I once found myself manically putting together a map of the best Walla Walla wineries because my sister asked 3 days before Labor Day, “Hey, want to go to Walla Walla?”
Obviously the answer was yes, I do want to visit this popular wine region ~4.5 hours east of Seattle. So as with any trip I take, I started manically planning all the places we should go. I scoured other “best of” lists, articles outlining awards, and asked around. I was amazed at how one of Washington’s premiere wine regions could have so little content about wineries in Walla Walla that I felt I could trust.
So I made a carefully-curated Walla Walla winery map for our family wine vacation (what, you don’t take kids on wine trips?). And then over the years, I kept adding to it as I visited the area.
The result? This thorough list of all the best Walla Walla wineries you should visit on your trip.
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Map of the Best Walla Walla Wineries
Here’s my map of Walla Walla wineries as well as restaurants, breweries, and other things to do. The gray areas on the map highlight the area’s five distinct wine tasting regions.
Walla Walla was discovered by our good old friends Lewis and Clark, but it wasn’t until 1984 that it became an official wine region (a.k.a. “American Viticultural Area,” or AVA). Located in the southeast area of the Washington-Oregon border, the region spans nearly 3,000 vineyard acres and hosts more than 120 wineries, according to the Walla Walla Wine Alliance.
The climate makes the region look desert and farm-like at the same time. You’ll see lush green grass followed by yellow and gray brush or sandy-looking mountains.
The region is split into six districts, spanning across both Washington and Oregon:
- Westside
- Downtown
- Airport District
- Eastside
- Southside
- Oregon
I highlight each region in my map of Walla Walla wineries (merging the Southside and Oregon regions).
My shortlist of the best wineries in Walla Walla
There are way more wineries in Walla Walla than you can possibly fit into one trip. To help you narrow down your options, here are my favorite Walla Walla wineries.
If you decide to hit up as many of them as you can, make sure to have a designated driver because Uber/Lyft is not a thing in Walla Walla. If you don’t want someone in your crew to be the DD, Mainstreet Drivers will drive your car around and be the DD instead. Or you can book a private van tour with just your group.
Want me to plan an itinerary for you?
I’m a licensed travel planner and can create a custom itinerary for you so you don’t have to do any of the thinking.
KINHAVEN Winery & Vineyard
website | district: Southside (get directions) | tasting fee: ~$25 pp, waived with 2 bottle purchase | open: Thurs – Mon, appt recommended but also accept walk-ins
KINHAVEN is a boutique winery producing about 2,000 cases of wine a year using a mix of their estate-grown and sourced grapes. It’s run by husband Cameron and wife Kasey, both of who have a lot of hospitality experience. Kasey is a wedding planning pro and her keen design eye can be enjoyed throughout the gorgeous tasting room. Cameron used to be a chef at Passatempo Taverna and TMACS, two of Walla Walla’s best restaurants. As a result, he strives to make wine that pairs well with food.
What I love about KINHAVEN’s wine is how they ride mostly in the medium-body and high acid realm. So many of the best Walla Walla wineries focus on big, punch-you-in-the-face reds. I love those, but I’ve come to love zippier and bright wines more as I’ve gotten older. So I’m thankful KINHAVEN delivers.
Fun fact: Their winery dog, Monte, was named one of the top 15 wine dogs by Washington Tasting Room Magazine!
Alton Wines
website | district: Southside (get directions) | tasting fee: ~$30 pp, waived with 2 bottle purchase | open: Fri – Sun, appt recommended but also accept walk-ins
I’m nothing if not consistent. Alton Wines is similar to KINHAVEN in that they focus on lower alcohol, softer wines with balance vs. those big tannic reds that put Walla Walla on the map. It’s also owned by a husband and wife, and yes, the tasting room is equally as posh.
But that’s where the similarities end. Alton owners Ashley and Joe decided to pivot into wine making from the corporate world. Joe was in finance and Ashley still works in tech at Nordstrom, but they decided to move to Walla Walla from Seattle because of their obsession with wine and Joe’s nostalgia for the farm life he had growing up.
Now they make about 2,500 cases a year and run arguably the most beautiful tasting room in all of Walla Walla (just look at the cover photo of this article!). Ashley was pouring for us when we last visit, so I asked her their wine philosophy. She said Walla Walla is known for wines meant to age, but they source unique grapes to create wines that aren’t too fancy to open up on the Tuesday after you purchase it.
Devona
website | district: Airport District (get directions) | tasting fee: ~$25 pp, waived with 3 bottle purchase | open: by appt only
Pronounced “Dev-own-a”, this winery is owned by John and Molly Abbott, two titans of the wine industry. They went to Ohio State University in the 80s when the state’s AVA industry was having its come up. That fueled their love of wine, particularly pinot noir, so they moved to California to work in the wine industry. John went on to open Napa’s famous Canoe Ridge Vineyard.
He yearned to be closer to the winemaking process, so he decided to move to Walla Walla and open Abeja Winery with Ken and Ginger Harrison. John helped grow that now famous Walla Walla winery before venturing out on his own with Molly to start Devona.
Given their roots, the Abbotts wanted to blend their love of both Washington and Oregon’s winemaking styles. They make cabernet sauvignon and merlot as a nod to Walla Walla, but also a lot of pinot noir and chardonnay using grapes sources from the Columbia River Gorge and Willamette Valley.
The result is a winery that caters to all types of wine drinkers. With a production of only about 1,000 cases a year, Devona is very much a boutique working winery. You’ll be sitting right in the production space instead of a big fancy tasting room. But you can expect to find a hyper focus on producing wines with a sense of place.
Gramercy Cellars
website | district: Westside (get directions) | tasting fee: ~$20 pp, waived with $50 purchase | open: Tues – Sat, appt recommended but also accept walk-ins
Gramercy Cellars is kind of off the beaten path. There aren’t many wineries near it and it’s in a kind of unassuming warehouse-like area. However, as soon as you open the door you’re taken aback by the farmhouse interiors. Beautiful white subway tile takes up the whole back wall behind the bar and there are comfy, over-sized brown couches perfect for kids to play on while parents take sips.
The wines were really yummy, which made sense because even though Gramercy only produces about 8,000 case a year, they’ve won multiple awards for their outstanding wines. They work with grapes from a bunch of area vineyards, but they also own 3 of their own vineyards they use to create some estate wines.
The staff was also friendly. The woman pouring our tastes was a wealth of information when we asked her where we should stop on our wine tour. We’re happy we took her advice, as one of her suggestions ended up being our favorite stop (but more on this later).
Want to try their wines? Wine.com sells a bunch of Gramercy Cellars wines worth trying.
Pro tip: They are open later on Fridays and Saturdays during harvest in late September and October. You’ll be able to get some of their library wines that they don’t pour during normal tasting hours.
Grosgrain Vineyards
website | district: Southside (get directions) | tasting fee: ~$25 pp, waived with 2 bottle purchase | open: daily, appt recommended but also accept walk-ins (except Tues & Wed, which are always by appt)
Pronounced “grow-grain” after the textile, Grosgrain Vineyards has successfully stitched together one of the best winery experiences within the Walla Walla Valley. Owners Matt, and ex-attorney, and Kelly, an ex-fashion designer, moved to the Pacific Northwest from California in search of a new life. Matt went to school for enology and spent time working at various Washington wineries before he stumbled upon the auction of a small 5-acre vineyard that’s now home to their tasting room and vacation rental, Casa Grosgrain.
While the tasting room looks like a warehouse from outside, upon entering you’re transported into a cool mid century modern-meets-boho space overlooking their experimental vineyard. What makes Grosgrain so special is the fact that they source and grow unique grapes you don’t find in many Walla Walla wineries. They make a small amount of a bunch of different styles, yet they somehow all have Matt’s signature zippy and quirky style. And the best part? Just about all of Grosgrain’s wines are under $50, a steal in Walla Walla.
Prospice Wines
website | district: Airport District (get directions) | tasting fee: ~$25 pp, waived with $50 purchase | open: Fri – Sun, appt recommended but also accept walk-ins
I love how many of the best Walla Walla wineries are run by changemakers who were brave enough to pivot their careers and bring their unique perspectives to the wine industry. Owners Jay and Matt of Prospice Wines are a prime example.
Jay, an ex-lawyer, and Matt, an ex-architect, met fresh off their career pivots working on Walla Walla Community College’s Stan Clarke Vineyard. They both shared a passion for honoring traditional winemaking while tinkering with the possibilities of the future, so the idea of opening a winery together quickly formed.
After years working separately at various wineries, they took the plunge and created Prospice Wines. The name comes from the latin phrase “Respice, Adspice, Prospice” that translates into, “Learn from the past; live in the present; look to the future.” It guides their approach to winemaking: Using geeky scientific approaches to developing wine while honoring low-intervention, timeless methods.
The result is an Old World French-style wine that’s low on alcohol and high on acid, which creates wines that aren’t too big so that you can really taste the nuance of the terroir. Prospice is best known for viognier, but they make a few whites and rosés and about 20 reds…a nod to their experimental ethos.
itä wines
website | district: Airport (get directions) | tasting fee: $20, waived with purchase | open: Thurs – Tues, appt recommended but also accepts walk-ins
Itä Wines is one of the few spots on this map of Walla Walla wineries with a female winemaker. Kelsey Albro Itämeri started a vineyard on her parents’ property on the eastern foothills of the Blue Mountains and is hyper-focused on producing wines that honor the area. All of her bottles include estate-grown grapes and those sourced by neighboring vineyards in a really tight radius from her property.
Kelsy is known for being one of the first wineries finished with harvest each year. She likes picking her grapes super early to produce light-bodied wines with what she calls a “racy acidity”. I love how each of her wines zips across your palate, matching her playful approach to winemaking. Plus, she’s selling some of the most affordable wines in the area, with the top one being ~$48.
You’ll notice that Itä Wines is one of a few almost identical tasting room buildings side by side. This is an incubator program that provides the building for emerging wine talent to grow. It’s not exactly a custom crush facility, as each winery maintains their own equipment, but their close proximity to each other helps them borrow items when needed, making for a more accessibly entry into the industry. So if you want to try a bunch of tasting rooms on this map of Walla Walla wineries side by side, head here!
The Walls Vineyards
website | district: Westside (get directions) | tasting fee: $35+, waived with 3 bottle purchase | open: daily, appt recommended but also accepts walk-ins
If you want a sophisticated wine tasting experience paired with good food, The Walls Vineyard, owned by the same people behind Passatempo Taverna restaurant, is your answer. All of us said, “This place is ‘aesthetic’,” when we walked in, mimicking the lift in tone my 13-year-old niece uses when she approves of something’s style.
It’s amazing how some of the best things are born from utter tragedy. Mike left his corporate job in Seattle after the devastating loss of his wife. He ended up in Walla Walla where he began making wine out of a custom crush facility near the city’s historic penitentiary. His facility faced the walls surrounding the prison, which inspired the name for his present-day winery that now produces about 8,000 cases a year.
You can actually taste two labels at The Walls Vineyards. The namesake line features a lot of earthy, dry, and sometimes smokey red wines with a lot of complexity. All the labels feature Stanley Groovey, a comic character designed by a cartoonist from the New Yorker that’s become The Walls’ mascot.
Your other option is tasting the PÁŠXA Wines line. Named after the Indigenous word for sunflower, it focuses solely on wines made with grapes from The Rocks District. These wines are pricey, but they meander between a softness and complexity that you don’t get with more affordable bottles. I recommend adding on a tasting of their PÁŠXA line so you can do a side by side comparison!
Want to try their wines? Wine.com sells some Walls Vineyard wines worth trying.
Echolands Winery
website | district: Westside (get directions) | tasting fee: $20 pp, waived with 2 bottle purchase | open: Wed – Mon, appts recommended but accepts walk-ins
Echolands aims to produce wine that’s an “echo” of the land it comes from. That means they’re not trying to achieve flavors unnatural to a grape, but rather let each vintage be an expression of a period in time and the natural aging process.
This is one of the most stunning tasting rooms on my map of Walla Walla wineries. You walk through a grand hall to a great room with a vaulted ceiling and huge windows overlooking vineyards. There is also a modern garden where you can enjoy your wine in the sunshine.
You can expect a lot of wines with balance and texture at Echolands. One of their most popular bottles is their Rubin that dances between shishito pepper and inky blackberry notes. It’s like a marriage of both the grape and soil, which is exactly what Echolands is aiming to put into your glass.
Want to try their wines? Wine.com sells some Echolands wines worth trying.
Pro tip: They serve late night wine by the glass and bottle after 5 PM on weekends. It’s a great way to catch sunset!
Abeja Winery
website | district: Westside (get directions) & Downtown (get directions) | tasting fee: $40 pp | open: daily by appt
Abeja Winery is a gorgeous historic farmstead about 10 minutes outside of downtown Walla Walla. Not only is it a winery, but it’s also an inn and restaurant (yup, you can stay right on their dreamy property!). The restaurant is helmed by Mike Easton, the famous chef who once owned the now-shuttered Il Corvo in Seattle, so it’s high on my list of places to try!
Pronounced “uh-bay-ha”, the Spanish word for bee, the winery has a big focus on stewardship and preservation. You can see their appreciate for the land in the beautifully-manicured garden right next to the tasting area. But they also apply that ethos to the approximately 17,000 cases of wine they produce each year.
Abeja is best known for their cabs and merlot. In fact, their reserves are so popular that they only release them to wine club members. These ageable wines often come with a long, silk finish that pair perfectly with decadent meals.
Pursued by Bear
website | district: Downtown (get directions) | tasting fee: $25 pp, waived with $60 purchase | open: Thurs – Sun by appt only
You may think the name “Pursued by Bear” is a hunting gear outfitter rather than a winery, but the name actually comes from the Shakespearean stage direction “exit, pursued by bear”. Why you may ask? Well, Pursued by Bear is owned by Kyle MacLachlan, the actor from Twin Peaks and other popular productions.
How does a famous actor get involved with the wine industry? Well, Kyle grew up in Yakima and connected with his dad over wine. He really liked Dunham Cellars, so he ordered them for his wedding. Through that experience he stayed in touch with Dunham’s winemaker. When he moved to Abeja Winery, Kyle tapped him to partner on a new winery. The rest is history.
Pursued by Bear is a tiny tasting room off the beaten path in downtown Walla Walla. The inside feels like a rustic cabin with warm woods, rich rugs, and iconic bear art. They produce about 3,000 cases a year of really satisfying wines, particularly reds. They feel reminiscent of Abeja wines with a lot of subtle complexities, a spectrum of textures, and nuance. Head to both Abeja and Bear as you tour this map of Walla Walla wineries to see how they compare!
Want to try their wines? Wine.com sells some Pursued by Bear wines worth trying. You can also get their bottles in Met Markets around Seattle.
Spring Valley Vineyards
website | district: Downtown (get directions) | tasting fee: $30 pp, waived with 1 red or 2 white bottle purchases | open: daily by appt only
Spring Valley Vineyards is a quaint tasting room is covered with pictures and paraphernalia from their 7th generation ranch. Tasting here isn’t just about the wine, but rather stepping back in time to learn about their history.
Each bottle has an original family photo and the staff takes you through their story with each pour. It all started in the mid-1800s when the Corkrums took the Oregon Trail from Illinois to Walla Walla, Washington to flee the Civil War. Their son, Uriah, farmed their land for wheat but lost everything during the Depression. Yet he persevered and bought the land that’s now the Spring Valley ranch.
He married Katherine, the sister of his brother’s wife, and they had Frederick. When Frederick grew up, he met vaudeville performer, Nina Lee, despite his family’s disapproval. However, Nina Lee went on to tend the ranch long after Frederick’s death, passing it onto their daughter and present-day owner Shari.
Shari eventually met Dean Darby, who was in the NFL and played for the Steelers sand Vikings. They decided to plant grapes on the Spring Valley ranch as a retirement plan. Their son Devon and his French friend, Serge finesses the family’s winemaking chops over the years. Unfortunately Devon died in a tragic accident, but Serge carried on his legacy. He recently retired, but not after teaching Spring Valley’s current winemaker, Katherine, everything Devon and him knew.
Now the winery produces about 10,000 cases of beautiful wines, mostly reds. Each sip is steeped in history, making it a great bottle to share among loved ones.
Want to try their wines? Wine.com sells some Spring Valley Vineyards wines worth trying.
Caprio Cellars
website | district: Southside (get directions) | tasting fee: free | open: Wed – Sun by appt only
Wine was a way of life for Caprio Cellars’ ancestors. Owner Dennis Murphy’s grandmother grew up in Italy where everyone made their own wine. It was central to every gathering and celebration, a tradition that was passed down to Dennis. He wanted to create a winery that was like sharing a bottle over food with friends and family. That’s exactly what you can expect at Caprio Cellars.
Caprio Cellars produces about 3,800 cases of of Bordeaux-style wine using all estate-grown grapes. Your visit will include 3 tastes paired with food, plus a welcome bubbly. They have a nice variety of tropical-tasting whites, dry rosés, and richer reds, which is a break from all the red-dominate pours you’ll have while following this map of Walla Walla wineries.
The most surprising part? All of the wine tastes and food are free. Murphy’s grandmother never charged her friends for food and wine, so he doesn’t believe he should do that to visitors either.
Adamant Cellars
website | district: Airport (get directions) | tasting fee: free | open: Fri – Sun or by appt (by appt weekends only Jan – Feb)
Adamant was recommended by the person who poured for us at Gramercy Cellars, and boy am I happy we listened. They had lovely reds, one of which we just drank with dinner this past Sunday (a cabernet sauvignon). The interiors are a soothing blue and it’s outfitted with whimsical wood creatures and flora. It’s also one of the cheaper wine tasting options in Walla Walla.
Want to try their wines? Wine.com sells some Adamant Cellars wines worth trying.
Rotie Cellars
website | district: Southside – Oregon (get directions) | tasting fee: $30 pp, waived with 2 bottle purchase | open: daily, appts recommended but also accept walk-ins
I haven’t been to Rotie’s Milton-Freewater tasting room yes, but I frequent their SODO tasting room here in Seattle. They make exceptional Rhone-style wines using PNW fruit. That means you can expect lower alcohol, higher acid wines that are less oaky than other Walla Walla wines. I love their clean and crisp winemaking style and think you will too!
Maison Bleue Winery
website | district: Downtown (get directions) | tasting fee: ~$25 pp, waived with purchase | open: Thurs – Mon, walk-ins welcome
As soon as you walk into Maison Bleue, you’re taken aback by the regal decor: gorgeous navy walls, white tin ceilings, large, iron wheel chandeliers, and a faux deer head on the back wall. You’re also taken aback by how vibrant the vibe is here: people are talking up a storm, which makes it noisy enough for cranky kids to fade into if you brought them along.
Their winery is in the Rocks District of the Milton-Freewater AVA, which sits at one of the higher elevations in the area. This means they’re able to produce more Rhone-style wines that are more refined versus big and fruity. If that’s your style of wine, you’ll love Maison Bleue.
Want to try their wines? Wine.com sells some Maison Bleue wines worth trying.
Trust Cellars
website | district: Airport (get directions) | tasting fee: ~$10 pp, waived with purchase | open: by appt only
Trust Cellars was another recommendation by the lovely lady at Gramercy Cellars. It used to be in downtown Walla Walla next door to Maison Bleue, but it’s since moved to the Airport District where they produce their wines using grapes sourced from area vineyards. You’ll fine crowd-pleasing varietals made with minimal intervention that allows the terroir to really stand out.
Want to try their wines? Wine.com sells some Trust Cellars wines worth trying.
L’ecole No 41
website | district: Westside (get directions) & Downtown (get directions) | tasting fee: ~$20 pp, waived with $40 purchase or $30 pp waived with $60 purchase | open: Daily, walk-ins welcome but appt recommended at their Westside Historic Schoolhouse location
L’ecole is one of the bigger wineries on my map of Walla Walla wineries. It’s known for producing fully estate-grown wines and having a gorgeous historic schoolhouse tasting room.
If you visit their schoolhouse location, you’ll be greeted by long path leading up to a stunning historic building. The inside is absolutely gorgeous: it’s pretty much a dream home for anyone who loves the craftsman style. But besides the beautiful interiors and great wines, the big win here was how great it is for kids.
There’s a playground in the backyard with swings, teeter totters, and monkey bars. The winery is also next door to a small farm with cows and horses that are fun to look at. Heck, after the tastings the adults even had some fun on the swings and teeter totter. Maybe a bit of too much fun, considering Travis cherry bombed Dan and made the teeter totter fall off it’s axle…but that’s a story for another time.
Want to try their wines? Wine.com sells some L’ecole 41 wines worth trying.
Pro tip: L’ecole also has a Woodinville location hear Seattle.
Woodward Canyon
website | district: Westside (get directions) | tasting fee: ~$25 pp, waived with $50 purchase | hours: Daily for walk-ins only (appt required for groups over 6)
Woodward Canyon is right next door to L’ecole. They were the second vineyard in Walla Walla and instrumental in Walla Walla getting its AVA status, so a visit is like stepping into history.
Their tasting room is a converted farmhouse with a tall, cathedral ceiling and lovely gardens perfect for a picnic. The winery is best known for big, Bordeaux-style reds but they also have some lovely whites. The vibe is more English cottage than L’ecole, so I like visiting both in the same day to experience the contrast.
Want to try their wines? Wine.com sells some Woodward Canyon wines worth trying.
Amavi Cellars
website | district: Southside (get directions) | tasting fee: ~$20 pp, reduced to $10 with purchase | open: Daily for walk-ins or appts
Amavi Cellars is on a few acres of beautiful farmland and vineyards. The whole back of the tasting room has windows that lead onto a deck overlooking the fields that have an unobstructed view of mountains. Next to the tasting room is rows and rows of grape trees. And, okay, we tasted a grape. Shhhh.
But besides the picturesque settings, Amavi has great wines. Despite being one of the largest wineries on this list, it’s still one of the best Walla Walla wineries for taste, affordability, and staff friendliness. They were the only ones to really engage with my nieces when I brought up along on one trip, which was very much appreciated.
Want to try their wines? Wine.com sells some Amavi Cellars wines worth trying.
Pro tip: If you need to make choices of which wineries to visit, Amavi Cellars also has a tasting room in Woodinville near Seattle, so if you’re from the area maybe wait until you get back home to try their wines (though their vineyards in Walla Walla are beautiful!).
Gifford-Hirlinger
website | district: Southside (get directions) | tasting fee: free with an optional cash donation to the Walla Walla Food Bank | open: Fri – Sun for walk-ins or appts or by appt other days
Gifford-Hirlinger is a small tasting room with no seats and cement floors, so not the most ideal for kids. Yet, it’s a family-owned winery with a makeshift swing on a tree out front. And the owner’s kids were at the winery, running around the steel wine barrels. So despite the unassuming decor, don’t be afraid to bring in kids.
The other great thing about this winery is how affordable it is for the quality of estate-grown wines they produce. So while you don’t necessarily come for the ambiance, they’re worth a visit for exceptional boutique wines.
If you’re interested in trying their wine, wine.com sells some Gifford Hirlinger wines worth trying.
Places to stop on the way to Walla Walla
Since Walla Walla is a 4.5 hour drive, you may need to stop and stretch your legs (especially if you’re with kids). Here are some ideas for things to add to your map of Walla Walla wineries!
- Visit the Stunning Suncadia Resort and nearby Roslyn
- Explore Ellensburg, one of the Cutest Small Towns in Washington
- Get Lunch at the Best Restaurants in Leavenworth
- Add on a Trip to Spokane
- Wine taste in Yakima Valley, another wine region you’ll drive by to get to Walla Walla
- Hike Hell’s Canyon, the largest river gorge in North America
- Detour to Palouse Falls State Park for stunning waterfall views
More Pacific Northwest wineries
After you visit all the spots on this map of Walla Walla wineries, check out these other wine tasting regions!
- Let Me Plan Your Custom Trip to Wine Country
- Lake Chelan Wineries
- Leavenworth Tasting Rooms
- Columbia Gorge Wineries
- Willamette Valley Wineries
- Seattle Urban Wineries
- Woodinville Wineries near Seattle
- Eugene, OR Wineries
