Elise Tinseth, party of 13, April 8
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
~11:00 a.m. pickup at your lodging (please let us know the address asap).
11:30 a.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. Featuring Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Petit Verdot with true to the varietal winemaking styles. The vineyard is just on the doorstep of Chris Figgins’ newest vineyard project nestled in the foothills of the Blue Mountains.
Next, we take a scenic drive from the high end of the valley all the way down to the famous Rocks District in Milton-Freewater, Oregon for a very special event.
1:30 p.m. — Petros Vineyard is the estate vineyard for Pásxa wines, a subsidiary label from the folks at the highly-regard Walls Estates. On this special day, they are showing off their vineyard and celebrating their still-new winery with a party. You’ll be able to taste these lofty wines (look out for their Grenache in particular!) with food prepared by the winemakers themselves!
3:15 p.m. — Saviah
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.
4:30 p.m. — we can drop you at one of our favorite tasting rooms downtown, or deliver you back to your lodgings (again, please let us know the address)