The history of wine in the Walla Walla Valley dates back to early vineyards planted by Italian immigrants in the late 1850s but it wasn’t until the 1970s that new vineyards were planted, and in 1977 the first new winery opened. More vineyards continued to be planted, until the Walla Walla Valley was federally designated a separate American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 1984. Although actually located within the greater Columbia Valley AVA, the Walla Walla Valley has a more temperate climate.
The AVA extends into Oregon, with the main towns being Walla Walla in Washington and Milton – Freewater in Oregon. Most wineries are on the Washington side, but there are many acres planted in grapes on both sides of the state line. This is a burgeoning wine area with new vineyards and wineries popping up continually. Today, there are approximately 80 wineries in the Walla Walla Valley AVA.
So what’s so special about this area? According to geologists, the landscape is prime for farms and vineyards. And the big reds seem to do exceptionally well. The most heavily planted grapes continue to be Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah. Other red varietals that the area is known for are Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese. The whites are well represented too. The primary white varietals are Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Riesling, Semillon, and Viognier. At least 27 varieties of grapes are grown in the valley.
The Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance (509-526-3117; wallawallawine.com) is a winery/grower partnership. For a listing of wineries and vineyards, wines, a driving map, and more, check the Alliance Web site. It makes easy work of planning a trip to Walla Walla’s wine country.
The southeast corner of Washington wine country is Pullman, home of Merry Cellars. Located in the old post office, Merry Cellars conducted its first crush in 2004 and opened its tasting room in 2005. Grapes are brought in from vineyards in the Yakima and Walla Walla regions and vinted into a changing lineup that presently includes four whites and six reds. The signature wine is a Bordeaux-style blend called Twilight Hills Red. Merry Cellars is a family operation, with winemaker Patrick Merry joined from time to time by members of his family from Montana.
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