Experience Exclusive Barrel Tastings in Lake Chelan 2023

This year, participating Lake Chelan wineries will open their doors for two back-to-back weekends of exclusive barrel tastings!

During the weekends of November 10th – 12th and November 17th – 19th, visitors to the Lake Chelan Wine Valley have a unique opportunity to sample wines straight from the barrel and get a taste of award-winning wines in the making.

This is a fantastic way to sample young vintages from our local winemakers and get an in-depth look at the intricate winemaking process.

Here’s everything to know about your visit during November’s barrel tastings!

What’s Barrel Tasting?

Barrel tasting at a winery is a distinctive and intimate experience offering guests a glimpse into the winemaking process, often long before the wine reaches its final bottled stage.

During a barrel tasting, you’ll sample wine directly from the barrel, most often in the production rooms of the wineries (don’t forget a warm coat!)

A knowledgeable host, often the winemaker themselves, uses a tool called a “thief” to extract small samples of wine directly from the barrels and into your glass.

This unique tasting provides insight into the wine’s development and how factors like aging and barrel type influence its character and final profile. It’s an educational journey through the subtleties of flavors and aromas and an exclusive preview into the future of the winery’s offerings.

Lake Chelan Barrel Tasting Events

Wineries across the valley are offering various tasting options across both weekends. Additionally, certain wineries will allow you to pre-purchase the wines you taste, so be sure to inquire about what’s known as “future” purchases.

Here’s a snapshot of what to expect when scheduling your barrel tasting weekend to the Lake Chelan Wine Valley (find a detailed list of barrel tasting events here):

Alta Cellars

Dates: November 11th & 18th

Offerings: A tasting of the 2021 Cabernet Franc straight from the barrel, soon to be bottled!

Amos Rome Vineyards

Dates: November 10th, 11th, 12th, 17th, 18th, 19th

Offerings: Exclusive barrel tasting exploring the complexities that emerge during the aging process, plus a permanent jewelry pop-up with Chelan Links on November 11th.

Callan Cellars

Dates: November 11th, 12th, 17th, 18th

Offerings: Barrel tastings of the Petit Verdot (the first single varietal release of this wine!) and Cabernet Franc.

Fielding Hills

Dates: November 11th

Offerings: Barrel Select Tasting — A taste through a selection of wines from their Barrel Select label. With only 25 cases of each wine produced, these wines are rarely open for tasting!

Hard Row to Hoe Vineyards

Dates: November 11th & 18th

Offerings: A special taste of their young vintages in their production room with Head Winemaker Julian Shaver.

Silver Bell Winery

Dates: November 11th & 18th

Offerings: A special Three-Wine-Paired Appetizer flight followed by a trip to the cellar where you will sample wines directly from the barrel.

Succession Wines

Dates: November 11th & 18th

Offerings: A taste of the newest vintage red wines and a tour of their production facility.

Tipsy Canyon Winery

Dates: November 10th, 11th, 12th, 17th, 18th, 19th

Offerings: Barrel tasting from the latest vintage, walking vineyard tours, curated cheese and charcuterie pairings, outdoor fire pits, and live music on the Saturdays of each weekend.

Tsillan Cellars

Dates: November 11th & 18th

Offerings: Barrel tasting of Lake Chelan AVA wines. Enjoy the 2022 Estate Syrah, with a side-by-side comparison to the award-winning 2021 Estate Syrah in-bottle.

Vibe Cellars

Dates: November 11th, 12th, 17th, 18th

Offerings: A taste of their 2022 vintage Cabernet Franc sourced from James Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA, to be bottled in March of 2024.

Vin Du Lac Winery

Dates: November 11th, 12th, 17th, 18th

Offerings: Barrel tasting with winemaker Chad Honsinger and an opportunity to learn about upcoming releases, blending practices, and aging plans.

Additional Activities to Plan For

The fun doesn’t stop at sampling select vintages! Across the Lake Chelan Wine Valley, we’re celebrating the harvest season with harvest concerts, winemaker dinners, and special releases.

A few activities to pencil in during your weekend trip:

The events calendar is ever-expanding, so please check back before your visit for an up-to-date overview of all the fun activities in store across the Lake Chelan and Manson wineries.

Plan Your November Visit to Lake Chelan

November is the initiation into the slower season, an invitation for our hardworking wineries to slow down, celebrate the recent harvest, and share the fermented fruits of their labor.

Book your visit to the Lake Chelan Wine Valley this November and enjoy a glimpse into the winemaking process and a taste of all the exciting vintages to come!