Fortuity Cellars

Lee and Emily Fergestrom are both owners and winemakers at Fortuity Cellars in Wapato, Washington, where they personally host tastings of wines sourced from the Yakima Valley American Viticultural Area. Founded in 2017, the family-owned winery focuses on small lots and grower relationships, drawing fruit from vineyards including Red Willow, Verhey, Elephant Mountain and Boushey. The appeal is direct access to the people making the wine, rather than just someone pouring it.

Fortuity works across Rhône and Bordeaux grape varieties: Viognier, Marsanne, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec among them. The Fifty Fifty pairs Syrah with Malbec, while Le Classique combines Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec. The 2023 Verhey Vineyard Malbec earns Best in Class and Double Gold at the 2026 Cascadia International Wine Competition—a concrete reason to pay attention to that bottling.

The winery sits about 15 minutes south of Yakima, with indoor seating, a covered patio, a working crush pad and lawn seating against a backdrop of orchards and the Rattlesnake Hills. Guided tastings take at least 75 minutes and cost $20 per person, waived with a two-bottle purchase or club membership. Walk-ins are welcome; reservations are encouraged and prepaid bookings are required for groups of eight or more. Children and dogs are welcome with supervision, and outside food is allowed in the outdoor seating areas.