Walla Walla Itinerary - 9/9 to 9/12
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.
Thursday, September 9 - Downtown
1:30 p.m. Seven Hills Winery (4)
212 N 3rd Street - Tasting Fee: $25 pp
Just behind the Marcus Whitman Hotel is the Whitehouse-Crawford Building. On the National Historic Register, the former planning mill has been home to Seven Hills Winery since it’s renovation in 2000. Sourcing from the oldest blocks of the Seven Hills Vineyard, the selection of Bourdeaux wines offered are consistently smooth and elegant. Reservations recommended.
Result of a Crush
23 S Spokane St - 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Tasting fee: $10, waived with purchase
Top producer, Reynvaan Family Vineyards, has a second label that just opened a downtown tasting room. Earthy and funky at an affordable price. This is one of my absolute favorites that is 100% Walla Walla Valley fruit that is estate grown. Walk-ins welcome.
Truth Teller (open until 7 p.m.)
47 E Main Street — Tasting fee: $15 pp, waived with purchase
Meet the owners and winemakers at this approachable downtown tasting room. Fantastic wines at all price points. Some of the best value wines in town coming from a small producer. Walk-ins welcome.
6:15 p.m. - Brasserie 4
Friday, September 10 - Downtown and Airport District
Window shopping in Downtown Walla Walla is a real treat. Check out Walla Walla Bread Company if you are seeking raw juices, fresh pastries and artisan breads. They sell out each day, so make sure to stop by early.
Maple Counter Cafe is also a fantastic homegrown breakfast option if you want indoor or outdoor table-side service. Classic options and huge portions served with a smile.
10:00 a.m. Gramercy Cellars (4)
635 N 13th Ave. — Tasting Fee: $20 pp (60 mins; waived with purchase)
A Sommelier-run winery with old-world charm is located in Walla Walla’s industrial district. Syrah-focused with Rhone wines—they are extremely knowledgeable and passionate about quality.
11:00 a.m. Foundry Vineyards (4)
1111 Abadie Street — Fee: $10pp, waived with $25 purchase
Foundry Vineyards was created with the premise that art and wine are a perfect pairing. Art gallery and wine are blended together in a modern and chic space. Producing a great variety of wines included sparkling, white and red. A great experience surrounded by beautiful designs—don’t forget to take time to check out the current art exhibition and artisan gift shop.
12:15 p.m. TMACs (4)
80 N Colville St
Proprietor, Tom Maccarone, is a local with a huge following. Known for good taste, great flavors, and seasonal menus — you will find a lot to love. Craft cocktails and something for everyone on the inspired menu.
After lunch explore the Colville Street Commons and the Epicurean Kitchen by TMACs. Just a block away is the Thief Wine shop with a stunning selection of local and foreign wines, beers and spirits— even hard to find wines like Leonetti!
2:30 p.m. Itä Winery (4)
600 Piper Ave — Fee: $10 pp (waived with purchase)
Itä is just one of just a handful of women-owned wineries in Walla Walla. Kelsey is focused on classic Walla Walla varietals grown in the cooler foothills of the Valley. One site is the Les Collines Vineyard (around Garrison Creek Cellars), as well as a Pinot Noir site just south of the Oregon border.
3:30 p.m. Dunham Cellars (4)
150 E. Boeing Ave. Fee: $10 pp (60 mins; pre-paid)
Situated in an old airport hanger, Dunham Cellars produces everything from fresh Sauvignon Blanc to bold Cabernets.
5 p.m. — Friday night Live Music at Tranche
705 Berney Drive — Tasting Fee: Glass and bottle service
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. Featuring a rotating selection of food trucks. (Let me know if you would like to borrow my lawn chairs).
Saturday, September 11 — Further afield
9:50 a.m. pick-up by Curated Walla Walla
10:00 a.m. The Walls (4)
1015 W Pine Street — Tasting Fee: $35pp, waived with $75 purchase
The Walls was originally meant as a play on the Washington State Penitentiary, Walla Walla’s least talked about but perhaps most notorious landmark, and one that looms just down the street from their production facility. A modern tasting room features a cool inside tasting experience or a delightful patio. Featuring a selection of premium wines from rosé to highly scored Cabernet.
Enjoy a 30-minute drive through the rolling Palouse on the way to the Touchet Valley! Wheat is turning colors and alfalfa is coming in strong. Lewis and Clark took this route and camped just outside the little town of Dayton, Washington.
11:45 a.m. Monteillet Fromagerie (4)
109 Ward Rd., Dayton, WA Fee: $25 pp (please bring cash)
Enjoy a genuinely French-inspired day sampling cheese on a 32-acre farm and fromagerie. Bubbling with hospitality and artistry is Joan Monteillet. 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
Feta
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 a Walla Walla wine tasting seminar. The focus will be library wines from Walla Walla and other notable vineyards. Wine tasting fee is $50 per person.
Picnic Pack
Served with crackers and seasonal salad.
We love collaboration and thank Foodscape for providing the best of the best!
We feature local and seasonal vegetables and grains with artisan charcuterie and cheese.
2:00 p.m. - Brook & Bull Cellars (4)
1249 Lyday Ln Fee: $10 pp (60 mins; waived with one bottle)
Owned and operated by one of the U.S. top 40 under 40 winemakers, Ashley Trout produces big and bold red wines. She also supports VITAL wines, which raises money for free health care services to the underserved.
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 easy going attitude. First and second generation work side-by-side to produce stunning Chardonnay and Old Vine Cabernet Sauvignon.
6:45 p.m. - Hattaway’s on Alder (4)
Sunday, September 12 — Southside Vineyards
10:00 a.m. pickup by Curated Walla Walla
10:15 a.m. Saviah Cellars (4)
1979 J.B. George Rd. — Fee: $15pp (waived with purchase)
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. Harvest will be in full swing and we will get to check out the production space.
12:00 p.m. Valdemar Estates (4)
3808 Rolling Hills Lane — Fee: Varies
One of the best views of the Blue Mountains is on the balcony of Valdemar Estates. Relax and enjoy a flight of wines from Walla Walla or Spain. As the first internationally owned winery in Washington State, Valdemar Estates continues the family legacy of fine wine making. Bodegas Valdemar is owned by a 5th generation winemaking family from Oyón in Northern Spain. The Walla Walla winery features traditional Spanish tapas and flights by the glass. Valdemar Estates has the wow factor that one looks for in wine country. Lunch will be provided by Curated Walla Walla.
2:00 p.m. Garrison Creek Cellars (4)
122 Hood Road — Fee: $50pp (waived with purchase)
A family-owned winery located in the heart of the 220-acres Les Collines Vineyard. An historic barn was renovated into a gravity-flow winery, complete with cellar. From the site in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, estate wines are bottle-aged for an extra year beyond the typical annual releases of the Walla Walla wineries. Nothing typical about Garrison Creek Cellars, you will be transported by the amazing views, smooth reds and friendly hospitality. You will be enjoying a vertical of library Cabernet.
3:30 p.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 Distric AVA vineyards, you can enjoy a great variety of distinctive wines all with the same earthy character.
6:15 p.m. - Passatempo Taverna