Steve Roberts on the Wine Trails of The Pacific Northwest

When my Mom first visited Europe a friend gave her a book by famed travel writer Rick Steves. As she sat at an Italian café with her new book she realized the author on the cover was just a few feet from her table. She walked up to the man in question, pointed to the book and innocently asked, “Is this you?” Funny enough it was… The Rick Steves.

Enter a new travel writer to the scene- Steve Roberts.

Steve Roberts knows a thing or two about Pacific Northwest Wineries- he’s visited close to 1,000 of them.

Roberts is author of ‘Wine Trails of Washington’, a colorful travel guide featuring 238 Washington wineries where he has single-handedly taken on the mission to visit, document and photograph every tasting room open to the public in the Northwest. His next book featuring Oregon wineries is soon to be released, and he has plans for writing a book on Idaho.

“We all come into this life with a purpose. One of my purposes is getting people to experience the wineries of the Pacific Northwest. It’s so amazing to me when I talk to people who have never been to Walla Walla or never driven through Yakima, or never been to Lake Chelan. They need to get out there because it will just blow them away.”

Design by Lisa J. Pettit

At this point, Roberts can easily be described an expert on what makes an outstanding tasting room and he will leave you desiring a get-away to wine country.

“In my mind a tasting room has become a metaphor for the good things in life. When you are out in the hills of Dundee, for example, there are just wonderful restaurants and bed and breakfasts, and you can’t help but listen to the music and take in the smells.”

“It’s the place where we can take time out and gather and as we are sampling a wine we can talk about food. Or sometimes Beethoven is on and somehow that Cabernet goes so well with that music. All these experiences come together in a tasting room.”

‘Wine Trails of Washington’, available in paperback, provides full details of Washington wineries including photos, the winemaker’s philosophy, contact information, hours, maps, and driving directions- all documented by Roberts.

You’ll also find tips on tasting room etiquette and introductory wine lessons.

‘Wine Trails’ can be your companion as you trek your way through Washington wine country, and with the rate that Roberts is going, you may just happen to find him on your travels!