Jamie Thompson, party of 2
Saturday, May 6, 2023
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.
We’ll pick you up at 10:30 a.m. at the Marriott Courtyard, 550 W Rose St.
Your driver for the day is Jamey; you can reach him anytime with questions, updates or concerns at (208) 867-8261.
11:00 a.m. - Canvasback
1825 J.B. George Rd. — Fee: $20pp (waived with bottle purchase)
Napa Valley put American Cabernet on the map and Canvasback is doing the same for Red Mountain AVA Cabernet. This tiny, hot appellation produces full-bodied wines, expertly handled by Washington native, winemaker Brian Rudin.
12:30 p.m. — Seven Hills Winery
212 N 3rd Street - Fee: $25 pp (waived with purchase)
Just behind the Marcus Whitman Hotel is the Whitehouse-Crawford Building. On the National Historic Register, the former planing mill has been home to Seven Hills Winery since its renovation in 2000. Sourcing from the oldest blocks of the Seven Hills Vineyard, the selection of Bordeaux wines offered are consistently smooth and elegant.
2:00 p.m — Dragons Gate Brewery
52288 Sunquist Rd., Milton Freewater, OR
(Very Gandalf voice) “Down a country road in the heart of the Walla Walla Wine Country lays a Farmhouse Brewery like no other.”
That brewery is called Dragon's Gate. Set on a 10-acre farm amongst orchards, vineyards, and fields of wheat, Dragon's Gate brews Farmhouse and Belgian style ales with passion and steeped in tradition.
Lunch boxes from Foodscapes will be provided by Curated Walla Walla.
3:30 p.m. — Rotie Cellars (2)
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.
Jamey will return you to the Courtyard by 5:30 p.m.