Walla Walla wine country

The Walla Walla Valley is one of the country's premier wine regions, with more than 120 wineries spread across distinct pockets: the walkable downtown, the airport district's cluster of small producers, the celebrated Rocks District of Milton-Freewater just over the Oregon line, and estate vineyards in the southern foothills.

You don't have to leave town to taste it. Dozens of wineries keep tasting rooms right downtown, tucked into storefronts and historic buildings, many within a few blocks of one another. Most pour without an appointment, several days a week, which makes it one of the most walkable wine experiences in the country — and no designated driver required.

The valley is best known for bold reds — Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and especially Syrah — grown in soils and a climate that draw comparisons to some of the great regions of the world. Many estates pour by appointment or walk-in and reward the short drive with vineyard views.

Two weekends draw the biggest crowds: Spring Release, the first weekend of May, when wineries across the valley debut their newest vintages together, and fall harvest in September and October. Both are festive and both fill local lodging, so plan those dates well ahead.

With our homes as a base, you can mix a downtown-tasting afternoon with a day out among the vines, and still be back for dinner in town.