes away is Vintner’s Village just off Merlot drive, a delightful complex of more than a dozen tasting rooms scattered over several easy walking acres. each winery’s unique architecture and extensive landscaping make this feel more like a park than a wine village. Stop for lunch or dinner at Wine O'Clock,

where you can taste artisan wines and dine on hearty fare made with fresh, local ingredients.

don’t miss Yellow Rose Nursery, adjacent to Vintner’s Village, where thousands of trees, shrubs, flowers and individual garden vignettes create a botanical wonderland.

Mosey to compact, friendly downtown Prosser for a meal or a little shopping. choices are few, and that’s part of the charm, but you can browse for antiques or local art on 6th Street.

the newest addition to the dining scene is Tuscany Rustic Italian Bistro on 6th Street, run by Chef Jessie Ayala and his wife Susanne Ayala, a certified sommelier. a handpicked array of local and italian wines complement tempting menu choices.

westside transplant Frank Magaña opened Picazo 7Seventeen three years ago, also on 6th Street, bringing a Spanish flair to Prosser with menu choices that include inventive tapas. try the prawns stuffed with Spanish sausage and wrapped in Serrano ham.

For more visitor info, visit www.tourprosser.com or call 800-408-1517.

owner greg Fries and his wife amber oversee all aspects of the vineyards, the tasting room, four-room inn, restaurant and meeting space.

amber, originally from chelan, Washington, met greg when she was attending Linfield college in McMinnville, oregon, and working at Duck Pond cellars.

“i was looking for a summer job and the winery sounded fun,” amber says. “then i got interested in wine and got certified at the international sommelier guild. in the process, greg and i fell in love and eventually got married.” her love of food, and knack for creating recipes comes in useful when planning wine dinner menus or themes for the monthly cooking classes offered at the winery.

greg thinks of himself as a vintner more than a winemaker. sure, he deals with the chemistry and magic that turns grapes into ambrosia, but not before he’s spent hours tromping around vineyards checking on grapes or conferring with family members about blends and crush.

the 38-year-old grew up on a california farm where his family grew cotton and tomatoes. in the 1980s, his family moved to oregon, started raising hazelnuts and planted a small vineyard. greg attended University of california at Davis, graduating with a degree in fermentation science with an emphasis in enology.

Meanwhile, the family planted an additional 480 acres of wine grapes on the Wahluke slope above the Yakima Valley. By 1993, the oregon vineyard was getting its own legs and the Fries family opened Duck Pond cellars between Dundee and newberg.

combine greg’s ease in the vine-yards and amber’s communication and marketing skills, coupled by the fam-ily’s commitment to producing qual-ity wines, and an Eastern Washington sister winery was a natural.

Desert WinD Winery 2258 wine country rd. Prossertoll Free 866-921-7277local 509-786-7277www.desertwindwinery.com

rAtes off-season rates are $175-195 (november to March), high-season rates are $250-$300.

AMenities a generous continental breakfast basket

is delivered to the room each morning. rooms are 528 to 624 sq. feet and all have kiva-style gas fireplaces, private balconies overlooking the yakima river, plasma satellite tV, Bose sound systems and Simmons Beautyrest dressler Plush. which is to say, you will sleep like a baby.

spA services are available only to overnight guests with 3-7 days advance notice.

privAte events & MeetinGs an in-house event coordinator facilitates indoor & outdoor meetings and weddings that can accommodate up to 275 people. audio visual equipment and a state-of-the-art kitchen are available. inquiries phone 509-786-7277, extension 104.

Owners Greg and Amber Fries

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BOOK a guest Room

e��lore �rosse�Mercer Estates Winery

Tuscany Rustic Italian Bistro

Yellow Rose Nursery in Vintner's Village

Picazo 7Seventeen

Desert Wind's spacious tasting room includes plush leather seating areas and a gift boutique overflowing with fine art and classy housewares.

2009 Oranotes of honeysuckle, lychee and peach, followed by flavors of baked pears, vanilla, and hazelnuts. great with hors d’oeuvres, thai cuisine and sushi. $15 (available only at the Tasting Room)

2008 RuahSignature blend of cabernet Sauvignon, cabernet Franc, and Merlot. intensely aromatic, with Bing cherry, cinnamon, and toasted walnut in the forefront. Mouthful of cherry, raspberry, and clove. $20

2008 Tempranillowith soft aromas of crushed berries and delicate spice, this medium light wine offers up earthy notes, cocoa and slate, with a pleasant dry finish, a tribute to this classic Spanish varietal. $20

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