Plan Your Holiday Barrel Weekend

The Walls will be serving up hot minestrone, fresh focaccia, and charcuterie assortment. Photos by @winenotwallawalla

Though Walla Walla might sometimes seem like a quiet little town, our weekend wine events bring a lot of excitement to the Valley. If you’ve never had the chance to be a part of one, what better time than this upcoming weekend? Bundle up and get ready to ring in the holiday season with our local wineries!

Holiday Barrel Tasting weekend happens this year Friday, December 7 through Sunday the 9th, and it's a great opportunity for wine lovers to get a preview of the 2019 releases. Depending on which wineries you choose to visit, you’ll be able to sample wines straight from the barrel that will eventually be bottled and released.

Start your weekend by carb loading with a hearty breakfast at the popular Maple Counter Café and begin your journey into downtown, where you’ll find more than 30 wineries with something for even the most skeptical of wine drinkers.

On Main Street, you’ll find places like Cadaretta, whose 2015 Southwind Syrah will send to you on a journey to wine heaven. Morell-Peña Family Vineyards has a selection of sparkling wines that are not to be missed. Dama Wines will be pouring samples of their classic GSM blend and hosting local artist Mari Gisele on Saturday from 5-7 p.m.

Continue on to find special Holiday Barrel events at places like Kontos Cellars on 2nd Avenue, which will be hosting musical trio Mulholland from 3-6 p.m. on Saturday. A couple doors down is Spring Valley Vineyard and you’ll be able to taste more barrel samples, savor tasty appetizers, and enjoy live music from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday.

Just a short drive outside of downtown, you can warm up at places like The Walls and Foundry Vineyards. At The Walls, they will serve hot minestrone, fresh focaccia, and charcuterie from Passatempo Taverna. From 3-6 p.m. Friday, you can hear live music and check out the current art display at Foundry Vineyards.

Photos by @winenotwallawalla

Looking for something more out in the country? New and popular wineries will also be open this coming weekend all around the city. Head out to Aluvé, an eastside family estate location created by husband and wife team, JJ and Kelly. They’ll be sampling their 2016 Sangiovese and the very poplar, very delicious 2017 Estate Chardonnay. After that, pop by Walla Walla Vintners for a sampling of the 2017 Cabernet Franc, live music on Saturday, and some sweet holiday treats.

End your voyage at one of Walla Walla’s beautiful restaurants, such as Brasserie Four, Passatempo Taverna, or Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen. All of these restaurants have well-curated selections of local wines and spirits, along with beautiful, locally sourced cuisine. And since it is a popular weekend, I recommend making a dinner reservation!

For a full list of wineries and restaurants, explore our Walla Walla Guide.

By Rebecca Ham