Walla Walla Itinerary Katherine Allan, party of 3, 3/13
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
~11:10 a.m. pickup at your lodging (please let us know the address asap)
11:30 a.m. — Prospice Wines
145 E Curtis Ave. — Tasting Fee: $15 pp, waived with $40 purchase
Prospice is Latin for “look to the future,” but winemakers Jay Krutulis and Matt Reilly have a deep respect for the ancient roots of winemaking as well. Don’t let this unassuming little winery fool you. One of the most exciting entrants to the Walla Walla scene in the past decade, Prospice was born after these two left their respective careers in law and architecture to enroll in the enology program here at the Community College, work in several notable wineries, and eventually team up to make wines of their own. And what wines! Made only from fruit carefully sourced from some of the most obsessively managed vineyards in the state, including several AVAs besides Walla Walla, we’ll let these ravishing specimens speak for themselves. You’ll see why these two are sometimes referred to as the Simon and Garfunkel of Walla Walla wine.
1:30 p.m. — Saviah Cellars
1979 J.B. George Rd. — Fee: $20pp (refundable with $40 minimum bottle purchase or Wine Club signup.)
Few wineries in Walla Walla have the range of wines offered by the crew at Saviah Cellars. From stunningly earthy Syrah from the estate Funk Estate to light and fruity Barbera, this is a crowd pleaser.
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. — Woodward Canyon
11920 W. Highway 12, Lowden, WA — Tasting Fee: $20 pp (waived with purchase)
Located adjacent to the historic Lowden School House (home of L’Ecole 41) 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.
4:30 p.m. — back to your lodgings (again, please let us know the address)