The Yakima Valley stretches east from the Cascade foothills across semi-arid high desert in central Washington, producing more than 70% of Washington State's wine grapes and a significant share of its hops, apples, and other fruit. The valley is Washington wine country's heartland — less fashionable than Walla Walla but with a wider range of wineries and a more casual, less polished atmosphere.
The city of Yakima is the commercial centre, with a small but lively downtown. The real draw is the surrounding wine trail running south through Selah, Wapato, Sunnyside, and Prosser toward the Tri-Cities. Dozens of wineries open their tasting rooms, particularly on weekends; the Spring Barrel Tasting weekend in April and the wine harvest festivals in October draw visitors from Seattle and Portland.
Toppenish, in the valley's southern end, is home to the Yakama Nation — one of the region's original peoples — whose Cultural Heritage Centre and museum document both pre-contact life and the reservation era. The town itself is known for its outdoor murals depicting local history.