September 17, 2008 – White or Red with your turkey?  A wine that pairs well with pumpkin pie?  With Thanksgiving weekend fast approaching, many wine aficionados are beginning to plan their food menus.  Why let the gustatory fun end with one day of celebration when you can plan a tasting trip for the holiday weekend?  A must do is Wine Yakima Valley’s Thanksgiving in Wine Country event weekend, November 28-29, 2008.  Thanksgiving in Wine Country can help you celebrate this festive holiday in two ways:

1.  As you begin planning and preparing your Thanksgiving meal, Wine Yakima Valley’s food and wine website, www.thewinechef.com will help you figure out what wine goes best with what dish.  The Wine Chef features recipes from some of the state’s best restaurants, paired with the best wines from Washington’s Wine Country – Yakima Valley.

2.  Three fun-filled days immediately following Thanksgiving offer you and your guests an opportunity to enjoy food and wine that are carefully selected to complement one another. This event offers consumers a perfectly paired recipe with a Yakima Valley wine, and education on why the two pair well together.  Is it the sauce, seasoning, or simply the flavors of the entrée itself?

This event weekend has become a Northwest tradition with more than 50 wineries opening their doors following Thanksgiving to celebrate the season.  The wineries of the Yakima Valley (Yakima, Zillah, Sunnyside, Prosser, and Red Mountain) offer great wine, food, and fun.  Each participating winery will feature a carefully selected entrée to be paired with one of its wines.  Visit and learn how food and wine paired well can improve the flavors of both.

Purchase your Premiere Pass and enjoy exclusive benefits available only during this event weekend.  Premiere Pass holders will be able to experience a variety of specialty food and wine pairings, library tastings, and tours not available to the public. Tickets are available online at www.wineyakimavalley.org.

About Wine Yakima Valley

Planning tips are available online at www.wineyakimavalley.org.  See what food and wine samples will be featured at this year’s event.  Check the website before departing on your trip to learn of any additional information or fees that may be associated with this Northwest event.

Touring tips:  Please drive carefully and take your time. You will probably only get to visit four or five wineries a day. Don’t try to power taste, as you will either not get a good taste of the wines, or worse, could miss a great opportunity to talk to the winemaker. Talking to the winemaker or owner can give you a great insight on the winery and the local wine scene. Don’t be afraid to ask any questions you might have. Most winemakers and owners want to talk about their job and passion for their wine.