Another Labor Day Weekend In Walla Walla

Stops at Three Rivers (second from bottom),Charles  Smith (top)  7 Hills, Waterbrook (second from top), and Bergevin Lane wineries as well as golf and visits to the fair and the Whoopemup Hollow Cafe in Waitsburg  highlighted our trip. We also took Dasher to the Fort Walla Walla leash free dog park (bottom,Dasher is on the right).
A few comments, Three Rivers has the best grounds it also includes a three hole golf course.  It's tasting room is right at the vineyard.  Charles Smith located downtown seems to be the hippest, it's clientele seem young and worldly.  I believe it is one of the newer tasting rooms.  Mark Ryan is another new tasting room, located on Main next to Starbucks.  It has had a tasting room in Woodinville for years.
Seven Hills and Bergevin Lane are old reliables that were around before wineries in Walla Walla were cool.

Observations On Walla Walla Wineries And Tasting Rooms

The Wine craze is still sweeping Walla Walla.  The town seems to be thriving, yet signs of a not so favorable economy have shown in pocket areas of the town, vacant houses with paint peeling are visable way too often.  Overall though, the city has a new vibrancy.  
Downtown has many tasting rooms. There are additional ones on the outskirts of town, usaully on the farms where the grapes are grown.  Here are a few words on some of the places that we visited.

Bergevin-Lane  Hey, Bergevin has been a well known name in Walla Walla for  generations.     One of the first wine places that I have visited in town, now a "must stop" on any Walla Walla trip.  This winery is owned by two women and stick to their theme.  The people are friendly and  pleasant.  The tasting room is closed on Sunday, so we went by on a Sunday and it was open.  Bonus points for that.  Wines are moderately priced and delicious.

Dunham Cellars   Has a tasting room near the airport.  Also, one of Walla Walla's older wineries.  This family also has a history in town.  Dog Maysy is very friendly and interactive with visitors.  Has tasting room with gift shop and a huge banquet room.

Zerba Cellars  Located just South of the Stateline in Oregon.  Nice setting (pictured above) with log cabin, adjacent deck, nice lady, whom I believe is one of the family poured some tasty wine.

Amavi Cellars  On Pepper Bridge Road, the deck of it's new tasting room deck has sweeping view of the Blue Mountains. 

Sleight Of Hand The most creative concept in wines, it got it's name from a Pearl Jam album.  The Wine maker was pouring, we found him very engaging and friendly.  The mound of dirt next to the tasting room made a great playground for my nephews.  As my nephew, Ethan says," who needs a frisbee when you have a pile of dirt."  The tasting room has an extensive record collection and let us pick an album to play while we were visiting.

1. Cayuse  On Main Street in the center of town, it announces it's presence, yet it's never open.