Walla Walla: 8/28 & 29
Walla Walla was once the Washington Territory's capital stretching from the Olympic Peninsula and Puget sound, over the Cascade Mountains to the dry Columbia Plateau and rolling Palouse Hills. Walla Walla has been home to tribes, missionaries, fur traders, the Hudson's Bay Company, Idaho gold rushers, U.S. cavalry, and briefly by Lewis & Clark and the Corps of Discovery.
Walla Walla (named by local tribes as the land of many waters) is nestled into a valley in the Blue Mountain's foothills. It features rich fertile soils from years of glacial flooding, which suits many fruits, vegetables, and grains.
Italian immigrants planted vineyards four generations ago, and one of those descendants started the first winery. The first Walla Walla wine was released in 1977 by Leonetti Cellar.
The Perfect Day
10:35 a.m. pick-up
1100 a.m. Rotie Cellars (4)
84328 Trumbull Ln, Milton-Freewater — Fee $30 pp. (waived with $50 purchase)
If you want funky, terroir-driven, Rhone-style wines, you need look no further. Set in the Rocks District AVA estate vineyards, you can enjoy a great variety of distinctive wines all with the same earthy character. In summers they show off their selection of crisp Rhone whites from Washington state, as well as their flagship red blends. Tastings can be easily shared here or the group can enjoy a glass of wine.
1:00 p.m. Pepper Bridge Winery
1704 JB George Rd ($20 tasting waived with purchase)
Elegant wines sourced from estate vineyards. Run by my dear friend, JF Pellet. Precise and true to the varietal, the team has produced stunning wines for more than two decades. Offering truly elevated experiences of wine in Walla Walla.
You will be seated right in the middle of the wine making process at the winery surrounded by the estate vineyards.
Lunch from Graze-A Place to Eat will be served courtesy of Curated Walla Walla. Please choose from the menu below.
3:00 p.m. Tranche Cellars
705 Berney Drive — Tasting Fee: $20 pp (waived with two bottle purchase)
Truly a slice of the good life! Tranche, a word meaning slice, delivers on your image of a luxurious wine country experience. Sweeping views, charming pasture and classic patio vibes.
The winery and tasting room is nestled in the Blue Mountain Vineyards. Enjoy a selection of approachable wines at a truly modern wine country estate.
Tentative: Runway Sparkling Wine Bar
455 B Street — Fee: Flights and bites
The grab and go market and sparkling wine bar has helped fill two serious needs in the Walla Walla Valley: food options in the airport district and flights of local sparkling. Featuring wines produced in Washington state in multiple different styles, there’s something for everyone. This is a great stop for lunch, snacks and gifts.
Monday, August 29
11:00 a.m. Monteillet Fromagerie
109 Ward Rd., Dayton, WA Fee: $25 pp
Enjoy a genuinely French-inspired afternoon sampling cheese on a 32-acre farm and fromagerie. Bubbling with hospitality and artistry is Joan Monteillet. You will be seated at an outdoor kitchen for an afternoon of sampling, savoring, and conviviality.
Served alongside the cheese tasting, Jenna will provide a Walla Walla wine tasting seminar. The focus will be new and innovative producers. Wine tasting fee is $30 per person. The cheese and wine tasting fees can be added to the tour fee or paid by cash.
