“We don’t come from a long line of winemakers, but when this place found us, we decided the line has to start somewhere! From dreams to reality, Walla Walla is a place where you can follow your passions.”
BY CAMERON & KASEY DAVENPORT
Follow this itinerary to explore how local entrepreneurs have made their dreams come to full fruition (pun intended) in the Walla Walla Valley!
9:00 AM: Grab a coffee and a pastry at Carte Coffee. Carte has been spreading caffeinated joy throughout the Walla Walla Valley since it first hit the streets as a mobile coffee truck in 2020, hence the name. Now, with its brick-and-mortar spot in downtown Walla Walla, this local legend has transformed into the ultimate hangout for coffee connoisseurs.
10:00 AM: Take a short walk to Foodscape. A must for any foodie, it’s a culinary speakeasy! Owner Hannah MacDonald meticulously selects the freshest locally farmed produce, seafood, cheese, charcuterie and specialty groceries. Then pop down Colville St. to Alder St. and visit The Walla Walla General Store. Founded in 2021, the General Store is a place to find purpose-driven items for the kitchen, home and life, they offer both affordable and aspirational things to enjoy.
11:00 AM: Time to head down to the Southside Wine District for a tasting. Your first stop is Brook and Bull Cellars. Founded in 2016, owner and winemaker, Ashley Trout focuses on producing fine varietals and untraditional blends with a low oak profile. She purposely highlights vintage variation and showcases Washington State terroir. Reservations are recommended.
12:00 PM: We love our Southside neighborhood, so it’s time to hit Patterson Cellars. Founder John Patterson offers approachable, new-world wines. Drawn to the science behind the art of winemaking, he considers the craft to be “a unique puzzle as you approach harvest to produce wines that are consistent from year to year.” Reservations are not required.
1:00 PM: Next, stop by and see us at KINHAVEN Winery. Our wine is meant to reflect and represent this place – small lot wines with big heart, crafted to be enjoyed with those you love, creating moments and lasting memories of time well shared. Reservations are recommended.
2:00 PM: Enjoy a late lunch at a Walla Walla staple. Founded by Tom Maccarone, TMACS is a must when you are in town. It is a small, elegantly casual, full-service restaurant providing a new American culinary experience. Make sure to stop into the Showroom on Colville next door and visit Marguerite, an expertly curated shop for cooking, home décor and community.
3:00 PM: Now head over to Foundry Vineyards where the tasting room and grounds double as an art gallery and each hand-crafted wine is overseen from the vine to the bottle. Their wines are created with a combination of estate-grown fruit from the Walla Walla Valley and thoughtfully sourced small-lot production sites throughout the Northwest. Don’t miss out on their ever-rotating Pét Project wines, organic, natural wines crafted in the ancestral method. Reservations are recommended.
4:00 PM: For the last tasting of the day, venture north to The Walls Vineyard. The mission here is to make stellar wines with distinctive profiles, and they do so with their minds on sustainability. Being responsible members of our community makes the wines taste that much better and their tasting room is artfully arranged with contemporary art & furnishings. Reservations are recommended.
7:00 PM: Dinner and Cocktails at Passatempo Taverna. Specializing in pasta made by hand, they bring some of the most beautiful and rustic Italian cuisine, as well as historical cocktails, to the Walla Walla Valley. An amazing way to cap off the day. Reservations are recommended.
If you are traveling with a group when coming to Walla Walla, consider renting the Boyer House. One of Walla Walla’s most celebrated homes, this 1909 neo-classical gem has been lovingly and meticulously restored to its original glory outside, and inside, updated throughout with a stylish mix of artistic elegance and worldly comforts.
