Blood of Gods 2026 Annual Merrymaking
July 17 @ 12:00 pm – July 18 @ 6:00 pm PDT
Blood of Gods, a biannual zine dedicated to the intersection of heavy metal, winemaking, and art, announces the lineup of wineries, artists, and speakers at the fifth annual Merrymaking on July 17 and 18 in Walla Walla, Washington.
Merrymaking is a two-day festival celebrating heavy metal, bold wine, and provocative art. Founded by Blood of Gods, this weekend celebration brings together winemakers, artists, musicians, and guests for an open, welcoming event for all.
On Saturday, July 18, the main event takes place at Marcus Whitman Hotel. The day begins with the No Holds Barred panel discussion from 12 pm to 2 pm. This year’s panel includes wine luminaries Tyler Balliet (wine communicator, educator and author), Elaine Arnaqiaq Chukan Brown (wine writer and author, speaker, and global wine educator), André Hueston Mack (sommelier, winemaker, designer, and YouTube wine educator), and Tegan Passalacqua (winemaker for Turley Wine Cellars and Sandlands).
The Merrymaking Main Event is from 3 pm to 6 pm, featuring 40 wineries and breweries pouring alongside handpicked artists and vendors. Participating wineries span local Walla Walla estates as well as wineries from the Pacific Northwest, including Beaux Frères, Cayuse Vineyards, Gran Moraine, Lingua Franca, Sleight of Hand, Sandlands, Tablas Creek Vineyard, and WeatherEye Vineyards, and one New York winery, Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard & Winery. Some wineries will be pouring library vintages you cannot taste anywhere else. Featured artists have contributed work to Blood of Gods in past issues, and include Heather Mahler, Alex Eckman-Lawn, and Helen Mask. Vendors include Oakthorn Studios, Woodblock Chocolate, Rebel School of Wine, Gods Below, and Feral House Publishing. A full list of participating producers and artists can be found below.
The evening caps off with a three-hour heavy metal concert at House of Smith, opening with Brutal Babes Burlesque, Warp Chamber, and Seattle’s post-metalcore band Heiress, the official Blood of Gods house band. The surprise headliner will be announced on April 9. K Vintners/
Merrymaking tickets are available now ($40), with early bird pricing available until April 9 ($34). This ticket provides access to the kickoff party, the No Holds Barred speaking panel, the Merrymaking Main Event, and the afterparty concert. To taste wine at the Merrymaking Main Event, a wine wristband is available for $40, with all proceeds from the tasting wristbands donated to Planned Parenthood. In 2024, Merrymaking raised $15,000 for Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington and Northern Idaho.
Participating wineries and breweries:
Aitia Wine
Alexana/Revana
AniChe Cellars
Beaux Frères
Bergström/Gargantua
Brujos Brewing
Burial Beer Co./Drink Visuals
Cairdeas Winery
Cayuse Vineyards
Devium
Domesday Wine
Echolands
Estelbrook Farms & Vineyard
Fidélitas Wines
Florence Cellars
Force Majeure
Gjallerhorn Winesmiths
Gran Moraine
Hedges Family Estate
Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard & Winery
Holy Mountain Brewing
Imagemaker Wines
Itä Wines
Jett Wines
K Vintners
Lingua Franca
Loop de Loop Wines
Nicolas-Jay
Piolet Wines
Rune Wines
Sandlands/Turley Wine Cellars
Secus Wine
Seven Hills Winery
Sleight Of Hand Cellars
Split Rail Winery
Spring Valley Vineyards
Syncline
Tablas Creek Vineyard
Tenor Wines
WeatherEye Vineyards
Winery Sixteen 600
Participating artists:
Jacob Belway
Gods Below
Cryomera
Alex Eckman-Lawn
Nicholas Hartman
Al From Hell
Heather Mahler
Helen Mask
Mark Richards
Corey Urlacher
