Walla Walla, Washington Hits the Wine Map
It used to be “the town so nice they named it twice.” Then it became famous for its onions, “.” Now , a bucolic college town in the south-eastern corner of Washington State, is making it in the wine world — in a big way.
Washington State is the second-biggest wine producer in the USA, after California, and is garnering a reputation for quality “boutique” wines. “People are coming from all over the world to Walla Walla,” says Anne Hall, office and tasting room manager for , in
In fact, some of the area’s winemakers are coming to “W²” from France, such as Gilles Nicault of Long Shadows and his wife Marie-Eve Gilla of . They both came to Washington to take advantage of a longer harvest and more freedom in the wine-making process.
Whether made by American or French winemakers, Walla Walla wines enjoy an upscale image, and many sell out well in advance of their production date. The area offers some fascinating wineries to visit: don’t miss the now famous in an old schoolhouse.
As a result of its successful wine industry, “the town so nice they named it twice” is getting even nicer, with chic restaurants such as and scattered about its historic downtown.
So forget the onions – actually don’t, because they’re scrumptious – but have a glass of fine Washington wine first.
