You don’t have to drive to Napa Valley or Sonoma to sample some of the world’s greatest wines because the Pacific Northwest is home to a thriving wine industry. Even better, one of the new big names in North American wine regions is just a few hours from Portland. While summer is still hanging on, spend a few days enjoying the fruits of the season in Walla Walla, Washington, one of the state’s fastest growing wine producing areas.

The city of Walla Walla is just under 4 hours from Portland and Seattle both, and 13 miles across the Oregon border, in southeastern Washington. Although Walla Walla Valley once earned a reputation for its sweet onion crop it is today turning over a new leaf as one of the top wine growing areas in the northwest. Over a long weekend, you can enjoy wine tasting, touring wineries and vineyards, and sightseeing in Walla Walla and the surrounding valley.

The Drive:
From the Portland metro area you can reach Walla Walla with about 3 hours and 55 minutes (242 miles) of pleasant driving along the length of Interstate 84 through the scenic Columbia River Gorge. After 176 miles on I-84, you’ll exit towards Hermiston and Umatilla and follow Interstate 82 along the northern curve of the Columbia River, past Cold Springs National Wildlife Refuge and Hat Rock State Park before crossing the state line into Washington. Following US-395/US-730 along the river for about 25 miles you’ll connect to US-12 East which skirts the edges of the Walla Walla River before bringing you into the city of the same name after just 28 miles.

Walla Walla

The city of Walla Walla was recognized by USA Today in 2012 as the “Friendliest Small Town in the US,” and its nickname is “The City So Nice, They Named it Twice.” Throughout the walkable downtown area of this likable little town you’ll find more than 30 wine tasting rooms and bars, and across the Walla Walla Valley, more than 100 wineries have sprung up in recent years. The area grows primarily Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes and is a hot spot for red wine lovers, although other grapes producing both red and white wines are grown in the area.

While you shouldn’t come to Walla Walla without tasting the wine, there is much more to do in this Washington town. From typical Northwest outdoor recreation activities to shopping, antique hunting, visiting museums, and even enjoying the welcoming nightlife scene, with many bars and wine tasting rooms hosting live bands on the weekends this town has it all. Walla Walla is also a great place to catch a play at the university theaters, the Little Theater of Walla Walla, or the recently renovated Power House Theater at the former Walla Walla Gas Plant where the plays of Shakespeare and other authors are put on.

Wine Tasting Regions

Downtown and North

Nearly 30 tasting rooms from wineries throughout the region are located in the pedestrian-friendly downtown and north sections of town making for a perfect way to sample wines without driving around. Most wine tasting rooms and bars are close together on Main Street and on adjacent North 2nd Avenue.

Downtown Walla Walla highlights:

Charles Smith tasting room: The industrial, yet rustic atmosphere and knotted wood furnishings, combine with reliably great wine and big-name music shows for a complete package at this well-known winery.

DaMa Wines: A unique concept from a unique tasting room, DaMa wines donates a portion of its proceeds to local organizations supporting women, and they also make wines that set-out to capture, both in flavor and bottle artwork, the beauty of women.

Sapolil Cellars: This tasting room and restaurant is known for its comfortable yet sophisticated atmosphere, delicious dinners, and live music, including a piano player in the evenings.

Seven Hills Winery:
Notable not just for their fantastic reds, but the unique setting in the historic Whitehouse-Crawford building, where wine tasters can look through windows from the tasting room into the barrel room this is not a place to miss.

East

The east side of town is host to many wineries located in converted World War II-era military buildings and some both produce wine and have tasting rooms on the same premises.

East Walla Walla highlights:

Dunham Cellars:
This big name in wine is also a must-see for history buffs, located in a remodeled World War II era airplane hangar It has also received the people’s vote as the most highly reviewed winery in Walla Walla on Yelp.com.
El Corazon, a winery named after the Spanish word for “heart” is a Walla Walla favorite for its casual atmosphere thanks to a bar-like set-up with ping pong, foosball, and music, making for an unexpected, but lively wine tasting experience.

West

On the western side of Walla Walla wineries and vineyards are located throughout the valley on Highway 12.

West Walla Walla highlights:

L’Ecole: Named after the French word for school, this winery fittingly operates out of the old Lowden Schoolhouse, where you can enjoy a wine tasting in what was once the second grade classroom.

Woodward Canyon: One of the oldest and most famous wineries in the region, the wines at Woodward Canyon are sure to please and the fresh food whipped up from homegrown produce may just be equally impressive.

South

Wineries south of Walla Walla and over the border in Oregon are mostly located at estate vineyards, where you can tour the grounds, learn about wine making, and enjoy wine tasting in a more traditional setting.

South Walla Walla highlights:

Sleight of Hand Cellars: This winery is for wine tasters who enjoy a little magic, from the bright colors in the tasting room, to the wonderfully weird collection of records. Sleight of Hand has also been recognized as one of “the Next Cult Wineries” by Seattle Magazine.

Balboa:A family-run winery, Balboa is also the perfect spot for the whole family, with big screens to watch sports, art installations and sweeping views surrounding the premises, and plenty of room for little ones to run amok.

Wine Tours
State-licensed tour operators provide wine tasting tours and transportation to vineyards and wineries throughout Walla Walla Valley. Most wine tours are hosted by knowledgeable guides or drivers and can provide the perfect accompaniment to wine tasters who’ve enjoyed traveling on foot in the downtown area and are ready to taste the wines of the wider Walla Walla region without getting behind the wheel. You can find information about some of the tour providers at the Walla Walla Visitors’ Website.