I was recently on a ladies weekend in the area, and got to visit Swiftwater for dinner with my…read morebestie. And what a wonderful dinner it was! From the stunning views over the valley below, to the tasty cocktails, to the wonderful eats it was a great way to chillax on a lovely Saturday evening. Having had a not-great experience with wine (at a different venue) earlier in the day, we opted for cocktails here. My extra dirty martini with cheese-stuffed olives was phenomenal, and my friend enjoyed her old fashioned. We shared a roasted beet and burrata salad as an appy, then moved on to our main courses - I got the prime tenderloin and she got the cider glazed pork. We washed it all down with a couple of chocolate espresso martinis for dessert. My tenderloin was cooked to perfection, and accompanied by some sweet little roasted carrots and a lovely heap of mashed potatoes. My friend reported that her pork was more like a stew, and she really enjoyed it. What really put our experience here over the top was the absolutely amazing service we received, especially from our waiter, Trevor. He was friendly, funny, and helped us navigate the menu when we couldn't decide what to get. He also told us a little about the geological history of the area, which is built over an old coal mine. This place wasn't cheap, but for a fun night out of splurging, it was perfect!

Among its competition, Swiftwater Cellars stands above all. This restaurant is Sundadia's premier…read morelocation to eat and drink! Let's dive into it Food Ribeye 5/5 buttery and cut through like butter Mashed potatoes 5/5 seabass 5/5 - a moat of sauce Mac and cheese - sleeper food ***Update: we went back to this restaurant for our yearly cabin trip and the food was just as good the last time. Perfect service and food. 5/5 would recommend ***

We've been to Gård's other locations before, but finally made it into the Ellensburg tasting room…read moreyesterday - and I'm so glad we did. The wines are as solid as ever (big fan of their new releases), but the real standout was the guy pouring. Super friendly, chill, and made the whole experience feel easy and fun. No pretense, just good wine and good convo. Bonus points for having food to snack on and beer options for the non-wine folks. It's got everything you need for a laid-back afternoon. This spot might just be my favorite Gård location. Definitely worth a visit if you're in town.

Gard Vintners in the historic downtown area of Ellensburg is a winery with a broad variety of…read morewines. The tasting fee is $20 for 6 tastings, waived with 2 bottles purchased. The tasting room is actually 2 large rooms with many seating options. We sat in the comfy chairs in the corner. Van approached us upon entering and served our tastings. He is very knowledgeable about their vineyards and wines, which is much appreciated. They don't have a set tasting flight, but rather "whatever is open" at the time. We had a wide variety from their Blanc Franc, which we loved, to a rich Cab Sauv. The bottle prices are wide ranged and well priced. They have a bites menu, but we didn't try any of the food. They have musicians play on some evenings. They produce whites, roses and reds so it's a great place for couples and groups who have varying preferences.

Last on the crawl, it seemed out of the way but ended up being a nice little room. We shared some…read moretastings, which was fun We didn't take anything home, but I think we had already hit a wall for the day. After a bit more chit chat with the staff, we did a quick pack up to get some food.

Went to an event and it was hosted by them. Great food amazing wine. Would go to more events.read more

The wines are fine, but the woman who poured the wine for tasting has no business working with the…read morepublic. She was cold, impersonal and unfriendly. There were four of us and we felt like we weren't welcome there and the sooner we could get out the better would be. Maybe because we're older she couldn't identify with us but at other wineries, the servers are very open and friendly and happy to work with you. Further, we bought wine and still had to pay for our tasting. Needless to say, we will never go back and we will tell our friends to stay away.

Hubby surprised me with a trip here. Lots of windy roads to get there but it is worth it! This is a…read moreunique house turned into a winery...literally. Got it the backyard to get into the tasting room where you can get a flight or wine by the bottle. We did the flight then got some bread with olive oil. The view is incredible. Lots of outdoor area to sit. You can take a stroll through the vines that are located on the property. Beautiful views and beautiful place to sip some wine. We got there around 4 oand it started to get busier after that

Hidden gem off of I-90. EXCELLENT customer service. Wine selection is good and they even have a…read moremeat/cheese platter if you're hungry. Highly recommended!

Wow what a great place!!! Delicious wine too!!! I stopped in here on a Friday night when they had…read morelive music from 6-8pm and sat in the corner doing some work I enjoyed a great glass of white wine and their delicious meat and Cheese platter while I listened to the live music. Definitely worth stopping to support a local wine maker!

10 out of 10. No notes…read more But Yelp makes me say more so I will say I love the outside vibes with the amazing views! The wine has never disappointed. We come for DMB every year and it's always a highlight of our trip to stop by during the day.

We come and visit here when we come for Labor Dave Weekend. Love this winery and love the views! We…read morehave done sunrise yoga and it is the best place for a relaxing session! We also come back daily to listen to music and meet friends! Already can't wait to return next year when we are in town!

My husband and I heard there was a short hike near a winery that we NEEDED to see per PNWU…read morestudents. We were touring the area as I may attend the nearby medical school. We were NOT disappointed. The view was beautiful, the wine was tasty, and the staff were very kind. I would definitely visit often if we move to the area! Such a peaceful ambiance and great wine to boot!

My sister and I came to the winery after hiking in Cowiche Canyon and the surrounding hills. We…read moreeach got the tasting of the Italian style wines ($20). Staff was very friendly. The best part was the hillside farm setting. We sat outside, listened to the birds, and watched the sun set over the Yakima Hills. The location felt secret, peaceful, and special. We enjoyed the wines but the main reason to go here would be for the setting. I look forward to visiting again next time I am hiking in this area.

WOW! Wow! Wow!!!!! Thank you Phil Cline for an amazing experience and some of the most delicious…read morewines we ever had. The tour was very educative and the owner is a third generation of farmer. Phil is extremely knowledgeable and a good story teller. The tasting was amazing. I strongly recommend a tour snd wine tasting tour here.

Great property that provides space for kids and pets. Tastings were delicious and the ambience…read moremakes this visit to Yakima worth it!

What a lovely afternoon. We hit two wineries this day the first being a more social experience so…read moreit was nice to finish up here as they were having a quiet Saturday afternoon - we were it late in the day and the loveliest young lady served us outside. The patio had misters to keep us cool and this fantastic view. The owners were also lovely and spoke with us for a bit. They are going through a challenging time and we wish them positive news and healing energy! The rosé was fantastic!!! Definitely a winery to check out!!!

Very nice setting but I will say compared to other tasting in the area their price is high and pour…read moreis short. Service was a little off only 1 person working so it was slow

This is my most happiest place on the Earth. All travels and places aside, Al and Kat, you are…read morewonderful people. Blessings! See you soon.

So much Love for Malaga Springs Winery that I got on the waitlist to get involved in the wine club!…read more We stumbled upon Malaga Springs Winery a few years ago while camping about an hour away. There was a major accident blocking the thoroughfare and we had to take a detour over the mountain through the sno park. This significant detour gave us an opportunity to see landscape we wouldn't have known existed. Unfortunately, there was a food truck that day and the accident meant the food truck and winery had many fewer visitors than anticipated. So they were really glad to see us. We met Al, the man who owns the place with his wife Kathy. Through our tasting and eating, we began learning about the Malaga Springs Winery story. It began our love affair with the place. Every summer since, we make our way to the winery bringing new people with us almost every time. I wish everyone who made their way there was required to read the history of the place, how it all came to be, before they began their tasting and nibbling. It would really enhance their experience. I think it's so important I'm adding it here: MALAGA SPRINGS WINERY HISTORY The happy circumstance of Kathy and me finding this site, as well as learning that the area got its name from grapes planted in the late 1800's as the railroad was being constructed to Seattle, was another stroke of luck. We were lucky again to have found, after a long search, what we believe to be grape plants from the original stock. The owners have let us take cuttings, and we are attempting to start a small vineyard from these cuttings, with the aim of producing what would have been the local wine years ago. In 2010 we opened our tasting room, and as people have discovered us, our traffic through it has increased as has the production from the grapes, as they mature and come into full bearing. Our sustainable straw bale buildings, as well as our farming styles are well suited to the natural environment, with all the wildflowers and critters still at home in the mostly undisturbed valley grasses. In 2010, we opened our new and dedicated tasting room to handle the increased visitation, and also to give us more flexibility with large groups and events. As in all our buildings and grounds, Kathy's design skills and artistic sensibilities have created beautiful and unique spaces that speak to our vision of and love for the natural world. GEOLOGY Malaga Springs Winery came about as the result of some happy circumstances, historical cataclysms and just plain good luck. The virgin soils, which form the backbone of the winemaking enterprise, were deposited as a result of the glacial Lake Missoula floods near the end of the last ice age. Their unique nature, both mineralogically and how they hold moisture, is part of the key to why our grapes produce such dark, complex and balanced reds, and luscious, floral and fruity whites. The spectacular basalt cliffs that literally form our back fence also perform a double function; they are solar collectors during the day and heating during the night and early morning hours. They also underlie the deposited soils, so that the grapes roots penetrate and surround this terrific source of minerality. Al and Kathy's wines are delicious, affordable, and made with love. Everything about this place is made with love. Unpretentious. Friendly. Human vibe. Genuineness. Authenticity. So many adjectives I use to describe Malaga Springs Winery, Al, and Kathy. Unlike most other wineries in Chelan, Wenatchee, and there area, Al and Kathy don't hire a marketing crew and they don't toot their own horn. They let their space and their wines speak for itself. Because you have to go there on purpose to find them, they are underrepresented and still folks don't know about them. They're found word of mouth. So share the love, get their name on everyone's lips who wants to taste in the area. Share the love. Maybe you'll also want to join the waitlist to get involved with the wine club.