10 of the Best Wineries in Walla Walla (Photos, Map, & More!)

Walla Walla has over 120 wineries, so I was a bit overwhelmed when we were planning our trip to the Walla Walla Wine Valley! I did a lot of research for our trip, and I chose 10 spectacular wineries in Walla Walla. After visiting each of these wineries, I’m sharing my full review with you! I was able to visit all 10 wineries mentioned in this post in a single weekend. 

About Walla Walla Wineries

Walla Walla Valley covers over 3,000 acres in Washington and Oregon. The city of Walla Walla, specifically, is located in Washington State. We learned that 44 different varietals of grape can grow in Walla Walla, which means that there’s plenty of options for winemakers to create amazing wines!

Walla Walla Valley is Washington’s second American Viticultural Area (AVA). About 95% of the area is planted with red grapes, with the remaining 5% dedicated to white grapes. The region is especially famous for its syrah and cabernet sauvignon production, so be sure to try those types of wine while you’re visiting!

The Walla Walla Valley is comprised of 6 different wine districts: Westside, Downtown, Airport, Eastside, Southside, and Oregon. We recommend visiting several wineries in each district to make the most of your drive time. During our last visit, we primarily visited wineries in the Southside and Downtown.

What I like best about visiting Walla Walla is that each of the wineries has a specific theme or decor. Some of the wineries look like they are straight from Tuscany, others resemble bodegas in Spain, some are upscale and classy, others are rustic, and some are laid-back and fun. You will definitely love exploring the different wineries!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

Looking for a hotel in Walla Walla? Be sure to see our overview of the best hotels in Walla Walla! During our last visit to Walla Walla, we stayed at the Marcus Whitman Hotel and we loved the historic feel and excellent location in downtown. 

“A good wine requires a mad man to grow the vine, a wise man to watch over it, a lucid poet to make it, and a lover to drink it.” – Salvador Dalí

10 of the Best Walla Walla Wineries

These are our favorite wineries in Walla Walla, listed in no particular order. We have been to each of them!

1. L’Ecole No. 41

The first winery we visited was L’Ecole No. 41. If you’re traveling from Seattle, it’s one of the first wineries you will see before you enter the city of Walla Walla.

The winery is set in a building that used to be a schoolhouse. (The schoolhouse was built in 1915!) So, you’ll get to sip on wines while hanging out in a building with over 100 years of history. When you purchase a bottle of wine at L’Ecole No. 41, you’ll also see the iconic schoolhouse depicted in the wine label.

The winery chose the name L’Ecole because it means the school in French. (There were many Canadian French settlers in Walla Walla at the time.) The winery chose Number 41 because the school was located in school district 41.

When we visited L’Ecole No. 41, we entered the old schoolhouse and saw a library full of books, as well as a bookshelf ladder. It was a sunny day, so we opted to have our wine tasting in their outside patio. 

We tried 5 different wines during our tasting. They also brought out a decanter of water and cracker sticks. Our server taught us about the different types of wines, and she even brought out some samples of the soil to show us what makes Walla Walla wines so special. She taught us that the roots grow through fractured basalt, which helps to add additional minerality to the wines. She also showed us a sample of the soil so that we could see the sediment.

I thought that this winery would be perfect for large groups or families with children. There was a large grassy lawn with picnic tables and a couple pieces of playground equipment. You can definitely spread out and enjoy!

5. Castillo de Feliciana

I’ve been to Castillo de Feliciana twice, and both times I’ve absolutely loved it there. I used to live in Spain, and wine-tasting at Castillo de Feliciana makes me feel like I’m back in Spain. The tasting room is located in a beautiful white building surrounded by lavender plants. 

When we arrived, we heard the soft music of flamenco guitar and we sat outside for the wine tasting. The winery had a nice water feature outside which made the experience even more peaceful. The landscaping was beautiful, and they also had some outdoor activities like corn hole to play.

We ordered the wine tasting flight (which was delicious), which included 4 tastings. However, Castillo de Feliciana is especially known for their sangria. You can purchase sangria by the glass or by the growler. Just be sure to check out their website to make sure you are in time for sangria season.

You can read more about our experience at Castillo de Feliciana.

6. Yellowhawk Resort

If you’re looking for sparkling wines, head to Yellowhawk Resort. We ordered a sparking wine flight and got to try 3 types of sparkling wines: a white, a rose, and a red. We also learned that unlike red wines, you don’t want to swirl your glass before tasting. (It releases the bubbles prematurely!) Instead, just pick up your glass, smell the wine, and take a sip.

What we really loved about Yellowhawk Resort was the property itself. The winery sits on top of a hill, so you’ll be able to see the rolling fields around you. They also have a paved path so you can walk through the vineyard.

The main building is also super impressive. Because it’s a resort, you can choose to stay there overnight. The front doors showcased a massive wood carving, and the main room had a large fireplace. If you stay at the resort, you also don’t have to worry about transportation after drinking. (Always a plus!)

7. Va Piano Vineyards

This winery was named after the following Italian saying: chi va piano, va sano e ve lontano. (When you go slowly, you go safely and you go far.) The name Va Piano couldn’t be more fitting. As soon as we stepped onto the property, we felt completely relaxed. The winery is very small and intimate, and it reminded us of a Tuscan villa. The outdoor seating was also very private. It truly really felt like we were at a small winery in Italy. To this day, whenever we feel frazzled, we’ll tell each other, “I wish we were at Va Piano right now!”

You’ll need to make reservations in advance to enter this winery. The road to the winery has a locked gate, so you’ll need the gate code to enter the property. Because of that, it tends to be less crowded than some of the other wineries.

I’ve been to Va Piano twice, and both times I really enjoyed sitting in their outdoor space. They recently renovated their patio, and there’s a pretty fountain, swinging chairs, and several Adirondack-style chairs to choose from.

Their tasting flight included 6 different wines. They were all so delicious! We bought two bottles of the sauvignon blanc to take home because it was our favorite.

8. Valdemar Estates

As I mentioned previously, I love all things Spain. When I was living in Spain, my host-father taught me all about Rioja wines. He sent me home with a bottle to give to my parents, and I’ve been in love with Riojas ever since. 

The winery had its beginnings in Spain. After one of the owner’s children studied in Washington, they were convinced to build a second winery in Washington State. Thus, Valdemar Estates offers wines from the Walla Walla region as well as Spain.

The winery has a cool industrial vibe, with a large outdoor seating area and water feature.

We ordered a tasting flight of the Spanish wines (I couldn’t resist!) and paired them with authentic Spanish tapas. Basically, I was in heaven.

9. Long Shadows

Looking for some of Washington State’s best wines? Head to Long Shadows winery. The winery was created by 9 acclaimed winemakers. Basically, the best-of-the-best came together and decided to dedicate themselves to making the perfect wines.

The winery has both indoor and outdoor seating. The inside seating area is both elegant and sophisticated, featuring world-famous Chihuly blown glass. The outdoor seating area has beautiful views of rolling fields.

We visited Long Shadows on our last day in Walla Walla. (Perhaps we saved the best for last?) We ordered a white tasting flight which was absolute perfection. Although we don’t consider ourselves wine experts by any means, we gave some of our top ratings to the wines at Long Shadows.

Our server also gave us a demonstration by pouring the same white wine in two different types of tasting glasses. We actually tasted a difference! (We recommend you ask about this when you visit – it was really cool!)

You can read all about our experience at Long Shadows Vintners. (We also include more photos!)

10. Waterbrook Winery

The last winery we visited was Waterbrook Winery. The winery is located about 11 miles west of downtown Walla Walla. 

What we liked most about Waterbrook Winery was its large outdoor seating area. We sat across from a beautiful pond, and there was also a big fireplace, corn hole, and bocce ball.

We ordered a glass of white wine and enjoyed a nice lunch outside. 

Waterbrook Winery has over 80 wines that have received wine scores of 90 or above. They know what they’re doing!

Wine Tours

One way to visit the wineries in Walla Walla is to book a wine tour. When you book a tour, you’ll be able to visit multiple wineries in the same day without having to worry about being sober to drive. Also, everyone in your party will be able to drink as well. When you split the cost among a group of friends or family, it’s also fairly affordable. If you book this wine tour, you’ll be able to customize your tour. (You can choose the wineries!)

See our article on 25 Things to Do in Walla Walla! (We’ll share lots of activities besides wine tasting!)

Wine-Tasting Itinerary

We visited all the wineries in this article in one long weekend. To minimize driving time, it helped us to cluster the wineries together by location. Before your visit, be sure to check out current hours of operation. They can change by season, so you may need to adjust!

Here’s the itinerary we completed:

Friday:

3pm: L’Ecole No.41 

5pm: Barons Winery

Saturday:

11am: Slight of Hand Cellars

11:30am: Castillo de Feliciana

1pm: Yellowhawk Resort (tasting and lunch)

3pm: Va Piano

5pm: Valdemar Estates (tasting and dinner)

7:30pm: Plumb Cellars

Sunday:

11:30am: Long Shadows

1:30pm: Waterbrook Winery

Map 

Here is a map of the wineries we visited during our last trip to Walla Walla:

There are lots of Walla Walla Wineries! There are often new wineries that open up, so be sure to check out the official Visit Walla Walla website for current updates.

Where to Eat

After all that wine tasting, we were ready for a meal! Here’s some of our favorite restaurants in Walla Walla.

The Marc Restaurant

For our first night in Walla Walla, we made reservations at the Marc Restaurant. We were staying at the Marcus Whitman Hotel, so it was very convenient to eat at their flagship restaurant. I had the shaved prime rib sliders, which were delicious. I also really enjoyed their beer cheese soup, and their garlic rolls were so good!

Yellowhawk Resort

During our first full day of wine tasting, we stopped at Yellowhawk Resort for lunch. We enjoyed prosciutto-wrapped dates and their ranch burger. They also have several tasting boards to choose from.

Valdemar Estates

For dinner, we visited Valdemar Estates. Their menu consisted of tapas and rations. We ordered several rounds of tapas and enjoyed them with a wine tasting flight. I especially enjoyed the tortilla de patatas.

Bright’s Candies

The place to go for ice cream in Walla Walla is Bright’s Candies. We saw lots of people entering this candy store, so we knew they had to serve some good treats! The ice cream hit the spot after a long day of wine tasting and being in the sun.

Maple Counter Cafe

Although we had complimentary breakfast included in our stay at the Marcus Whitman Hotel, we heard such good things about the Maple Counter Cafe that we had to have breakfast there on our last day. One of the house specials is the Apple Pancake, and it did not disappoint! It was massive and had such a delicious topping. It reminded me a lot of a soufflé, because it was at least several inches tall and had an egg taste to the main batter.

Waterbrook Winery

Before leaving Walla Walla, we had lunch at Waterbrook Winery. After a weekend full of wine tasting, I was looking to eat something healthy. I ordered their seasonal salad and it was really tasty. My husband ordered the smoked chicken sandwich and really liked that dish.

Tips for Wine Tasting in Walla Walla

• If you buy a bottle of wine from a winery in Walla Walla, ask if it can be dropped off at your hotel. That way, you don’t have to carry it around all day. (Or risk it over-heating in a car!) Many of the wineries will drop-off orders at the local hotels at the end of the day.
• Wear comfortable shoes. We did a ton of walking outside. Some of the wineries have gravel or grass, so heels aren’t a great choice.
• Many of the wineries in Walla Walla offer to waive the tasting fee if you buy a bottle or spend a certain amount of money. 
• Take notes as you wine taste so that you can keep track of your favorites!
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions. The servers at each of the wineries we visited were so generous in sharing their knowledge.
• Don’t forget to eat! Pack snacks and make sure to schedule in your meals.
• On that note, don’t forget to stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water.
• If you’re bringing your own car, it can be helpful to have a cooler to store snacks, water, and bottles of purchased wine. (If you visit during the summer, it can get very hot in Walla Walla.)

Summary

We spent a romantic weekend in Walla Walla and enjoyed exploring many of the wineries. Even though we visited 10 or so wineries, we barely scratched the surface of what Walla Walla has to offer. We can’t wait to go back to Walla Walla to re-visit some of our favorite wineries listed here, as well as to visit some new ones. We hope this guide helps you plan your own trip!

Disclaimer: We always strive for content accuracy. Since the time of publishing, travel-related information regarding pricing, schedules, and hours may have changed. Please look up such information directly from each vendor or institution for the most current information.