Cruv

Washington wine region

Cascade Valley & North Central Wineries

Leavenworth's tasting rooms, Wenatchee Valley wineries among the orchards, and the Ancient Lakes, one of few Washington AVAs planted more to white than red.

50+ places in Cruv · 20+ upcoming events

Download on the App Store
Get it on Google Play
An orchard in full bloom beneath snow-capped Cascade peaks in the Wenatchee River Valley, Washington.

At a glance

Places in Cruv
50+
Upcoming events
20+
Known for
  • Riesling
  • Chardonnay
  • Cabernet Sauvignon
Nearest city
About 2.5 hours from Seattle by car

Areas in Cascade Valley & North Central

  • Leavenworth

    Tasting rooms sit near downtown, along Highway 2 east of town and in Peshastin. Snowy winters limit which grapes grow here, so many local winemakers buy fruit from vineyards farther east.

    15+ places in Cruv

  • Wenatchee Valley

    Wineries, cideries, orchards and fruit stands around Wenatchee. North of town, the Rocky Reach AVA, established in 2022, has Cabernet Sauvignon as its top grape.

    10+ places in Cruv

  • Ancient Lakes

    Around Quincy and George, east of the Columbia River, the Ancient Lakes of Columbia Valley AVA has Riesling as its top grape. It was established in 2012.

    6 places in Cruv

Also in Cascade Valley & North Central: Wahluke Slope, Royal Slope, Moses Lake and Grant County, Okanogan Valley, Kittitas County, Stevens and Lincoln counties.

Know before you go

Reservations
Some tasting rooms take reservations without requiring them, and some set up private tastings for larger groups.
Tasting fees
Whether buying wine waives the fee depends on the tasting room, so ask about it up front.
Getting there
Highway 2 crosses Stevens Pass from the Seattle area to Leavenworth and Wenatchee, and Quincy is 2.5 to 3 hours from Seattle. Pangborn Airport, in East Wenatchee, is about 40 minutes from Leavenworth.
Best time to visit
Fall is harvest season: Washington grapes generally come in from early September to late October.
Getting around
Wineries are spread across several towns, so group your stops by area. Plan a designated driver, a rideshare or a tour.

Leavenworth holds Maifest in May, Oktoberfest in October and its Christmastown lights each winter, and some tasting rooms host live music.

Cascade Valley & North Central on the map

Map of Washington showing Cascade Valley & North Central near Wenatchee (Washington wine regions)

Nearby wine regions

  • Lake Chelan

    Vineyards wrap around the south end of a deep, glacier-carved lake, with tasting rooms in downtown Chelan and Manson.

    30+ places in Cruv · 15+ upcoming events

  • Woodinville

    Grapes from all over Washington become wine here, in four tasting-room districts about 30 minutes northeast of Seattle.

    60+ places in Cruv · 35+ upcoming events

  • Yakima Valley

    Tasting rooms in and around Washington's first AVA, recognized in 1983, from downtown Yakima through the Rattlesnake Hills near Zillah to Prosser.

    55+ places in Cruv · 15+ upcoming events

  • Seattle & Northwest

    Seattle's urban wineries, plus Puget Sound vineyards known for Pinot Noir, Siegerrebe and Madeleine Angevine, a drive or ferry ride away.

    130+ places in Cruv · 20+ upcoming events