Continuing the story from Part I…

Stop 5 (Saturday night): Bledsoe Family Winery

            Much like Doubleback, Bledsoe Family Winery is a must visit for any New Englander or fan of good wine. BFW has a much larger family influence on their wines, with several named after family members or family-owned farms/vineyards. The tasting room is right on Main St. in downtown Walla Walla, making it accessible and incredibly convenient when staying downtown as we like to do. The staff there is also beyond compare, as they have literally made me cry with their kindness on both visits. The first time, I showed up in my Bledsoe jersey (as one does), and I talked to them about my love for wine, for the New England Patriots, and everything in between. They told us stories about the winery, Drew and Maura’s vision and the history of the family and labels inspired by it. At the end of the visit, as we were purchasing wine and signing up for the Wine club, they surprised me with a SIGNED bottle of the Bledsoe Family “table wine”, which is as good a red blend as you’ll get out of Bordeaux or Rhone. This simple act brought me and my wife to tears (alcohol may have helped), but it was such a touching gesture and that bottle is displayed proudly in my wine cabinet to this day.

            Our latest visit was just as memorable, as we now had my brother and sister-in-law with us, and they were able to experience the same amazing wine and hospitality that we did. The staff even remembered me on this visit and treated all of us like old friends. Yet again, I left a bit emotional as they once again blew my doors off and presented me with a signed photo of the tasting room, as well as one of Drew’s old Patriots football cards. Something small and yet so meaningful to a fan, I am still in awe of their generosity and kindness. As far as the wines go, the whites really impressed us, and for former ABC drinkers (anything but chardonnay), we were quickly converted as the “Elizabeth Chardonnay” and “Joi White” are two of the crispest and refreshing expressions of Chardonnay I’ve ever had. Washington State does Chardonnay right, and in a very contrasting way to California’s Butter and Oak tastes. For a perfect summer sipper, grab a white wine from BFW, or check out their “Healy Rosé” to really make it a party!

Stop 6 (Sunday morning): Waterbrook

            While the commute back to Seattle is never fun, we always try to sneak in a tasting or two before the commute. Luckily, we had a few that were “on the way” out of town. Waterbrook, located on the west end of town, is located right off Rt. 12 and makes for an easy stop when heading back west. With a property that is as stunning as it is functional, Waterbrook is a great spot with multiple areas both inside and out that give any couple an intimate setting of their own, or larger areas for fun group activities. What really drew us here more than the wine is their kitchen. Waterbrook has an amazing eatery as well and the brunch options are incredible. No better way to start a Sunday than a delicious brunch overlooking a beautiful lake, with barking frogs and fountains as a backdrop. After finishing our meals and mimosas, we move on to the tasting flights, of which they have 3 available. I chose the “White Flight” as it was a hot summer day and whites usually work out better for me when in the sun. My wife got the “Red Flight” and my brother, the “Icon Flight” which is comprised of a few of their signature labels. Unfortunately, none of the wines we tried were particularly noteworthy. Waterbrook makes a little bit of everything when it comes to varietals, so perhaps they serve the mass market better than more particular wine drinkers, but overall, it was a great experience, and I cannot emphasize the food options enough! If not for the wine, stop by for the food, the view, and the ambiance!

Stop 7: L’Ecole #41

            Not more than 2 minutes farther down Rt. 12 heading west, is one of the founding wineries in Walla Walla and in Washington State, L’Ecole #41. Situated inside an old schoolhouse (L’Ecole is French for school), this charming tasting room is incredibly fun and picturesque right from the front gate. The main room is half library, half old-timey cocktail bar, where books and bottles mix beautifully on the shelves. We checked in for our tasting and were brought into the next room, opting for the inside due to the heat, and sat at a cute table in what looked to be an old classroom. The tasting offered 5 glasses, ranging from their Chenin Blanc to their estate cabs, and all were delicious. We were also surprised to see how approachable the price points were considering the extremely high quality of the wines. Our host Ryan was knowledgeable and very funny, making our time enjoyable and insightful. We look forward to their new tasting room opening in Woodinville and walked away with a few bottles for the collection. Lastly, while drinking their estate Cabernets, my brother did comment that he found them to be so good, that they could go up against a Doubleback Cabernet, which is saying a lot. Needless to say, we will be having a blind tasting of both in August when he comes to visit!