Tagaris Winery Continues Family Wine Tradition

Family’s Involvement Began in Greece, Now in Washington State

Aug 25, 2009

For hundreds of years, the Tagaris family was involved in grape-growing and wine-making in Greece. The tradition continues at the Tagaris Winery Richland, Washington.

Emanuel Tagaris began growing grapes and making wine back in the 1300s in Tholo, Greece, according to family history found on the winery’s website. Many generations later, Pete Tagaris immigrated to the United States, where his last name was misspelled as Taggares as he was processed through Ellis Island. Pete Taggares eventually ended up in Prosser, Washington, 20-some miles north of Richland, because the countryside reminded him of his native Greece.

Michael Taggares Founded Tagaris Winery

Pete Taggares was a successful businessman and farmer, growing his own grapes and making his own wines. His grandson Michael Taggares is keeping the family tradition alive through growing 700 acres of 18 varieties of wine grapes in central Washington and turning them into wines at Tagaris Winery. Michael Taggares also farms 1.5 million Fuji apple trees.

Michael Taggares founded Tagaris Winery in 1987, moving into its new facility at 844 Tulip Lane in rural Richland in time for the 2005 crush. The short Tulip Lane is home to three wineries. Besides Tagaris, they are J. Bookwalter and Barnard Griffin, all within walking distance to each other.

Some Tagaris Wines Have Unusual Names

While most of the wines have common names such as Syrrahs, Merlots and Cabernets, a couple of have more unusual name such as Clonk de Ponk, a red table wine which the winery describes as a blend of Bing Cherries and Presidential Plums, with hints of black olives, vanilla and orange-spiced tea. Then there’s BoarDoe, which is mostly made from Cabernet Sauvignon grapes with a hint of tobacco and chocolate tastes.

Whatever Tagaris calls its wines, they’re highly rated in wine circles. Tagaris Wines took a gold and two silvers at the 2009 Grand Harvest wine competition in California. Their Chardonnay, La Rosa de Syrrah and Sauvignon Blanc all emerged as winners at the Pacific Rim International Wine Competition. And the list goes on.

Tagaris Taverna Features Mediterranean Foods

Tagaris Winery's tasting room is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and opens into the Taverna, a full-service restaurant on-site. The Taverna services Mediterranean style fare, and is open for lunch and dinner. The Taverna is considered one of the area’s finer restaurants, so reservations may be necessary at times.

The Taverna opens out into the Kouzina, a large open-air patio which has a 33-foot high basalt fountain as its centerpiece. The Kouzina has live music on Saturday nights during the summer.

How to Find Tagaris Winery

Take the Queensgate Road exit off of Interstate I-182, which runs from Interstate I-82 in the west, past Richland and on to Pasco where it becomes Highway 12 or connects with Highway 395. From Queensgate turn onto Columbia Park Trail, then left onto Windmill Road, and finally right on Tulip Lane. Watch for the winery signs on Columbia Park Trail.

The copyright of the article Tagaris Winery Continues Family Wine Tradition in US Wine is owned by Cheryl Probst. Permission to republish Tagaris Winery Continues Family Wine Tradition in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.