Customer Reviews

WineTrails of Washington

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The only reason I give this book a 3/5 rating is due to the author's refusal to "rate" the wineries listed. I bought this thinking it would be much like the myriad "hiking guide book of Washington" - where the hikes are rated, or at least described in a way where you might form your own opinion. However, the material in this book is so straightforward and lacking any "color" I've found that additional research is needed to uncover if the wineries listed are worth visiting. With over 600 wineries in WA state now, you need to be informed - or you'll spend countless hours tasting bad wine.

However, that being said - the book is comprehensive in it's approach to the task of listing and writing a small blurb on several hundred WA wineries.

Now, I didn't return this book - so I believe it has it's place on my shelf - but I'd recommend "Washington Wines & Wineries, by Paul Gregutt" as a better intro guide. Gregutt does a great job of rating some of the best wineries in WA. Learn what you can therein - and you'll be well on your way to uncovering the rich wine resources of WA state - and you'll no longer need a book to guide you!

You get the standard maps (which are excellent) and contact information for about 200 wineries but you also get the author's lively prose that helps you get to know the winemakers before you arrive. I decided to ask each winery to sign their page in Mr. Roberts's book! So many wineries, so little time! Rumor has it that a volume on Oregon's wineries is in the works! Note: I am no relation to the author. Roberts is a common name in these parts!

Great wine country information. - and wonderful "stacation" ideas, especially if you live in the Washington area. It was nice to see our favorite vineyards listed, plus lots of helpful information about each!
Don't miss this book if you are a wine enthusiast like we are.

I highly recommend this book if you want to know a little bit of the background of the wineries you are visiting in WA. I read it on the plane on the way out for our fall wine trip to Spokane, Yakima, Rattlesnake Hills, Prosser, and Walla Walla. I bought it 2 years ago during our last wine trip to Seattle/Leavenworth/Lake Chelan. Well worth the investment. And yes, there is a revised edition in the works. Many wineries told us that Steve Roberts had just revisited their winery this fall (2010). We'll be going back again to hit more of the Walla Walla area wineries and this book will be first on our packing list.

Steve,
Thank you so much for all your time and passion regarding the Pacific NW wine industry. It has just been in the last year that my husband and I have really begun to catch an excitement for the wine industry. We are in our 40's and nearing retirement from long-term governement-related employment. We both have taken an interest in becoming somehow involved in the wine industry in the NW in the next 5-7 yrs. and are in the research and dream phase of developing the a unique wine business in the future. We have been toying with the idea of opening a wine bar and tasting room/wine shop that would feature Washington/Oregon family owned wineries, with appetizers (cheese, meats, nuts, olives, etc) and wine supplies. We want to do something unique, are open to location and we are enjoying the research phase. We wish we would of thought of what you have done. We take the Washington book everywhere, take notes and try to establish contacts and gain knowledge along the way. Your book has been invaluable and we await with eager anticipation the Oregon version.
Thanks for all you efforts, time and energy you have put in. I do hope that you have enjoyed the process!

This is the best wine tour book I've used. I moved to WA from CA and have toured the Napa Valley, Sideways trail, etc. and now the WA trails. CA has no books this good. Great job - Steve!

This book is a tour de force of Washington wineries that are regularly open to the public for tasting. It does a good job of highlighting each winery's specialty.

Many entries contain incorrectly listed information, such as phone numbers, tasting room address, web site address, email address, or tasting room hours. For one of the tasting room addresses, the author listed a PO Box instead of the actual address. For the entire Yakima winery section, almost every single entry had something incorrectly listed. Tasting room hours and days are incorrectly listed. This general sloppiness throughout the book destroys most of its value because you have to double check all the info in this book with the actual winery. This book will get you started on your tour, but don't depend on solely on it.