Walla Walla Itinerary - 3/23+24
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, Part I — Thursday, March 23
10:10 a.m. pickup at The Marcus Whitman
10:30 a.m. — Woodward Canyon
11920 W. Highway 12, Lowden, WA — Tasting Fee: $15 pp (waived with purchase)
Located adjacent to the historic Lowden School House is the second winery to be established in Walla Walla. Woodward Canyon is a family business with great wines and an easygoing attitude. First and second generation work side-by-side to produce stunning Chardonnay and Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon.
12:00 p.m. — Rôtie Cellars
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. Tasting room attendants here are some of the most knowledgeable in the AVA.
Enjoy lunch here, ordered from Graze and courtesy of Curated Walla Walla. Please order ahead; day of tour is fine, and careful attention will be made to dietary restrictions, Celiac considerations a priority.
Please select from the items below.*
*There is also an option to upgrade to a boxed lunch from Foodscape Walla Walla, including a seasonal salad, assorted charcuterie, cheeses, etc. Ask us about this option for more information a week before your tour.
2:30 p.m. — Pepper Bridge Winery
1704 JB George Rd ($20 per person)
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.
4:00 or 4:30 p.m. — depending on how everyone is feeling, we may squeeze in a final tasting, TBD (game-time decision!)
Otherwise, back to the Marcus Whitman for a brief respite before:
6:00 p.m. — reservations at Walla Walla Steak Co.
416 N 2nd Ave, Walla Walla, WA
Winemaker Dinner with Josh McDaniels of Doubleback
(we have arranged for the chef to be aware of all dietary restrictions, particularly considerations around Celiac.)
The Perfect Day, Part II—Friday, March 24
10:15 a.m. pickup at The Marcus Whitman
Scenic Drive
Enjoy a 30-minute drive through the rolling Palouse on the way to the Touchet Valley! Lewis and Clark took this route and camped just outside the little town of Dayton, Washington.
11 a.m. Monteillet Fromagerie
109 Ward Rd., Dayton, WA
Fee, wine and cheese inclusive: $30-55 per person, depending on wine selection
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 all together for an afternoon of sampling, savoring, and conviviality. Enjoy a genuinely French-inspired day sampling cheese on a 32-acre farm and fromagerie. You will be seated inside, or alfresco if the weather allows, for their classic goat and sheep-milk cheese tasting.
In order by age and intensity:
Soft chèvre
Cardabelle (soft Brie-style)
Larzac (ash layer)
La Roi Noir (heart-shaped with ash on the outside)
Fleur du Midi (paprika on the outside)
Served alongside the cheese tasting, Jenna will provide an overview of Walla Walla wine with a custom tasting. (We can discuss this in more detail to create a tasting you’ll be excited about. A vertical or two could be a possibility…)
Since we’re on the Northeast side of the valley, we’ll spend the rest of the day exploring the developing (and less well-known) Mill Creek area. Exciting and innovative projects abound in this cooler part of the AVA, and you’ll start with one of our favorites:
1:45 p.m. — Aluvé
100 Aluve Ln. — Tasting Fee: $15 per wine tasting, refundable with a $30 wine purchase
J.J. and Kelly Menozzi have dedicated their lives to the production of estate wines. Outside their doorstep, nestled on a ridge in the foothills of Walla Walla, is the Menozzi Estate Vineyard. Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Petit Verdot are featured here, each hewing true to the varietal. The vineyard is just on the doorstep of Chris Figgins’ newest vineyard project nestled in the foothills of the Blue Mountains.
Lunch from Graze-A Place to Eat will be served courtesy of Curated Walla Walla. Please choose from the menu below. (Optional $25-per person upgrade to a curated picnic box from Foodscapes Walla Walla, a chef-owned purveyor of imported cheeses, seafood and comestibles.)
3:00 p.m. - Abeja Winery
2014 Mill Creek Rd. — Tasting Fee - $40 pp, waived with purchase
A lovingly restored family farm is home to the winery and Inn at Abeja. Perched on a ridge near the Mill Creek River, large Poplar, Willow and Oak trees give way to immaculately cared-for grounds. Sample a line-up of stunning whites and reds from the estate.
Return to Marcus Whitman ~ 5:30p.m.
Can we help with dinner reservations for Friday?