How To Properly Do A Mini-Wine Tour In Downtown Yakima On A $25 Budget – With No Driving

I knew that I would be unable to attend Spring Barrel Weekend 2016 the way people usually do: On a Saturday or Sunday, riding in a charted limo bus, hanging out with a ton of friends, snapping selfies and wine tasting all around the Lower Valley while taking in the awe-inspiring scenery...

I am a single mother on a super-tight budget, so I had to come up with my own plan for enjoying Spring Barrel. (I did it myyyyyy wayyyy! *sings in off-key Frank Sinatra voice*)

I only had 4 hours, $25 bucks, and I did NOT want to worry about anyone having to drive around.

Here is my secret way of how to properly do a wine tour in downtown Yakima (in this case, Spring Barrel Weekend): Just go to downtown Yakima on a Friday afternoon, take a couple of friends who can also take the afternoon off, and visit a couple of wineries! Add a lunch within walking distance, and VOILA! Wine Tour mission complete!

Think about it, this is perfect. You'll be in walking distance from the local wineries and after you have consumed the wine, you can just walk a couple of blocks over and have a leisurely lunch.

Added bonus: NO CROWDS!

The important thing is to allow your body time to process the wine you've consumed, that way, you won't be over the legal limit for alcohol consumption (0.08%) when it's time to leave.

TAKE IT FROM ME DUDE, DRINK RESPONSIBLY!

 
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This past Friday was the beginning of Spring Barrel Weekend, so two of my friends (Amy and Rich) met me at Gilbert Cellars at noon to begin our mini-excursion.

We were the first ones there (because they opened at noon). The friendly sommeliers gave us samples of their delicious barrel tastings with a $5 tasting fee. We had arrived too early for the wine and cheese plate (they served it after 5pm) so Amy ordered a bowl of roasted almonds. Tasty!

After chatting about this and that, us three amigos decided to head to the next winery. Right across the cobblestones on Front Street is AntoLin Cellars. There was a $5 tasting fee if you did not have one of those wine passes. We discovered that AntoLin has a "Healthy Smoothies" machine--and by smoothies, they meant WINE smoothies! We felt as though we had struck a gold mine! We enjoyed the smoothies and wine sampling on their patio.

We didn't have to worry about driving after all that wine tasting, since Amy decided we should finish off our mini-wine tour with some food at Cowiche Canyon Kitchen. The restaurant is only a block or two away from Front Street. My friend, Nick O., was the server and he led us to the patio, where I ordered a side of the macaroni and cheese and my friends had the crispy chicken sandwich.

All in all, we enjoyed Spring Barrel Weekend in less than four hours, and we had a blast!

So next year, if you are unable to do a weekend trip of Spring Barrel Tasting on a Saturday or Sunday, consider doing what we did and take that Friday off so that you can do your own mini-wine tour during the day with your friends, and feel like a tourist right here in Yakima.
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Total Cost: $21.66

$5.00 - Tasting Fee at Gilbert Cellars

$5.00 - Tasting Fee at AntoLin Cellars

$11.66 - Appetizer at Cowiche Canyon Kitchen