The Napa Valley of Washington State
Happy Mother’s Day Weekend! My momma loves her wine, and rightfully so. So, with the information mentioned above, we decided to all pitch in and head to Walla Walla, WA for the weekend. A 1-hour flight out of Sea-Tac and you have
The view when you land and step out of the plane is this magical
Here’s the next shocker: There are more than 120 wineries in Walla Walla. WOW.
The Marcus Whitman
Friday Night –>First Stop: Drinks. I know we are in Wine Country, but after a (short) flight, we were craving a cocktail. You too? Great! Head over to The Vineyard Lounge in the first floor of The Marcus Whitman. Two birds with one stone: view a beautiful, historic hotel and enjoy a great drink.
To Drink
- The Rowdy Kate: 44 North Idaho Huckleberry Vodka, Limoncello, Fresh Lemon Juice, Bordeaux Cherry Juice. If you’re craving a drink that’s sweet, tart and rowdy, this is it!
- An Exercise in Trust: Surprise! Tell your bartender what type of flavor profile you enjoy and the type of liquor you prefer, and voila! They will concoct something for ya. It’s always fun to order something and have no idea what you’re getting… right? Sure.
Alright now that we have a cocktail in our system, it’s time for some food!
Whitehouse Crawford
Officially one of my top 10 favorite restaurants, Whitehouse Crawford. Located in a historic building, dating back to 1880, this place is grand. A large, open, dining room with the perfect blend of whites, spurts of colors and that monumental brick. Chic-Historic.
To Eat
- Chinese Steamed Buns. I kid you not, one of the best things I have ever put in my mouth. Warm, crisp, soft, salty, sweet. It is everything wrapped up in a bun. Unbelievable.
- Japanese Style Fried Chicken. Cabbage slaw, creamy tofu sauce, ponzu. Does creamy tofu sauce sound odd? Absolutely. Is it odd? Not at all. It is yum.
After dinner, head to bed. Saturday is always a big day in Walla Walla.
Saturday: Today is Wine Day.
Long Shadows
Our first stop of the day, Long Shadows Winery! Wine tasting here is reservation only. Just call them up and they will be more than happy to assist you with a time and date that works.
Your tasting will take place in The Chihuly Tasting Room. Enjoy beautiful pieces of handblown glass while enjoying great wine. The tasting room allows you a birds-eye view into the barrel room.
Woodward Canyon
Stop #2. Okay so this one isn’t actually in the city of Walla Walla but it’s surely close enough. Woodward Canyon is located in an 1870’s farmhouse, this tasting room is even better in the summer because you can sit in the backyard garden. We enjoyed the afternoon sun while enjoying a few flights of wine.
Doubleback Winery
The #3 stop for Saturday. Don’t get the beautiful location of Doubleback Winery confused with their downtown tasting room, Bledsoe Family Winery. This location is the actual winery, where all the magic happens. We opted for a private tasting, available by appointment only. Feel free to call them up to schedule yours.
El Corazon Winery
And finally, we have reached our 4th stop of the day. Have you ever heard of a dive wine bar? Me neither. Until I stepped into El Corazon Winery. This is NOT your place if you don’t understand sarcasm and can’t take a joke. Do not take yourself too seriously while at El Corazon. Do come to El Corazon if you enjoy good wine, loud music, funny board games, and sassy bartenders. This place has character, to say the least. Please note the goldfish crackers in the picture to your right. Yes, that’s right. They serve complimentary goldfish with their wine.
Congratulations! We made it through a day of wine tasting. Now, let’s eat!
Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen
Another classic in Walla Walla: Saffron. Plenty of apps to share. Flatbreads all day. House-made pasta. Wonderful main courses. Their menu seems to rotate, but all their dishes are full of the utmost flavor.
Break: Bed. Because us humans have to sleep.
Sunday. A day to recover… Traditionally.
But, we are not a traditional family.
We like to party. Yeah. We like, we like to party.
So, let’s do it all again! First thing’s first: Breakfast.
The Maple Counter Waffle Company
Looking for a wonderful breakfast in Walla Walla? The Maple Counter Café will be one of those top-rated places that pops up on your search.
So, here’s the cool part: they got smart with their restaurant. They opened up a little airstream trailer that is basically attached to their café, where they sell strictly waffles. They grew to be pretty famous a few years back from their waffles, and rightfully so because Hallelujah those waffle are dynamite!
If you enjoy waffles, quick service and sitting outside, The Maple Counter Waffle Co. is your new go-to in Walla Walla. 17 choices of waffles. Sweet or Savory; your choice. Get after it.
Getting back to my aforementioned comment about not being a traditional family…TODAY is Mother’s Day. So, we have to celebrate. Is it Sunday? Yes. No days of rest here, folks. Do we fly back home today? Yes. Do we have a few hours before our flight? Yes.
That means it is wine time.
We opted to keep our wine tasting downtown Walla Walla today. None of the following tasting rooms require reservations, so you can easily slip in and out of each of them.
Browne Family Vineyards
Prime location. Browne is right downtown on the corner with a patio. They were having a Mother’s Day special. Rosé and Macaroons for mom. We opted for the Sparkling Rosé. Although it wasn’t a Browne wine, it was a nice touch to a hot, sunny afternoon.
Otis Kenyon
Otis Kenyon is located just 2 doors down from Browne Family Vineyards. A winery with a dark past. Named after James Otis Kenyon, a dentist turned arsonist in the early 1900’s. Four generations later and I am happy to tell you that Stephen Otis Kenyon produces a delightful Bordeaux varietal wine. Take a seat outside on the mini patio, or even better, come inside and write your name on the wall with a permanent marker, provided by staff.
Charles Smith Wines & K Vintners
Just a few blocks away from Browne Family Vineyards and Otis Kenyon. Easily walkable. The 4th largest wine producer in Washington State with a vast portfolio of K Vintners, Wines of substance, VINO, SIXTO, Casa Smith, B. Leighton and ½ of Charles and Charles. Charles Smith has the drive to create great wine, and boy does it show. This tasting room is so aesthetically pleasing,
After a full weekend, we hopped back on the plane for an hour flight and were home, safe and sound in Seattle.
Need a place to stay? I recommend The Barn. Check it out in my post, here.
