Seminars and company events
Freehand Cellars hosts weddings of 150 to 200 guests, civic and corporate events, executive retreats and private parties, with spaces from a 44-seat deck to a lawn for the whole property. The winery sits on a hill above the Yakima Valley in Wapato, Washington, a few minutes from Yakima.
For a company group, the Main Tasting Room holds 45 to 55 guests with valley views through the windows, and the Deck with a View seats about 44 outside, facing Mount Adams. Private event hire typically includes tables and chairs or picnic tables, Wi-Fi, a mini-bar setup, a three-hour event slot and a wine attendant, though the inclusions can vary. Teams staying overnight can book the three lodging units on site, which turns a tasting and dinner into a small retreat. Parties of eight or more can also reserve a set spot at the winery without hiring a space.
Weddings and receptions
Wedding packages are built around use of the whole property, which the winery recommends for parties of 150 to 200. The ceremony site sits near the northern edge of the land beside an apricot orchard, on a grassy knoll above the vines, with room for more than 200 guests. Receptions are held on the Mountain View Lawn, framed by orchards of apricots, cherries, pears and apples, with Mount Adams to the west. Packages cover setup through tear-down, lodging, a space for the rehearsal dinner the night before, the bar with a bartender, and tables, chairs, tablecloths and cloth napkins. Guests can use the tasting room before the ceremony.
Rooms and capacities
The Mountain View Lawn takes 150 to 200 guests for a reception. The ceremony knoll by the orchard holds more than 200. The Main Tasting Room seats 45 to 55 and the Deck with a View about 44. The Apricot Orchard rental is a smaller outdoor space with music, bistro lights, picnic tables and a mini-bar.
Accommodation
Three units stand a few steps from the tasting room. Unit A, in the vineyard house, has two bedrooms and two bathrooms for four guests, with a full kitchen and a deck. Unit B has one bedroom with a king bed and extra mattresses for four guests, a wood-burning fireplace and a modern kitchen. An Airstream trailer sleeps three, with a mini-kitchen and a private deck. Each unit has its own hot tub, and the property sleeps 11 in total.
Catering
The winery has an on-site kitchen with a standard food menu and a larger Grandé menu. Its own wines, all single varietals, are poured at events, and the bar and bartender are part of wedding packages.
History and setting
The founders are architects and artists who treat winemaking and design as related crafts, and they hand-drew many of the labels. The tasting room, event space and lodging have been recognized for their architecture. From the hill, the views take in the farmland of the valley to the south and east, Mount Adams to the west and the Rattlesnake Hills to the north. The winery credits the valley's 190-day growing season for its fruit.
Getting there
The winery is on Windy Point Drive in Wapato, WA 98951, minutes from downtown Yakima. Yakima Air Terminal is the nearest airport, and guests generally arrive by car.
