Earlier this month we enjoyed the chance to try a whole slew of wines from one of our favorite wine regions . . . without having to travel all the way there to do so. Those who have been reading my blog over the past several years know that my husband and I make a trip or two to Walla Walla, Washington, every year to enjoy the wonderful wines (especially reds) produced there. Sunset magazine named Walla Walla the best wine town of 2018, and we wholeheartedly agree.

One drawback is that a visit there requires a 1,000-mile roundtrip drive from our home. Secondly, there are well over 100 wineries in and around Walla Walla, spread out over a fairly large geographic area. One can only visit a limited number of wineries on a given day or over the course of a long weekend. Fortunately for us, the wineries in the Walla Walla Wine Alliance take their show on the road during the quieter winter months. They visit two of their largest regional markets (Seattle and Portland), in essence bringing the wineries to where their customers live.

Originally scheduled for February but cancelled and rescheduled due to a forecasted snowstorm (which never really materialized), the Portland Walla Walla Wine Experience was held in the Leftbank Annex, on the east side of the Willamette River near the Oregon Convention Center. The large, open, industrial-modern space features tall ceilings and large windows that admit plenty of light and views toward the river. Here, ranged around the room, were tables where more than 45 wineries poured more than 150 wines.   For the cost of $50 per person, patrons could sample generous pours of these wines, some from wineries that may not have regular tasting room hours and not limited just to the most recent releases. Light hors d’oeuvres were also offered at a few stations on the mezzanine level overlooking the main room.

Over the course of two and a half hours and using the wine program to plot out our tasting strategy, we did our best to try as many wines as possible, focusing on wineries new to us as well as ones with good reputations and high-scoring wines. We appreciated the chance to survey a good number of wines all in one place and make plans to visit some “new” (to us) wineries on our next trip to Walla Walla.

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor