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Vineyards, stunning scenery and some added thrills for good measure - what could be better? Tim Wildman takes to the highways of Washington State in search of the perfect vintage and finds a lot more besides. Read on for the highlights of his trip...

I’m in Seattle. The locals call it Rain City; it rains almost as much as Manchester here and the skies are often overcast. Seattle is famous for Starbucks but is also home to Microsoft, Amazon and Boeing. Jimi Hendrix was a Seattleite, and Kurt Cobain moved here and formed Nirvana. It’s the second most literate city in the US and under its grey skies culture and innovation seem to thrive.

I’m here to investigate the “quiet revolution” that is occurring in the wine industry of Washington State. From 160 wineries a decade ago to over 650 today, Washington is now the US’s second largest wine producing state after California. Over the course of a week-long road trip I set out to discover what lies behind this phenomena and to explore some of the region's cultural attractions and amazingly diverse scenery along the way.

DAY 1 – SPOKANE
The Titanic that didn’t sink, an invigorating jetlag cure and some great gin

Spokane (pronounced spokANN) is an hour’s flight east of Seattle, and is home to the world famous Davenport Hotel. Built in 1914 and only recently restored to its former glory, they call it the ‘Titanic that Didn’t Sink’. Replete with ballrooms, chandeliers and marble floors, it has the luxury and splendour of a bygone age.

My first appointment is on the Spokane River for white water rafting lessons with Peter Grubb of ROW Adventures. Forget coffee; shooting rapids in glacial snow melt must be the ultimate cure for jetlag. The river, which flows for around 111 miles, is located in northern Idaho and eastern Washington but the best rapids and scenery in the entire region can be found here in Spokane.
 
Back into town and after stopping off at the Dry Fly distillery who produce award winning artisan gin, vodka and whisky, I finish with dinner at the excellent Wild Sage Bistro in downtown Spokane; a champion of fresh and local produce.

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