YVC To Showcase Winemaking In April

Yakima Valley College is inviting the community to get a behind-the-scenes look at winemaking next month.

The college’s teaching winery, Yakima Valley Vintners, will host a “Teach, Tour and Taste” open house April 10th at its Grandview campus. YVC said visitors can tour the winery, learn about grapes grown in the Yakima Valley, and see the winemaking process up close.

Photo: Glenn Vaagen

Attendees can also sample award-winning wines crafted by students in the college’s Winery Operations class.

Instructor Trent Ball says the teaching winery has helped support Washington’s growing wine industry for nearly two decades, earning numerous awards since its first student-crafted wines were released in 2008.

“This is an opportunity for the industry and community members to see what the students in the program have been working on, and a great chance for the students to share some of the trials and experimentations they have led,” said Ball.

“One might think that wine is done quickly but there is a story behind each wine,” said program alumna Esmeralda Cruz. “Each student is passionate about wine in different ways, and each of us put a bit of our own magic in it. I never knew the magic that happened while creating wine until I joined the program and I have enjoyed every bit of knowledge I learned.”