Zinfandel would have to rank at or near the top of the list of my favorite red wines for the summer.

There’s a lot to like about this varietal. It’s generally bold, flavorful, spicy, and an all- around fun to drink wine that pairs well with just about any food you can throw at it.

Barbequed meats and vegetables go particularly well with zinfandel, and with the outdoor grilling season in full swing, this is the perfect time to enjoy a bottle at your next meal.

A few recommendations include the Maryhill Winery 2006 Zinfandel (about $18). This big, dense zin made from Columbia Valley grapes is brimming with dark berry and black cherry flavors and undertones of pepper and spice. The wine’s high alcohol content comes off as a bit hot, but it’s a minor flaw that can be easily overlooked by the abundance of beautiful fruit that balances out the entire package.

If you like your zins a bit less intense, the 2006 Cardinal Zin (about $20) may well be the perfect wine. Made from 100 year-old California vines, this zinfandel has considerable polish and depth. Flavors of blackberry and plum are prevalent throughout, without being cloying, and a touch of toasted vanilla provides a nice, well-rounded finish.

I tried this wine with a pulled pork sandwich with barbeque sauce and thought it was terrific, and it could just as easily be matched up with a host of other foods, including lamb, ribs or grilled chicken.

Finally, the 2007 Seven Deadly Zins (about $17) is another California zin that will keep you guessing with its wide array of flavors. The first time I tried this wine it was dark and seductive, with touches of blackberry and blueberry and a slightly smoky finish. When I revisited it later, brighter fruit flavors of cranberry and raspberry were much more prevalent. So how will my tastings compare with yours on this chameleon-like wine? Like two versions of the same incident, the truth probably lies somewhere in between.

Today we wrap up our tour of Washington’s Rattlesnake Hills Appellation with an overview of a few more wineries I met with during my visit last month. All of these wineries are located on the north side of Interstate 82, between Yakima and Sunnyside.

A mainstay in the Yakima Valley for almost 30 years, Portteus Vineyards continues to impress. A perfect example is their 2006 Zinfandel (about $26), an absolute knockout with intense, blackberry jam flavors and a spicy, peppery finish.

At the appellation’s far west boundary is Masset Winery, which offers a great selection of red, white and dessert wines. One of my favorites was the le Petit Rouge (about $17), a delicious blend of sangiovese, syrah and cabernet sauvignon.

Piety Flats Winery offers several wine choices for under $20 each, including a couple of nice red wine blends from accomplished winemaker Dave Minick. It’s located just a stone’s throw off the freeway in a folksy tasting room that’s packed with gourmet foods.

Steppe Cellars’ tasting room is a bit more off the beaten path, but it’s one of a trio of relative newcomers that are producing some nice wines that deserve your attention. Try the 2007 Semillon (about $17) and the Big Sage Red, a steal at only about $12.

Also new to the area is Severino Cellars, located in a beautifully restored turn of the century farm house in Zillah. I especially enjoyed the 2008 Viognier (about $20) and the Red Table Wine (about $15), a lighter style, Merlot-based blend.

And finally, be sure to take in the scenic views at recently opened Knight Hill Winery. Owners Anne and Terry Harrison currently feature three enjoyable, well-priced choices; a 2008 Riesling (about $17), 2008 Chardonnay (about $15) and the 2007 Roundtable Red (about $19).

If you’d like to learn more about the Rattlesnake Hills Appellation and its wines, be sure to attend the upcoming wine dinner class I’ll be teaching at Bellingham Technical College on August 15. For information go to www.btc.ctc.edu or call the registration office at 752-8350.

It would be difficult to dedicate adequate space to all of the wineries located in Washington’s Rattlesnake Hills Appellation. So for the next couple of weeks, I’ll touch on some of the highlights I encountered during a visit to the area last month.

Tefft Cellars has a nice variety of wines at reasonable prices. A couple of favorites include the 2006 Merlot (about $16) and the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon (about $20). Both wines display dark fruit flavors, balanced by good tannins and a slightly oaky finish. An added bonus is the three bedroom, three bath guest house that’s located adjacent to the tasting room – perfect for a weekend stay.

Even more variety can be found at Horizon’s Edge and Maison de Padgett Winery, both of which feature some of Washington’s most provocative wine labels. Although each winery produces several red and white wines, I think their uniquely crafted sweet wines and ports really stand out.

Hyatt Vineyards boasts beautifully landscaped grounds and a tasting room that showcases a full complement of wines. During my visit I enjoyed the 2008 Riesling (about $11), packaged in a beautiful cobalt blue bottle. It’s loaded with floral aromas, peach and pear flavors and a lingering, honey-like finish.

For a laid back atmosphere you can’t beat Paradisos del Sol, where chickens, cats and dogs roam at the kid-friendly facility. Winemaker Paul Vandenberg has done an excellent job with his 2007 Sève (about $20), which could probably best be described as a heady, flavorful Chenin Blanc that will pair well with a variety of seafood and poultry dishes.

Note that many of these wines are available locally, and if by chance you’re unable to track them down they can always be ordered from each winery’s web site. Better yet, pay them a visit in person by taking a trip east of the Cascades, and you’ll experience genuine hospitality and quality, unpretentious winemaking at its best.

Join Dan and Mary Ellen Carter for an evening of foods made from local fruits and vegetables paired with Washington State wines. The two-hour class will be held at the Cordata Community Food Co-op in Bellingham.

Mary Ellen will prepare a bruschetta with fava bean and pea puree, spring minestrone with barlotti beans, risotto with wilted greens, and a dessert of fresh berries and cream. Each of these dishes will be perfectly paired with a wine of Dan’s choice.

To register visit www.whatcomcommunityed.com or phone (360) 383-3000.

Established in 2006, the Rattlesnake Hills Appellation encompasses over 1,500 vineyard acres from Yakima to Sunnyside on the north side of Interstate 82. I spent some time last month meeting with area winemakers and doing some power tasting at many of the appellation’s 15-member wineries.

To get a better understanding of the appellation, its geography, and what makes it unique, I toured the area with Bonair Winery owner Gail Puryear. Puryear knows virtually every acre of this picturesque agricultural region. In fact, he was instrumental in determining the boundaries and promoting it as a recognized American Viticultural Area (AVA).

He and his wife Shirley have also dedicated over 25 years into making their own wines, and together they operate a beautiful winery and tasting room facility located a few minutes northwest of the town of Zillah.

There’s almost certainly a wine to meet your budget or taste preference at Bonair. Four current releases, a 2006 Chardonnay, 2007 Dry Gewurztraminer, 2007 Merlot and 2007 Cabernet are incredibly well priced in the $10 to $13 a bottle price range. The Gewurztraminer is particularly notable, with fresh grapefruit aromas and flavors that fade into a clean, dry finish.

Take a step up in price to the 2006 Reserve Chardonnay (about $20) and you’ve got an exceptional, near-flawless wine. Made from 100 percent Rattlesnake Hills AVA grapes, this European-style white has nuances of rich, baked apple and pear flavors and a soft, buttery finish.

Rattlesnake Hills is only about a 4-hour drive from Bellingham, and there are plenty of accommodations in the area to make it a highly recommended destination. For more information on the region and it’s wineries go to www.rattlesnakehills.com. To organize tasting tours contact the AVA’s Executive Director, Shannon Bird, at (888) 375-RHWT.

Next week: More wines and wineries from the Rattlesnake Hills area.