Do you, or someone you know, dream of getting married in a romantic winery setting or vineyard? A number of Washington wineries specialize in weddings, ranging from intimate groups to large receptions, and some even provide the wedding planner and on-site catering. And, of course, they serve excellent wines. Tasting Room Magazine’s list of top ten winery wedding venues will help narrow down your selection for that perfect day.
Gorge Crest Vineyards, Underwood
Top of the World Vista
Gorge Crest Vineyards seems to be designed especially for magnificent outdoor weddings, offering guests beautiful views of Mount Hood, flanked by rolling hills, fir-covered mountains and wildflowers dotting the hillsides. Hammocks and swinging benches sit alongside nearby forest paths. An outdoor dance floor, covered porches, cobblestone patios and a pergola for wedding photos complete the perfect setting. It’s like a set from the “The Sound of Music” and to describe it as romantic doesn’t come close to doing it justice. Indoors, the wedding party has separate quarters for the bride and groom’s parties, plus a living room and makeup room. The bridal suite is equally impressive. Bring your cameras. (Photo by Mosca Studio) www.gorgecrest.com
Columbia Winery, Woodinville
Victorian Mansion
Set amidst manicured English gardens, Columbia Winery is equally set up for indoor or outdoor wedding ceremonies and receptions on a grand scale. The Victorian style mansion can accommodate up to 225 dinner guests with plenty of parking, and is located near hotels and B&B’s. The staff offers years of experience to make your day extra special and collaborates closely with local caterers and vendors. Enjoy a selection of fine wines from Columbia Winery to complement any meal perfectly and enlist one of their wine educators to add a special touch to the occasion. “Your wedding is one of the most important events of your lifetime and we offer options to fit any bride’s request, from intimately romantic to a casual reception,” says Columbia Winery Senior Manager John Sportelli. www.columbiawinery.com
Waterbrook Winery, Walla Walla
Country Dreams
Few venues in the region offer full catering for indoor and outdoor entertaining for parties up to 500 guests. One advantage of being a short drive from downtown Walla Walla is the proximity to accommodations. With hundreds of lavender plantings that go on forever, rolling lawns, the ponds and footbridge, off-the-path surprises and the COR-TEN (oxidized steel that looks rusty) on the tasting room structure, the site is a multi-textural wedding photographer’s dream. As a money-saving option for large weddings, Waterbrook offers wine in a re-sealable, refillable one-liter bottle called a Villager. These tasting room wines are straight from a tap and are often seasonal winery offerings not found on the mass market. They are great for the table during receptions. (Photo by Ali Walker) www.waterbrook.com
Karma Vineyards, Chelan
Vineyards by the Lake
Located on the south shore of Lake Chelan, Karma Vineyards offers two picturesque wedding sites, each accommodating 150 guests on the 70-acre property. Adjacent to the tasting room, the Lilac Patio is nestled among a grove of lilac trees lined with echinacea, azaleas, moss and other shrubs that together form a romantic, intimate space. The Panorama Patio overlooks an impressive 180-degree view of the deep blue waters of Lake Chelan with Karma’s estate vineyards in the foreground. The estate also has two bars, an atmospheric 3,000-square-foot underground wine cave, tables, seating and crystal, leaving little to the imagination except your fairy tale wedding. Most appropriately, Karma Vineyards is one of only a handful of méthode champenoise producers in Washington, and their delicious specialty sparkling wines are more than a good reason to toast the newlyweds. www.goodkarmawines.com
Arbor Crest Wine Cellars, Spokane
Florentine Romance
Combine a winery with a romantic mansion that resembles a Mediterranean-style villa, perched atop a 475-foot cliff overlooking the Spokane River, and you have one distinctive wedding venue. The perfectly restored Cliff House, furnished with antiques, serves as Arbor Crest Wine Cellar’s tasting room and wedding facility. It’s also listed as a national historic landmark. Refurbished in Florentine style, Cliff House is surrounded by a 75-acre estate that includes a gazebo, croquet court and outdoor checkerboard the size of a handball court. While you wander, wine glass in hand, among the beautiful gardens, green lawns and pools, you’ll imagine you’re in Tuscany. Enjoy the majestic views while sipping their flagship wines. (Photo by Anna Peters) www.arborcrest.com
Chateau Faire le Pont Winery, Wenatchee
Blend of Rustic Elegance
Wenatchee’s consistent warm summer weather makes the Chateau ideal for outdoor weddings, with rows of immaculate vines in the background. Your unforgettable occasion can also be held indoors in the elegant Fireside Room that spills out into a patio with a beautiful Venetian fountain. The winery provides an event planner and the staff assists with the rehearsal dinner, wedding and reception. A full-service kitchen serves up gourmet food to complement winemaker Doug Brazil’s full slate of wines. And their pastry chef can design your dream wedding cake. At night, the wedding garden and the patio area lights up providing a magical, intimate atmosphere. The winery holds up to 120 people inside and another 200 outside in the wedding garden. (Photo by Amy Lewis) www.fairelepont.com
Swiftwater Cellars, Cle Elum
European Sophistication
Tucked away in the Cascade foothills near Cle Elum, Swiftwater Cellars is a destination wedding venue in a sophisticated Old World setting. Guests can enjoy a weekend of golf and wine tasting in between the wedding celebration, then cap off the weekend with a post-wedding brunch. From the beautiful setting, to a varied mix of unique spaces that require minimal decorating, each and every detail is taken care of on your perfect day. The winery offers everything under one roof, including onsite catering from The Hoist House Restaurant and the ability to entertain up to 350 guests. www.swiftwatercellars.com
DeLille Cellars, Woodinville
French-Inspired Chateau
The Chateau at DeLille’s winery exudes a peaceful French country atmosphere. The Grand Room opens to a terrace that can comfortably entertain up to 200 guests. The Chateau and strolling grounds provide a peaceful and private haven for the wedding party. With an excellent vantage overlooking the Sammamish Valley, the intricately landscaped ten-acre grounds are like a Renaissance painting—smothered with gardens, weeping willows, and native ground cover. Piles of river rocks and small ponds complete nature’s textural brush strokes. A hidden lawn nestled among cedars provides the ultimate private setting for wedding ceremonies. Guests will fall in love with their acclaimed wines. www.delillecellars.com
Silver Lake Winery at Roza Hills, Zillah
Yakima Valley Wedding
Silver Lake Winery’s wedding stock-in-trade is undoubtedly its picturesque view overlooking the nearby Whisky Canyon Vineyard, and distant rolling hills and mountains of the Yakima Valley. Receptions are held outside on the green landscaped lawn, or under the shelter of the awning of the “Viniferanda.” Romantic couples can pledge their vows just as the sun begins to set behind a waterfall in the background. Wedding foodies will appreciate the fact that wine is used as an ingredient in catered dishes, such as their Chardonnay salmon, baron of beef with Merlot sauce and pork loin with Cabernet cherry sauce. www.silverlakewinery.com
Whidbey Island Winery, Langley
Vows in the Vineyard
When you hop aboard a ferry to reach your wedding destination, it triggers a peaceful, mind-clearing ritual that helps you forget about city living, at least for the wedding weekend. Whidbey Island Winery hosts an exclusive number of weddings during summer and fall. A wedding among the serene vines provides unforgettable photo opportunities. Here, brides and grooms are welcome to make the grounds their own, to decorate and stage their event to reflect themselves and the theme of their special day. Winemaker Greg Osenbach produces smooth red wines and estate-grown whites that complement Northwest seafood. The winery grounds can accommodate groups up to 150 people. www.whidbeyislandwinery.com