[FAQ] 3g. Washington?

This is a good summary, Mark. I have added a few notes, below.

Great list. I might add Colvin Vineyards and Walla Walla Vintners, but you have to draw the line somewhere, I hear there are about 90 wineries now! Nearly all of them excellent.

That's Creek Town Café.

Also, Whitehouse Crawford The Marc, at Marcus Whitman. Haven't dined here in quite a while, but I'm told they have become quite good.

Marcus Whitman Hotel, a great, restored, turn of (20th) century hotel Various reasonably-priced chain hotels Various B&Bs

Good job, Mark. I was going to recommend the Marcus Whitman hotel and the Whitehouse-Crawford restaurant but AyTee beat me to it. I was delayed in my reply to your posting by the birth to my daughter earlier today of her first child, a son, and my third grandchild.

Some comments on your description of Walla Walla. Walla Walla is the name of both a city and an AVA (actually a sub-AVA to the Columbia Valley AVA). The AVA extends a little ways down into Oregon. I don't know that I would describe it as the "best-known wine region in Washington". It is, however, the place that I would recommend without hesitation to anyone who could only visit one place in Washington. This would be due to the quality and quantity of the wineries there as well as their proximity to each other. Fine dining opportunities, while not abundant, are certainly adequate, and beyond what one would expect in a place its size.

The comparison to Oregon's Willamette Valley, while technically accurate, seems not particularly relevant or useful. A comparison to other areas in the Columbia Valley would be more useful, but now might not be the time for it and I know you have other things to do.

The list of wineries is a good one. (I think I recognize some of my own recommendations on it.) I still have some concerns expressed in an earlier thread, but I'm not going to plow that ground again. One that may be worthwhile mentioning is Leonetti Cellar, but I don't know that it is useful to list a winery that is not open for tasting (except for special occasions) and whose wines are almost impossible for ordinary people to find, regardless of how good they are (or at least perceived to be. Cayuse comes close to falling in the same class. They have a tasting room in downtown Walla Walla but it has never been open when I've been there.

Just some thoughts. Keep up the good work.

Vino

Certainly agree with that. [...]

Also agree about Leonetti and Cayuse, except it is possible to find their wines in some of the shops in town...sometimes.

Andy

Andy and Vino, Thanks very much for your input (especially since I know your views on this whole enterprise, Vino). I too thought long and hard about Leonetti, but decided in the end to forego any mention of it because of the lack of visitation opportunities. I hadn't realized that Cayuse was that restrictive, either. Do you think that it's worth putting in?

Mark Lipton

I think it is fine to omit Leonetti, for the reason you mentioned. The only reason to include them would be as a sort of nod to their pioneer status. But of course, for the purpose of this FAQ, that may not be a concern. BTW, I don't think Cayuse is restrictive in the same way Leonetti is. They simply sell out before their wines are released, and so don't need to maintain a constant public presence -- an enviable position from a business point of view.

Andy

My sense is that Andy is right about Cayuse. They do have a tasting room in downtown Walla Walla and the times I have been there and it has been closed, there is a sign in the window saying, in effect, that they have nothing to sell. Leonetti's wines are more difficult to obtain but I have found them from time to time in some unlikely places including once, believe it or not, at my local Trader Joe's. They would appear on just about anyone's short list of the best wineries in the state. But, as you say, they lack visitation opportunities. Your call, Mark.

On another topic, Andy covered the lodging situation in Walla Walla pretty well. One thing I would like to add is that reservations are always in order, regardless of the day of the week or time of the year. I found that out the hard way once.

Vino