Recent and planned openings include lodging, dining, wineries, and more
(WALLA WALLA, Wash.) — On the heels of another busy summer season and grape harvest, Walla Walla is already looking ahead to 2018. A slew of recent and planned lodging, dining, and winery openings are poised to further elevate the unofficial capital of Washington wine country.
Here are some of Walla Walla’s newest and most notable restaurants, wineries, hotels, and more:
Eritage Resort: Long a dream of Justin Wylie, the founder and winemaker for Va Piano Vineyards, Eritage is nearing reality. Poised to open in early 2018, Eritage is nestled on 300 acres surrounded by vineyards, and will include 10 luxury suites and a restaurant directed by Jason Wilson, a well-known Seattle-based chef and James Beard Award winner.
Bledsoe Family Winery: Owned by Walla Walla native and former NFL star Drew Bledsoe and his family, Bledsoe Family Winery was recently founded as a sister project to their existing Doubleback label. Bledsoe Family Winery was created to push boundaries and to add new wine varietals to its portfolio, and their gorgeous downtown tasting room is a new can’t-miss stop.
The Saint & The Sinner: The newest project of Jake and Tabitha Crenshaw, the owners of local favorite Olive Marketplace & Café, are set to bring a whole new concept to downtown Walla Walla. The Saint & The Sinner officially opened Nov. 18 as a hip, modern Latin American cantina unlike anything that precedes it in Walla Walla.
Barons Winery: Founded in Woodinville, Wash., Barons opened a state-of-the-art winery and barrel aging facility earlier this year in the heart of Walla Walla. Barons wines are crafted to be ready to drink upon release, or to sit in the cellar to age.
La Quinta Inn & Suites: Greeting travelers entering the western gateway of Walla Walla, just off off U.S. Highway 12, La Quinta has opened a brand-new, 77-room hotel. The new La Quinta features a lounge and wine bar, as well as an indoor pool, and offers an affordable option for those who want to experience all that Walla Walla has to offer.
Armstrong Family Winery: Armstrong Family Winery’s Tim and Jen Armstrong have decided to put down permanent roots in Walla Walla. Founded in 2011 in Woodinville, Wash., Armstrong Family Winery will embark on a new era with a downtown Walla Walla tasting room, a 22-acre farm that features a vineyard with two blocks of 17-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon vines, and a new production facility.
Walla Walla Indian Cuisine: Local brothers-in-law Gurjeet Sandhu and Gurpreet Gill bring traditional Indian cuisine to downtown Walla Walla. The new restaurant offers authentic Indian food from a kitchen led by a Mumbai-trained chef who moved from New Orleans to Walla Walla, adding a new flavor to Walla Walla’s culinary landscape.
“It’s no surprise that the same imagination and inventiveness that helped shape Walla Walla into a world-class wine region continue to find ways to bring new experiences to town,” said Ron Williams, executive director of Visit Walla Walla. “This passion to create only adds to the character and quality of Walla Walla, giving frequent visitors something new to discover and giving first time visitors more options for a memorable trip to Walla Walla.”
For more information on planning a trip to Walla Walla, go to visitwallawalla.com.
About Walla Walla:
As the unofficial capital of Washington wine country, Walla Walla is home to more than 120 wineries, a nationally recognized culinary scene, access to an abundance of outdoor recreation, and an arts & entertainment scene that rivals cities many times its size. This community of just over 30,000 residents is known for many things, including its friendliness and hospitality, the quality of its wine, and of course the famous Walla Walla Sweet Onion. An easy and scenic four-hour drive from Seattle, Portland, or Boise, Walla Walla can also be accessed via Alaska Airlines daily non-stop flights from Seattle. For more information and to begin planning a trip to Walla Walla, go to www.visitwallawalla.com.
