What does Washington wine taste like? Fruit warmed by long summer days. Bright acidity shaped by cool nights. The character of dramatic landscapes—and the creativity of the people who grow, make, pour, and enjoy it.

The short film “This Is Washington Wine” from the Washington State Wine Commission captures that spirit in just 87 seconds. It is an invitation into the vineyards, wineries, communities, and everyday moments that make our corner of the Pacific Northwest unlike anywhere else.

Video created by the Washington State Wine Commission.

A Wine Culture With Room for Everyone

The film celebrates a Washington wine community full of delightful contrasts. We are experts and novices, serious and silly, experimental and unafraid. We open a bottle for dates, family reunions, and ordinary evenings that need no special occasion.

“We set the table even when there is no table.” — This Is Washington Wine

That line feels especially true to us. Wine does not have to be formal to be memorable. A great pairing can happen at a tasting-room bar, around a holiday table, on the patio, or beside a picnic basket. All it takes is a bottle you are curious to try, something delicious to pass around, and people who are glad to be together.

Grown Here, Made Here, Shared Here

At Chukar, Washington’s sense of place has shaped us from the beginning. Since 1988, our family-owned company has transformed tree-ripened Northwest cherries into naturally dried fruit, chocolate-covered cherries and nuts, and gifts made fresh at our factory headquarters in Prosser.

Prosser sits at the heart of Washington wine country, where vineyards and cherry orchards share the same sweeping skies. Warm days help fruit develop deep flavor, while cool evenings preserve freshness and balance. The Columbia Valley climate supports both celebrated wine grapes and remarkably sweet cherries.

That connection inspired Chukar to open a winery in 2020 and work with local winemakers on Columbia Valley wines selected to complement our cherries and chocolates. You can read more about that journey in Chukar Cherries & Columbia Valley Wine, or explore why these two regional crops are such natural companions in Cherries & Wine—A Perfect Pair.

What to Pour—and What to Pass Around

Pairing wine with Chukar treats can be as relaxed as the film itself. Start with the wine you enjoy, add a chocolate or fruit that echoes its character, and see what new flavors appear.

For a ready-made red wine experience, our Red Wine & Chocolate Pairing brings together a Columbia Valley Red Blend, Truffle Cherries, and a dark-chocolate Cherry Trio. White wine lovers can reach for the White Wine & Chocolate Pairing, featuring Columbia Valley Chardonnay, Honey Pecans, and ultra-dark chocolate Amaretto Rainiers.

There is no single correct way to enjoy them. Taste the wine first, then the chocolate or dried fruit, and return to the glass. Notice how cherry, cocoa, spice, almond, citrus, or stone-fruit notes become more vivid. The best pairing is the one that makes you want to take another sip and share another bite.

Set the Table—Even When There Is No Table

Washington wine is still writing its story, one vineyard, vintage, and gathering at a time. We are proud that Chukar’s story has grown alongside it—rooted in Prosser, surrounded by orchards and vineyards, and inspired by the abundance of the Northwest.

So open something local. Put out a bowl of chocolate cherries. Invite a few friends, or make an ordinary evening feel worth celebrating.

Then raise a glass to Washington—and to the feeling that we are all part of something special.

Explore Chukar Wine & Chocolate Gifts