The Pacific Northwest provides such a diversity of experiences for wine travelers, from the lush wooded regions of Western Oregon and Washington to the vast, stark steppe-shrub areas of Eastern Washington's Columbia Valley, from the fertile soils of Idaho's Snake River Valley to the wondrous lakes and hills of British Columbia's Okanagan Valley.

We enjoy visiting wineries of all sizes, but to be a "destination winery," you have to do things on a grand scale. Here are 10 wineries worth planning a weekend around.

If you're wine touring, tasting room ambiance and amenities matter almost as much as the wine. Here are 10 wineries that take special care of their guests.

One of the joys of wine touring is the cuisine you discover. In the Northwest, we are blessed with talented chefs who recognize the quality of fresh local ingredients and the importance of being in the heart of wine country. Here are 10 restaurants to check out.

The concept of wineries running their own restaurants is catching on throughout the Pacific Northwest, with British Columbia leading the way and Washington quickly catching up. Here are 10 winery restaurants to try while visiting wine country.

A bed & breaKfast might be the perfect way to enjoy a leisurely vacation in wine country. Oregon's Yamhill County boasts about 20 B&Bs, and you'll find many others throughout the Pacific Northwest. Prepare to be pampered with the 10 inns we've highlighted here.

If you prefer hotels to B&Bs or economy lodging, Northwest wine country offers many opportunities. Here are 10 locations to rest your feet after a long day of wine touring.

A full day of wine touring can go astray in a hurry if you don't begin with a hearty breakfast. Here are 10 of our favorite starting points in Northwest wine country.

You're in the Northwest, so good coffee is an essential part of the local diet. Remember to avoid drinking coffee or tea immediately prior to tasting wine, as they can mess with your palate.

Many Northwest wineries provide excellent locations for picnicing. Here are 10 great locations to put down a blanket and share a meal.

When you've had enough wine, it's time to check out what else you can do in wine country. Here are 10 diversions from tasting rooms.

Bless them, for they know exactly what they're doing.

Perhaps no wine is more sensual, more remarkable or more difficult to make than ice wine.

CALDWELL, Idaho - There's no pretense, and it's not fancy. Yet in many ways, Sherri McCoy and Kris Thompson created a wine country restaurant unlike any other in the Northwest.

Five years ago, Joel Waite became so enamored of Walla Walla, Wash., he moved across the country to become a winemaker.

Since I accepted this position that's focused on drinking wine and playing on the Internet, I hear complaints from hiker wife about how all I do anymore is sit around drinking wine and playing on the Internet.

In May, British Columbian educator Rhys Pender, 35, became Canada's youngest Master of Wine.

At 21, Jason Priestley's handsome, chiseled face was well-known to teenage girls everywhere.

Matt Day and Ryan Trail started one of the first artisan cheese producers on Washington's Olympic Peninsula with Mount Townsend Creamery in the historic town of Port Townsend. They make no fewer than eight styles of cheese, with the most famous so far called Seastack.

One of Washington's oldest and most successful wine producers hopes to catch lightning in a bottle again with the launch of a new winery and high-end beef cattle company.

Attention Seattle wine lovers and visitors to our fair city!

Describe sexy. It's one of the most elusive wonders.

With the economy still wobbly and restaurants that survived the horrendous 18-month siege that lasted from late 2008 to early 2010 still on deathwatch, you would think that they'd become more creative.

The grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot blend or visa versa.

We've visited several of the Northwest's best-known areas for wines - Walla Walla, the Yakima Valley, the Willamette Valley and the Okanagan in Canada - and would like to try out someplace new this summer. Any recommendations?

King Estate Winery near Eugene, Ore., presents a regal presence that offers a realm of opportunities for wine lovers.

I am a proud Pacific Northwesterner.

Red wines reviewed in the Summer 2010 issue of Wine Press Northwest.

White wines reviewed in the Summer 2010 issue of Wine Press Northwest.

Best buy red wines reviewed in the Summer 2010 issue of Wine Press Northwest.

Best buy whites reviewed in the Summer 2010 issue of Wine Press Northwest.