Considering Washington is home to some of the best wine in the world (and we have the awards to prove it!), it’s safe to say we have an abundance of options for a delicious glass of vino. The Walls Vineyards is no exception, serving a remarkable selection of whites and reds at its home base in Walla Walla. And while you should always feel good when sipping wine, you can feel especially good about the wine you buy here — The Walls is deeply committed to sustainability and responsibility, and its story is inspiring.
The Walls Vineyards is located on West Pine Street, just outside of Downtown Walla Walla. The name comes from the city’s most notorious landmark, the Washington State Penitentiary. The company’s first wines were made down the street from the penitentiary, which is called “Walls” or “Concrete Mama” by the locals.
The Walls Vineyards began, as most wineries should, with founder Mike Martin developing a lifelong passion about wine. Martin was a Seattle area-based technology executive before moving to Walla Walla and bringing together an amazing team to produce wines. Here, it’s all about bringing great wine and great people together, which strengthens connection and helps people tear down their walls (get it?).
And, of course, we all want to be able to enjoy wine for many years to come. The team at The Walls Vineyards makes every effort to keep their production sustainable, including investing in a machine that can grind glass into a soft, powdery sand. In fact, they’ve upgraded their entire facility to be sustainable, even investing $200,000 into solar technology to take advantage of Walla Walla’s many sunny days.
The grapes are also locally sourced, which is both sustainable and wise — Eastern Washington has some of the best growing conditions in the world. The wine comes mainly from The Rockgarden Estate Vineyard, The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater, Red Mountain and French Creek. It’s all made with minimal intervention in the cellar, which means the wines will display the unique characteristics of where they’re grown.
While there’s no denying that sustainability is an extremely important issue, it certainly doesn’t hurt if your wine is good, either. And this wine happens to be phenomenal. The Cruel Summer Grenache Rosé, as it turns out, isn’t named after the Taylor Swift song (all due respect to Bananarama) — but it does taste like summertime in a glass. The reds are all divine, especially the Syrahs and the Cabernets.
The Walls Vineyards is not only a beautiful place to taste and tour, but a hidden gem of a lunch spot as well. Enjoy charcuterie plates, salads, quiche and other light bites to help make the most of your tasting. The Walls is open daily between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., but plan ahead — your VIP experience is by appointment only.
For more information, visit www.thewallswines.com.
1015 W. Pine St.
Walla Walla, WA 99362