Walla Walla Wineries...anyone been?
 

Thinking of making a trip out to Walla Walla for the harvest.

Does anyone know much about the industry out there? Obviously, don't expect Napa/Sonoma Valleys, but am hoping for something more scenic and vast than Woodinville's 3 wineries that aren't in industrial buildings.

Are accommodations available (aside from the Motel 6 or Travelodge)? Are there any culinary attractions? Share what you know, please.

Thanks!

Walla Walla Valley is one of Eastern Washington's best kept secrets. It has scenic beauty, great wines, surprising restaurants and at least one fine hotel, the recently restored Whitman. Abeja Country Inn is positively splendid. The Inn took over all the buildings of a former working farm and turned them into a varied collection of luxury suites, several in individual single-unit buildings. The location just east of WW is nestled in a working vineyard.

There are wine tasting rooms in the center of town and spread up and down US 12 through the valley.
In addition, about an hour west just outside of Richland, Wa is the Red Mountain appelation, one of the country's newest declared wine regions. Red grapes love the rough growning conditions and the resultant wines are becoming some of the best in the country. Hightower is a fine small producer and if you can include this area, be sure to visit them.

Standout restaurants in WW include Grapefields and Whitehouse-Crawford. Also check out Dayton, WA (30 min from WW) for it's great historic homes and two completely out of place restaurants considering the tiny town, the regionally famous Patit Creek restaurant (French), and the historic Weinhard Cafe (attached to the Henry Weinhard brewery family by long past times).

See also the Lewis & Clark interpretive features throughout the Walla Walla and Snake River Valley. Enjoy.

Who know?! Thanks!

I've recently started getting into the fine reds, mostly cabernet, from this region (and in Washington State, in general)

I sampled a few of the stuff from here, including Tamarack Cellars and Dunham. If these are any indication, then you're in for a pleasant surprise as to how good the cabernet in this region are.

One of the best-known Walla Walla wineries is Leonetti---a maker of world class wines. I don't know if they do tastings, but it's worth looking into:
http://www.leonetticellar.com/leowwva.html

And for a general list of wineries in the area and the history:
http://www.wallawallawine.com/

Walla Walla is a nice town.

Some wines I like from the area:
L'Ecole No. 41 and K Vitners/Magnificent Wine Co.'s "House Wine"

Check out this Sunset article from March 2005:
http://tinyurl.com/pe5tw

What happens at "harvest", I mean from a visitors perspective. Is there any reason to try to visit during that time? And, how would one find out when that will be this year?

You could wait until early December and go for the barrel tasting:
http://www.wallawallawine.com/events/hbt.html

Whoa! There are actually people who consider WW a "destination". Who knew?
All right, sorry- couldn't resist. Walla Walla is my hometown. It's changed so much in the last 10 years, sometimes it's difficult to think of it as a place to go.

The industry is really going strong right now. There's many wine tasting places in town of apparently good repute. Apparently, there's a few interesting winery tours- but be warned- it's not SCENIC, or at least not in the way I think you mean. The wineries, like most really terrific spots in the area, are scattered. The town is surrounded by rolling wheat fields that can only be described as "scenic" during the spring (green) or early August (rolling gold). Really, it's personal preference- some people think it looks barren or monotonous: others love it. Further out, towards Pasco, truly ugly desert takes over. Walla Walla itself is flat, green and shady, with lots of handsome old trees. The barrel tasting is a big deal, though. The wineries vary in attractiveness. The town has really upgraded downtown- it's an enormous project that has turned out quite popular- art, murals, restoration, etc. Accommodations- there may be a few B&Bs. Also, the Marcus Whitman is a possibility. It's an old historic hotel- tallest building in town. I believe it's 4 star. It's more or less the proud and joy- one of those survival stories. My grandparents honeymooned there in the 40s, but by the time I was born, it had been shut down and converted into storefronts and appartments. A few years ago, "rich" people bought it, remodeled, and reopened to become the Marcus Whitman Hotel and Conference Center. It's a vast improvement over previous lodging, and I've heard great things about it (not the food, though). If you want to go cheap, though, Motel 6 really isn't that bad. Despite what some people might tell you, there is NO VIEW.

Culinary attractions- Apparently, there's a really good Bayou place in Dayton. In Walla Walla- Sweet Basil (gourmet pizza and local wines): The Homestead (good food and salad- closest you'll come to quality traditional food): the internet cafe on Main (good breakfast, great lunchand local info): Bright's on Main (homemade candy, ice cream, LEGENDARY carmel apples): Ice Burg (local buger joint....one of those old fashioned drive up places, my dad remembers hanging out there as a teen, best burgers and shakes in town.) Merchants on Main- very popular...local jazz/bluegrass, and you can eat any meal there, but the real attraction are their baked goods. Klickers is a fresh produce market and antiques store, very popular, ran by a local farming family.

I wouldn't recommend harvest, but I'm from a farming family, so harvest isn't really special to me. You'd have to inquire at each winery.

Downtown is where most of the action is, lately. New stores- two out of this world boutiques- Chevals and Romanza. No idea what else your interested in, but I'll gladly answer any other questions you might have.

Note: Sgorces mentioned some of this stuff- I think Patit Creek is the "bayou" place. And Abeja CI? Cool- thanks for mentioning that, I'll have to check it out!

Any way, if you do decide to visit: Welcome to Walla Walla, WA. Where men are really hung- sorry, sorry. That's the unofficial motto, a poor example of local humor:)

Again,could not resist-<snort> Seriously, have a great time!

wow, we are thinking of making a trip to Walla Walla in search of retirement! Mooselywild, thanks for all the information. The weather sounds attractive, we live in the Mojave Desert (well Lancaster CA), so anything is greener than this and have thought about Paso Robles CA but it is getting so expensive. Otherwise WW looks very much like it...and of course, the wine! Gotta love it. As our plans get more solid for our trip up there I will post some questions! Thanks.