Soaring with Townshend Cellar’s Wine Flights at Green Bluff

BY CARA STRICKLAND

Townshend Cellar develops and serves wines for every occasion, mood and meal. From whites to reds, the variety of locally made wines boosts the specialty drink presence in Green Bluff and the Spokane area. Venturing out to Green Bluff is the perfect opportunity to check this winery out and go wine tasting.

If you’ve been around Spokane for very long, you probably associate Townshend with the Bordeaux style red blends that put them on the map not long after the late Don Townshend started the winery in 1998. These reds, including T3, Vortex and the Red Table — known for its iconic bottle design — continue to delight long-time fans and new drinkers even as Townshend has introduced more varieties and smaller batch bottlings which are often released first to their wine club members. But venture out to Townshend’s Green Bluff tasting room and you’ll discover that there’s a lot more to wet your whistle.

When the family behind local sparkling winery Mountain Dome decided it was time to retire, their friend Don stepped in, first carrying on the label for a while, but eventually bringing it under the Townshend name. Now you’ll find a variety of sparkling wines made according to the Methode Champenoise tradition as part of Townshend’s offerings.

Local Huckleberry Port — Perfectly Sweet

One of Don’s great passions was dessert wine — and he made a variety of complex versions, including a raspberry chocolate and a huckleberry port, complete with local huckleberries — all sweet without being syrupy.

And with whites and a rosé on the menu, there’s something to please any palate.

Townshend’s team remains small, but it’s still in the family. Don’s sons, Brendan and Michael Townshend, officially signed on to the winery several years ago. Everyone still lives on Green Bluff, which has the winery and the Townshend family to thank for kicking off the craft libations on the Bluff.

Bring a picnic or grab a friend and enjoy one of the classics or spring for a flight and try something new you can’t get anywhere but the tasting room.

About Townshend Cellar

TOWNSHEND CELLAR
townshendcellar.com
509.238.1400
8022 E Greenbluff Rd.
Colbert, WA 99005

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