Kiona Vineyards and Winery — Attraction in Benton City

Kiona, as any knowledgeable Washington/NW wine fans knows quite well, is one of the best wineries in either state and has been owned and operated with honesty and distinction by the Williams Family since its inception. Their wines range from very good to spectacular. But, this past Spring Barrel Saturday, I saw something at the winery that gave me a whole new level of respect for Kiona.

One of the hardest things for any winery to do it to handle drunk guests. I watched a group of about a dozen arrive and stumble across the parking lot, talking far too loudly, giggilng like hyenas, and clearly over-served. Kiona is like any other winery: they depend on the good will of customers for their very livelihood. These people were bothering everybody around them, including my wife and me. They were obnoxious, but it's the same dynamic as stupid people not knowing that they're stupid: drunk people in groups rarely realize that they're acting like fools. The Kiona staff took them aside and quietly but firmly told them that they were cut off - as they damned well should have been. They were indignant, of course, and muttered threats and huffed off, pissed.

I tasted the Kiona wines and they were splendid, as always. But seeing an example of the Williams family's sense of responsibility and willingness to put - whether these people knew it or not - that party's safety ahead of their winery's interests was truly uplifting. And the rest of Kiona's non-hammered customers had a far nicer time as a result. BRAVO to Kiona Vineyards for making great wines and showing great...

I have multiple food limitations (celiac, dairy, pork, walnuts, shellfish) so when Sarah at Kiona asked if I was getting food with my wine I said no. However she asked what my needs were and said she’d “throw something together”. What she created was one of the most amazing meals I’ve ever had. There were different kinds of vegan cheeses, multiple kinds of gf crackers, salmon, olives etc and she added a bowl of gf bread and oil/vinegar. All in line with my dietary needs it was incredible. We’re from Benton City originally and have been coming back to the area annually and specifically Kiona since they were doing wine tasting out of their garage, their wine had always been and continues to be fantastic. It’s this kind of service and attention to detail that has allowed them to grow successfully and we’re so glad to see that it continues thru their success! Thank you so much Kiona and Sarah you truly made our trip home to bury Grandma a...

This is tough because they have a cool history in Red Mountain and their wines aren't bad, but they're not great. The winery is off the main road, pay attention to the signs! Inside it looks less like a winery and more like the entrance to a modern museum. With all of that space they could be better engaging the customer in their rich history, telling a great story about Red Mountain and their journey. The service was interesting. The person pouring the wine, alhough attentive, may want to consider a career wiyh NPR instead of a sales position; customer engagement is not her strength. The wines were a fantastic representation of Red Mountain. For those visiting, this place is a must for capturing the essence of the ava. For locals, you've been there, done that. Nothing they offer captivates the pallet.

Overall the place isn't very engaging, and their wine doesn't stand out, but for visitors this place well represents what Red Mountain...