While Walla Walla’s warmer seasons tend to steal the spotlight, the winter months offer a quiet and less hurried time in wine country. Indeed, there are plenty of winter winery experiences in Walla Walla to be had, from parades you can view, glass in hand, to events and venues with fireplaces, spiced wine, barrel tastings, and more.
One of the defining Walla Walla December events is Holiday Barrel Weekend, held this year December 5–7 at wineries and tasting rooms across town.
The weekend kicks off Friday, December 5 at The Motor Co. with Barrel Full of Money, an annual auction benefitting the social services of the Blue Mountain Action Council (BMAC).
The event, celebrating its 15th year, features a live and silent auction alongside sips from local wineries, heavy appetizers from TMACS, and attendees gathering and giving in the holiday spirit, all for a good cause.
Throughout the weekend, you can visit one of many local wineries, such as Long Shadows, Patterson, and The Walls, that open their cellars to offer samples of wines still in barrel. These tastings are often accompanied by curated food pairings, as well as samples of current releases or library wines, making for an educational comparative tasting. Be sure to call in advance for specific pricing, days, hours, and reservation information, as each venue offers their own unique spin on Holiday Barrel.
Downtown, see what’s happening at one of the newest tasting rooms, or head over to a joint tasting between Lacewing Cellars, Lagana Cellars, Locati Cellars, TruthTeller Winery, and Turtle Wines taking place at Rose St. Winery (1491 Rose St.), featuring each winemaker’s favorite comfort food, barrel tastings, current vintages, and more.
Over on the Westside, as part of the Holiday Barrel Bazaar, participating wineries play host to local artisans for a festive sip-and-shop experience. Stop by L’Ecole No. 41 for cozy knitwear from Old Homestead Alpacas, Smoky Rose Cellars for custom fedoras and western hats from Twila’s Gems, or Woodward Canyon for lavender products from Crockett Road Lavender Farm.
The annual Parade of Lights closes out Saturday on a twinkling note. Taking place downtown from 6 to 7pm, the streets are packed with onlookers and cheerful, illuminated floats created by local organizations (Bike Barn’s enormous bicycle with peace sign wheels is always a highlight).
Make plans to watch well in advance, as downtown tasting rooms are a great (and warm) place to take in the action, but many require a cover or ticket purchased in advance to snag a coveted seat. Dama Wines and Mercer Wine Estates, for example, are each hosting a ticketed chili dinner and watch party. (Other prime locations to check for viewing availability are the Thief Fine Wine & Beer and Gard Vintners.)
Should your visit take place later in December or January, consider a stay at The Finch or the Marcus Whitman, or at north end resort Eritage, for cozy times around a fireplace. Then, as you wander downtown Walla Walla, stop in Henry Earl for a piping hot mug (or to-go growler) of their famous mulled wine, or linger a little in one of Marcy’s Bar & Lounge’s “igloos,” set up on the patio to make the most of the season.
Further afield, find similar warm and fuzzy vibes with winemaker Roger Lemstrom’s homemade mulled wine at Los Rocosos, and, weather permitting, roaring firepits from the southside’s Kinhaven to Tranche in the east.
Finally, while the details are still coming together, Southside Snow Day in January is always a fun way to celebrate the wineries of the Southside, and a great excuse to gear up in hot pink and ‘80s-themed snow suits to keep things colorful and zany in the heart of winter. We’ll keep you posted when we have more details.
Speaking of snow, when you’re ready to swap your wine glass for a set of ski poles or a sled, we have ideas for you, too—see our article about winter recreation in and around Walla Walla here.