bright wines, bright future | april 16 & 19

Please join the HHWG this month for BRIGHT WINES, BRIGHT FUTURE | Washington State Wines featuring spectacular wines from the Pacific Northwest.  

Known for software, coffee, apples and airplanes, Washington state is also famous for wine. Bright fruit. Crisp acidity. Small-batch vintners. Exciting new wine regions. Critical acclaim. The Washington state wine industry has it all.

The remarkable story of Washington state wines spans about 50 years. It involves the unique and significant influence of the Cascade Mountains, a world-class irrigation system feeding arid deserts and innovative winemakers. Warm, sunny days and cool nights – an ideal environment for grape ripening – have led Washington producers to both quality and quantity. The state ranks second after California in US wine production.

Speaking of critical acclaim, we’ll be sampling these wines, which have received an average 94+ points in reviews:

  • An estate blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon

  • A value blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec

  • A Right Bank Bordeaux style blend of Merlot and Cab Franc from a historic Washington winery

  • A Mourvedre-led Rhone blend with Grenache and Syrah

  • A tiny-production, low-intervention Syrah from Walla Walla

  • A classic, rip-roaring Syrah from Washington’s superstar Syrah producer

Holly Hill Wine Guild tastings take place in the Pavilion Bar at historic Fasig-Tipton, home to North America’s oldest Thoroughbred auction company. Tastings begin at 7 pm and last one hour. The cost is $35 for members and $40 for nonmembers. We also offer an optional $25 dinner buffet that starts at 6:15 pm.

Reservations for BRIGHT WINES, BRIGHT FUTURE | Washington State Wines can be made here.

Monthly TASTINGs | 2024 schedule

Our tastings take place in the Pavilion Bar at Fasig-Tipton. Each month we have two seatings, usually one on a Tuesday and the other on Friday. They begin at 7 pm and last an hour. We also offer optional buffets that start at 6:15 pm. Here is our schedule for our 2024 monthly tastings. You can access a printable version by clicking here.

January | A Tasting You Chianti Refuse

  • The delicious food-friendly red wines of Italy (Jan. 12, 16)

February | Battle Cabernet Sauvignon

  • Which Cabernet will reign supreme? We’ll taste them and rank! (Feb. 16, 20)

March | Elevated Taste: High-Altitude Wines

  • Wines from Argentina, Chile, New Mexico and other high places (Mar. 12, 15)

April | Bright Wines, Bright Future: Washington State Wines

  • The Apple State’s wines explode on the global stage (Apr. 16, 19)

May | Blame it on Rioja

  • Exploring the red wines of Spain, starting with Rioja (May 14, 17)

June | Zinfandel’s Zenith

  • Celebrating Sonoma’s extremely old Zinfandel vineyards

July | Two Rivers Run Through It

  • The historic wines of France’s Loire and Rhone River valleys

August | The South Pacific’s Enchanted Wines

  • Australia and New Zealand wines: close proximity but poles apart

September | The World’s Brilliant Blends

  • Amarone, Bordeaux, Chateauneuf-du-Pape to start

October | American Pinot Noir

  • Russian River, Sonoma Coast, Willamette Valley and beyond

November | Iconic Partners: Chardonnay and Burgundy

  • Where Chardonnay asks you to take the next step in your relationship

December | The Grandest Finale

  • Saving the best tastes for last

The Holly Hill Wine Guild was founded in 2008 and is directed by Steve Mancuso.

The Holly Hill Inn wine list features owner Chris Michel’s thoughtfully chosen selections and has received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence every year since 2002. Chris is dedicated to finding the best and most interesting wines possible to pair with our seasonal cuisine, and our wine list features stalwarts and upstarts from the Old World and New!