CLARK COUNTY, Wash. -- Wineries throughout Clark County will host wine tastings and a variety of special events throughout Labor Day weekend to bring attention to the wines being produced in Washington’s newest emerging wine region.

Within the last two years, there have been new wineries in the Southwest Washington region that are open to the public and some are only open a few times a year.

Wineries participating in the tour this year include: Bader Winery, Benke Cellars, Bethany Vineyard, Confluence Vineyards and Winery, East Fork Cellars, English Estate Winery, Gouger Cellars, Heisen House Vineyards, Olequa Cellars, Rusty Grape Vineyard and Three Brothers Vineyard and Winery.

Along with wine tastings at the wineries this event also features some of the wineries’ new releases, live music and food. Some wineries even give tours to the public.

“Hundreds of people come through and it’s a nice activity to do with family and friends and a relaxing way to spend the afternoon," said Stacey Waddell, who owns East Fork Cellars along with husband Jeff.

As well as tasting the wines and seeing where the grapes are grown, the wineries often have wine clubs which can also be joined by the public. Special events such as these are free to wine club members and members usually get access to some limited releases only available to them.

Those who live in the area attend the tour, which is in it’s third year, as well wine lovers from the Portland metro area who are able to take I-5 for easy access.

“We get a lot of people that come in from Portland. It’s not as far as the Willamette Valley and there’s not the traffic,” Waddell said.

Find out the hours of different wineries participating in the tour by going to the Southwest Washington Wine website. Most will be open from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Some wineries will be open later than other and there are several open Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

You can also look at a map of the tour participants (pdf).