August 7 2009 The Cave Inn Vineyard and Resort Tour

So my friend Rick from Los Angeles flew up  to Seattle for the Phish shows at the Gorge. He picked up our friend Trent from Seattle and drove the two hours east to meet myself and another friend named Mike. Mike is from Walla Walla and is a world renowned Vintner. He crafts the skills of future wine makers at the local university. Well one of his students is now the head wine maker at Cave Inn. Cave Inn is a resort in the desert that overlooks the Columbia River, and is connected to the Gorge Amphitheater concert venue.

Click on the above panorama pic. This is a small vine that is outside the winery, good for receptions, weddings etc. The views from here are great, and only gets better from here

Mike is climbing into the hatch where the barrels are stored. This room is air conditioned as this vineyard is literally in the desert, with scorching hot sun, and shallow rocky soil. The building itself would keep the barrels cool and safe for days if power was lost, but that is precious cargo!

Inside are rows of barrels stacked 3 levels high, hundred feet long, and a few rows wide. There was every kind of wine that was grown onsite. Most of this would be bottled and sold by Cave Inn, others are sold to the open wine market.

 

My group of 4 was joined by a friend of the wine maker and her group of friends. the 10 of us had a very private tour.  Below is the equipment  used to actually turn the juice to wine before barreling.

The group head outside into the heat and a walk through the vineyards. The bus in the background is the band Phish who was staying at the resort the weekend they played at the Gorge.

  So we approach the reception building of the resort. Acres and acres of vines. Big chunky bunches of grapes everywhere.  Each section of the property produces different varieties and qualties of wine…so im told…. Another worthy click on the panorama below. Here we are looking from the main building over the individual cabins. Each has its own view and cannot see each other. The COlumbia river below, and the Gorge just off to the right   This picture says it all…Desert…river…vines…$$$ We ducked out of the heat to begin several hours of tasting. We had every red, every white and desert wine they make onsite. We sampled various years. Without a doubt the most samples of a single vineyard I have ever had. Four hours of sampling wine meant we werent melting in the sun waiting for the shows to start. Wonderful experience. Thanks for getting us hooked up Mike! A great day!!