When we first arrived in Walla Walla, Washington my breath was instantly taken away. The landscape looked like a watercolor painting. No one seemed to mind the cloud coverage because even the clouds were picture perfect. Walla Walla happens to have become quite well known for their wine. When asked if I wanted to visit three different vineyards there… well, I am sure you guys know that I didn’t hesitate to accept that invitation. We visited Doubleback, Browne Family, and Waterbrook. Each one was unique, but my favorite out of all was Doubleback.
Doubleback is owned by former NFL quarterback Drew Bledsoe. Drew and his wife, Maura Bledsoe, decided to open up the winery as part of Drew’s retirement plan. They are committed to only using the best viticulture and winemaking practices to ensure the best quality. It’s incredible the time they have spent on the flavor of the wine and packaging. The special table wine, the Bledsoe Family wine, is made from their 2007 grapes and recently new to the market. How they bottle this wine is truly one of its kind. The bottle is a uniquely shaped liter bottle which has to be sent to a special printing company out of California. Finally, it’s topped with a ceramic cork. Now the best part about this bottle is that it’s a tad bigger, so there’s one extra glass of wine for you – now that’s my kind of bottle!
After touring the grounds and taking in the beautiful scenery, it was time to sample the liquid gold that this winery produces. We drank the wines straight from the barrel (something I’ve never done before), all the while being educated on the lengthy process that goes into making wine. The three we sampled were the Bledsoe Family, Doubleback and the Rosé which was my personal favorite. While sipping and learning, we also snacked cheese, grapes, deli sliders, mozzarella and cherry tomatoes – is your mouth watering yet?
Walla Walla, Washington is really making a name for itself in the wine world. The grapes which are grown from the valley’s earthy and moist soil give their wine a rare and extraordinary flavor. From the breathtaking views, flowing wine and goodies to learning about the process of winemaking, all with good company by my side, I’d say this experience was one for the books and one to also check off my bucket list.
