Navigating Walla Walla Valley Wine

The Walla Walla AVA spans parts of Southeastern Washington and Northeastern Oregon with nearly 3000 acres of planted vineyards. The highest concentration of wineries in Washington State are in the Walla Walla AVA, and 43% of the grapes are actually planted on the Oregon side.  Interestingly, many of the wineries here do not themselves grow but will solely source fruit from vineyards within the region and beyond, with only some of the wineries having their own vineyards.

I particularly like visiting during Spring kick-off weekend, the first weekend in April. During this time of year, wineries host special events and pour samples. And there are plenty of other things to do, like hiking, biking, shopping and exploring.

If you are exploring tasting rooms, you won’t want to miss The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater AVA, which was approved in 2015. There are these rocks, basalt cobblestones, in the soil formed by an ancient river. Here you can almost smell the struggle the vines must endure to create fruit in this soil.  If you are a fan of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, this AVA is an indulgence not to be missed.