Bring Your Hat - Walla Walla Washington

I’ve decided that from now on I’m going to rate my travels like Michelin rates restaurants. Instead of stars, I will be giving the places that I visit hats. Considering most of the people that I meet working at the wineries, wear many hats during their day figuratively with all the tasks added to each of their job descriptions. The winemaker may also be the greeter, pour the wine, educate the guests and clean the cellar floors. My curious heart loves to be in the middle of it all experiencing wine, travel and food in as many portions as I can afford through out the year. 

Our first stop the evening I arrive is Abeja. I pronounce it incorrectly and am corrected constantly, but it doesn’t matter. It was a stunner. I give the sunset view 5 hats.

The restaurant here is an experience with a set menu of several courses and wine pairings. The interior of the buildings are rustic charming and grand. My favorite part of dinner was reconnecting with my now friends forever that I met several years ago at a winery on Lake Chelan. Like minded beautiful souls inside and out. More about Erlise and their fabulousness later.

The next morning we meet early after an incredible nights rest at The Finch. We pile in the car and head out on a hike to Rooks Park around Bennington Lake. Eric acts as our local guide as he was lucky enough to grow up in the dreamland they call Walla Walla. The hike was just what we needed to get our day started and we even spotted a massive herd of goats clearing the hillside for the park improvements. Cutest hardest working lil guys ever. 

Our afternoon was filled with the good stuff. Our first stop was Savieh which I also pronounce wrong, but they welcome us anyway to a beautiful table outside. We are meeting one of Eric’s lifelong friends and his wife at this tasting. It was such a treat to be with Eric and Lisa... They seemed to know everyone and everyplace in town. I give Savieh’s wine 5 hats and the table conversation between old friends was priceless.

Balboa was next on our list. I specifically hunted down a bottle of their Gruner Veltliner for us to sip under the shade of the arbor and we were on to our next watering hole. Ps I always give that bright white wine 5 hats. 

Brook n Bull.. I cannot believe I failed to get a picture of this place. Come to find out they are closing this location. More details to be announced. This women owned and operated family winery makes exquisite wine with beautiful labels. We sat with the owner wine maker as though we were old friends catching up. Her son and winemaker husband were around doing their parts as well. I cannot wait to see where she goes next. Speaking of her husband… he is the winemaker at another of our favorite Walla Walla wineries featured later in the blog.

What a day!

The next morning we rise early for coffee at the famed Walla Walla Roastery near the airport. I don’t know how they do it in Walla Walla, but even this business by the airport feels homespun and relaxed. We were joined by another friend yesterday. With the addition of Sarah, we are now a foursome sitting outside, enjoying the most beautiful morning discussing our game plan for the rest of the day. We head into town for a hike around what is now my favorite small town in the US. The entire downtown area and the homes are in impeccably manicured and maintained. So much history, architecture from another era coupled with the new and art installations everywhere. We are high on life, but let’s take it up a notch and head to the wineries shall we?

Recently I read an article about Persued by Bear by Kyle McLaughlin and on our walk we had to stop in. Classic place tucked away on a side street. It was too early for a tasting, but I had to mention it. 

Today’s sweet treats are dry, crispy and modern at Amavi and Valdemar. The family style service at Amavi and the Spanish flare at Valdemar make them both absolute musts on a visit to Walla Walla. 
Amavi moved into their new tasting room in 2010. The space is perched on the hill with a wall of windows and balcony seating to enjoy the view. The wines were bold and our service was 5 hats.
Next we head to Valdemar, just a short drive away so be sure to schedule these as back to back tastings. As you drive into Valdemar the lane is lined with tall cypress trees as if you were in Tuscany. Then you see it, an architectural masterpiece with grande scale. I believe the massive black iron entry door is 20 ft high. It’s an automatic door so don’t get left outside by your group like I did. It did make for great video though. Inside is like an art museum for wine and the second story exterior space has planters, misters, a waterfall and reflection pool. Ps did I mention the mind blowing variety of wine. Truly a level of excellence. 5 hats.

Caprio and Echoland

Our last day of tasting was by far the best day and that is saying ALOT because I fell in love with Walla Walla and truly loved every place we tasted. Today was a 6 hat day. We started at Caprio. We arrived to a private gate. Called with the button, confirmed or identification and were buzzed through James Bond style. As the black iron gate slowly opened I knew we were somewhere special. We drove up the hill and were greeted by two very large, very friendly furry best friends. They were playing on the lawn and payed us little attention. Stunning view, with wine barrel bike racks, fire pits and beautiful gardens, a large food truck was parked outside the massive barrel room and inside is where modern and rustic married flawlessly. We were sat outside and treated to a tasting of 3 wines complete with food pairings. NOT a charcuterie board… we are talking chef inspired taste bombs for each wine. Unbelievably it was at no charge. They explained that we were their guests and wanted us to feel as such. Of course we bought several bottles and headed out after getting our best photo of the trip. I also believe that collectively this was our favorite rosé.
Echoland was our last winery of the trip. It was originally NOT on our itinerary, but we kept hearing about it so we made an adjustment and off we went. Up up up the hill to a brilliant tasting room that seemed entirely made of glass. My jaw was on the ground as I entered. I was like Dorothy going to see the wizard. When we got to our seats in the massive sun filled tasting room, we saw many familiar faces from our adventures over the weekend. It seemed we were surrounded by so many like minded people that we kept running into them no matter where we went. Outside of our foursome, those other personalities made our trip. Honorable mentions Christina and Ingrid ❤️. Remember Brook n Bull… her husband is the winemaker here. It’s almost unfair the talent that pair posses. The wine, the staff, the interior design and architecture was luxurious. How was this place not on our list in advance? I will never know, but be sure to put it on yours.

We did eat very well on this trip thanks to Eric and Lisa making all of our reservations. Since this is a wine blog I didn’t want the food to be the focus and yet it was. Every night we closed out our day with what felt like a family dinner. Here is our restaurant list and they should all have a Michelin star... even the brew balls. 

Abeja, Passatempo Taverna, Hattaway’s on Alder, TMACS

Walla Walla has incredible shopping as well. We loved 35th n Butter and I got a gorgeous purse from Dana Leather that fills like butter.

My stylish companions Eric and Lisa run Erlise Style Consulting find them on Instagram to upgrade your life and your wardrobe. Sarah, who finished out our foursome is a designer on Bainbridge Island just off the coast of Seattle. Find her on Instagram at Astuteabodedesign to upgrade your interior spaces.