Wine Country Weekend: Walla Walla

Alex and I are always looking to explore new wine regions, both domestic and international, so we decided to spend a weekend in Walla Walla, Washington. We have had a few different wines from Walla Walla at various restaurants, but we didn’t really know much about the area. All I really knew was that they produce some amazing red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. After spending two full days in Walla Walla, I wanted to share my overall thoughts and impressions on the region. Keep reading to learn more about Walla Walla and all the different wineries we visited.

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Overall Impressions of Walla Walla

Tastings are cheap (~$10) and most wineries will waive the tasting fee(s) with a purchase.
I appreciated that the tasting room hosts didn’t push their wine clubs on us.
It’s easy to get around Walla Walla, and most wineries are pretty close in proximity.
It’s not as picturesque as one would think for a wine country. You won’t see as many vines in Walla Walla as you do in Willamette, Napa or Sonoma.
Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon were some of my favorite varietals we tasted in Walla Walla. Also, I was pleasantly surprised to see Cabernet Franc at several wineries.
Traveling to Walla Walla isn’t super quick unless you live in Washington. You will most likely have to drive 3-4 hours from another airport like Spokane, Boise, Seattle or Portland.
Overall, I thought the wine was amazing, but the area itself was so-so. It’s definitely worth a visit if you’re close by. It may or may not be worth it if you have a far distance to travel.

Garrison Creek Cellars

Rating: (5 / 5)
Reservation (Y/N): Yes
Favorite Wine: 2015 Syrah
What I Loved The Most: I loved their big barn and the property overall. It is absolutely gorgeous! The drive in was beautiful.
Overall Impression: We had a great tasting at Garrison Creek, and I loved learning about their winery. They don’t make much wine, as they sell most of their grapes to other wineries in the area. However, the wine they do make is fantastic! Everything is sourced from their Les Collines Vineyard, which is where their tasting room is located. Our host was extremely knowledgeable about the wines and the vineyard. Another perk to visiting Garrison Creek was the barrel tasting. Since they don’t produce much wine, they will take their guests down to the barrel room to taste anything that has sold out. Overall, I was very impressed with this winery, and I would highly recommend a visit when you’re in Walla Walla.

Dusted Valley

Rating: (5 / 5)
Reservation (Y/N): Yes
Favorite Wine: 2016 Cabernet Franc
What I Loved The Most: I really liked that they produced a wide variety of wines. We were able to taste everything from Chardonnay to Syrah to Cabernet Sauvignon.
Overall Impression: This is a great winery to visit if you want something a little different. I liked that we were the only ones visiting at the time. It was so peaceful and quiet, and I loved the personal attention. Our tasting room host knew everything there was to know about their wines, and she did a great job of explaining the history of the winery. She did not rush us through our tasting and was always happy to answer any of our questions. The tasting room itself wasn’t much, but they do have a nice patio where you can enjoy your tasting. Unless you’re looking for a winery with a view, this would be a great place to visit.

Va Piano Vineyards

Rating: (3 / 5)
Reservation (Y/N): No
Favorite Wine: 2018 Cabernet Franc Rosé
What I Loved The Most: The tasting room hosts were very friendly + we got a couple bonus pours. 🙂
Overall Impression: I really enjoyed the wines at Va Piano, but the tasting room itself wasn’t very big. This wouldn’t be a big deal except for the fact that it can get really crowded. We visited on a Saturday, and it was packed. They do have some outdoor tables, but most of those spots were already taken. If you decide to go here, my recommendation would be to get there before noon. When we visited, there was a food truck on site serving up fresh pizzas. I’m not sure if the food truck is there everyday, but you could always call ahead to check. If you’re a local, I think this would be a fun place to hang out on a the weekend. In terms of scenery, there are some vines right out front, so be sure to grab a picture in the vineyard! Overall, I liked this winery, but the crowds were a little much for me.

Abeja Winery

Rating: (2 / 5)
Reservation (Y/N): Yes
Favorite Wine: 2017 Beekeeper Blend
What I Loved The Most: The property is absolutely stunning. I was so impressed by all of the buildings on the property.
Overall Impression: I was a little disappointed with our visit to Abeja. Their property is so beautiful, and I was bummed that they didn’t give us a quick tour of the grounds. We basically walked right into the tasting room and sat down at the bar. We tasted a few different wines, but it wasn’t much. The tasting room hosts didn’t do a great job of explaining the wines, and we didn’t learn much about Abeja’s history. To make matters worse, there was a big family in the tasting room with a crying baby. I know it’s up the winery whether or not they allow children, but I think they need to keep in mind that it can ruin everyone else’s experience. I tried to ignore it, but it kind of put a damper on the visit. Maybe we just got unlucky, but I really wasn’t impressed with this place. I was expecting a lot more from this winery. The beautiful property did not match the quality.

Gard Vintners

Rating: (4 / 5)
Reservation (Y/N): No
Favorite Wine: 2015 Vaucluse
What I Loved The Most: I love the live music they offer on Saturday nights!
Overall Impression: We stumbled into this winery on Saturday night because we heard the live music from the street. We weren’t ready for dinner quite yet, so we decided to go in for a quick glass of wine. We didn’t do a full tasting, so I can’t speak for all of their wines, but the wines we did have were fantastic. Also, the price point was great. I believe we each got a glass of wine for only $7. If you’re looking for a great winery to visit downtown, this is the place for you. They had a lovely atmosphere, and the wine was amazing.

Revelry Vintners

Rating: (5 / 5)
Reservation (Y/N): No
Favorite Wine: 2015 Range
What I Loved The Most: Their tasting room is stunning. It was probably my favorite tasting room in Walla Walla.
Overall Impression: This winery surprised me the most….in a good way. We really only stopped in because we had driven past it the previous day. We thought it nice from the outside, so we figured why not? Of course, we knew nothing about the wines or the winery before walking in. The tasting room hosts gave us a warm welcome and seated us immediately. They started us off with a little rosé before moving to the reds. They gave us a TON of information about the winery and the wines themselves. I was so impressed with how much they knew. We enjoyed every single wine we tasted and ended up taking three bottles home. Overall, I couldn’t have been more impressed with this place and would highly recommend a visit.

Pepper Bridge Winery

Rating: (2 / 5)
Reservation (Y/N): Yes
Favorite Wine: 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon
What I Loved The Most: The view from the tasting room was incredible.
Overall Impression: Other than the view, I could have done without this winery. I was really bummed because I had heard amazing things about Pepper Bridge from other blogs I read. We booked the picnic + tasting experience, and it wasn’t much of anything. Our host didn’t give us any background on the winery or history of the tasting room. When they poured our wines, we were given little to no information on the wine. They basically said, “This is the Cabernet Sauvignon” and moved on. When I asked a question about the wine, they seemed a little annoyed that I was even asking for more information. There were no other guests in the tasting room, so I was puzzled by this whole experience. Overall, I was extremely disappointed in this visit, and it is probably one of the worst tasting experiences we’ve ever had. I would not recommend this winery.

Sleight of Hand Cellars

Rating: (5 / 5)
Reservation (Y/N): No
Favorite Wine: 2015 Sleight of Hand The Archimage
What I Loved The Most: The record player and old albums were awesome.
Overall Impression: I couldn’t have loved this winery more. Sleight of Hand has to be one of the most unique wineries I’ve ever visited. First off, they have an old record player and thousands of different albums to choose from. Each guest gets to choose an album to listen to while they taste. Our tasting room host was so friendly and did a great job of explaining each wine. I was impressed that he knew so much about the labels on each bottle. Every single wine we tasted was incredible, and I couldn’t decide on a favorite. We ended up taking three bottles home because we loved it so much. You’re missing out if you don’t visit this tasting room!

College Cellars

Rating: (5 / 5)
Reservation (Y/N): No
Favorite Wine: 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon
What I Loved The Most: I love that the students run the tasting room and are responsible for making the wine.
Overall Impression: College Cellars is not your typically winery. This is actually a two-year education program where students come to learn about wine, how to make wine and everything else related to the wine industry. The tasting room is run by students in the program, and the wines you taste were all made by the students. I’ve never seen anything like this before, so I thought it was super unique. Everything we tried was delicious, and I was really impressed with the quality. Our tasting room host took us on a little tour of the building where we got to see the barrel room and beautiful cellar. I was really pleased with our visit to College Cellars and would highly recommend a visit. Support the future winemakers of America!

I hope this guide helps you decide which wineries to visit while in Walla Walla. All opinions are my own and everything in this post is my honest feedback. I was not paid to promote any of these wineries.

Of course, let me know if you have any other questions about Walla Walla or what else to do in the area. Cheers!