Walla Walla is home to more than 120 wineries and almost 3,000 acres of grapes. Historically, the Walla Walla Valley has been an important agricultural area for sweet onions, asparagus, apples, strawberries, wheat and more. The earliest grapes were planted in the 1850s when settlers first came to this region. However, it wasn't until 1977 that the first commercial winery was established. Over the last 30 years, the valley has emerged as a premier wine destination but in many ways it continues to be somewhat of a hidden gem. The Walla Walla AVA was first recognized in 1984 and was only the second AVA in Washington. The AVA straddles the state line between Washington and Oregon, with approximately two-thirds of the region in Washington. Walla Walla is on the 46th parallel. In France, the 46th degree latitude falls between Bordeaux and Burgundy. The most prominent grapes in the region are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Syrah, Malbec and Merlot.

Walla Walla wineries are broken into 5 distinct regions:  Airport District, Downtown, Eastside, Southside and the Westside. 

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Airport

The airport district is an interesting region to explore. The whole area is owned by the Port of Walla Walla and many of the buildings are WWII era mess halls, hangar buildings and firehouses. In one area, there is a row of wine incubators. These spaces are leased to new wineries for up to 6 years while they get operations up and running, then they must move to a new location.  While some of the tasting rooms are a little less glamorous, it is a wonderful place to find up and coming wineries and revisit some old favorites. It is a delightful area to experience.

Downtown

Downtown is home to more than 30 tasting rooms all within walking distance of each other. Interspersed between the wineries are charming shops, award winning restaurants and much more. Most of our tours will start and end at a downtown winery.

Eastside

The Eastside has many lovey wineries. Our tours just skirt the edges of this region because some of the roads are less bike friendly.  However we do recommend visiting the places we miss in a car or van, they are worth the trip.

Southside

You will be entranced by the gorgeous landscapes on the southside. The tasting rooms are set right in the vineyards and take full advantage of the natural beauty of the area. There are dozens of exceptional wineries to explore.

Westside

The Westside is home to some of the original wineries in the region. Unfortunately, at this time, our tours do not go to the Westside. While the wineries are wonderful, most are too far to bike to easily, and the roads tend to be busier than we are comfortable taking guests on. We are happy to share our recommendations if you wish to explore on your own.

Map courtesy of the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance