Last week I wrote about the first day of our return trip to Walla Walla, Washington, after a two-year absence. That day we really put in only a half-day of tasting . . . all quality, of course! On Saturday, though, we started out early and made it to several favorites before ending the day with a nice dinner out. What made the day even better was that we shared it with long-time friends Tim and Teri. They live about an hour’s drive from Walla Walla, and we enjoyed free tastings at a few wineries on their coat tails — they have wine club memberships there.

We started our day at The Walls Vineyards. Its production facility and tasting room(s) have expanded greatly since we first visited there several years ago. What started off as a pretty bare-bones room and a generic tasting bar has evolved into several connected rooms, a private board room and a large outdoor patio with a variety of seating arrangements. We’ve seen a similar transformation at a number of wineries here and in other wine regions, one of the positive outcomes of the social distancing that COVID required. Now, instead of a crowd of people jostling to get their glasses filled at a small tasting bar with a few harried hosts trying to simultaneously impart information and dispense wine, guests can sit comfortably and sip at leisure while the wine is brought to them.

At The Walls we were shown to a table indoors (it was still cool and a bit drizzly) and a selection of wines was poured for us to try at our own pace. Then, thanks to Tim and Teri’s membership, we were invited back to the barrel room to sample the weekend’s new releases and a few special bottles. We took the chance to get a close-up look at the large concrete “eggs” used to store some of the wine, and noted some of the large wooden casks ranged next to some of the tasting tables. Because we were in the barrel room where the temperature must be kept at a stable, cool level, we appreciated that the winery placed cozy blankets at each seat to ensure their guests could enjoy the tasting comfortably  — a really thoughtful touch!

After enjoying several wines and a few nibbles, we moved on to the Mark Ryan Winery tasting room in the heart of downtown Walla Walla. Here again we sampled several wines, starting with a sparkler and moving on to a Rosé, a few whites and some robust reds. We then wisely stopped at Graze: A Place to Eat just around the corner, a great sandwich shop with some unique combinations and wonderful flavors. They also serve salads and soups and feature house-cured meats. It provided us the fortification we needed for an afternoon of more imbibing.

We began the afternoon at Isenhower Cellars, a family-owned and -operated winery we’ve been visiting for nearly 20 years. We’ve watched Denise and Brett’s three girls grow from preschoolers to college students and have collected several of their wines, some of which have featured label art created by each of their daughters. On this day my husband, Harry, brought a 2011 Eliana’s Blend (Cab and Petite Verdot) that had been signed by the artist. We enjoyed sharing it with her parents and were delighted it still showed a deep, vibrant color and smooth, luscious fruit. Of course, we also sampled several of the winery’s new releases, all showing great drinkability now and for years to come.

Next up was Prospice, whose wine club we joined just after it opened in 2017. Cofounders and winemakers Jay Krutulis and Matt Reilly left their first careers (lawyer and architect, respectively) to partner up in this venture, and they really put their hearts and souls into making wonderful wines. No matter how busy they are, they always take the time to stop and catch up with us as we sit and sip.

We finished our tasting day at Corliss Estates in their beautiful facility in a 100-year-old brick building  that originally housed a flour mill. All wines are produced from estate vineyards and age for five years before release,   and across the board they show great balance; deep, nuanced flavors; and longevity. We tasted a new-release 2020 Syrah and two older library wines (2007 Corliss Red Wine and 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon) and enjoyed a barrel sample of the 2023 Syrah. Accompanying these delicious wines was a range of small bites, but we had to remind ourselves to go lightly on these as we anticipated our dinner.

We ended the night at Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen, a fine-dining establishment serving up dishes that span the Mediterranean but showcase great Northwest food. We always get a serving of fried calamari to share, and it would be a shame to pass up the fresh, local, grilled asparagus in the spring. You can make a meal out of their flatbreads or one of their house-made pasta dishes (Harry loves the wild boar Bolognese), but the range of entrées also appeal, from duck and cod to lamb and beef. Their wine list is admirable, but Saffron also boasts an impressive cocktail list for those who want to switch it out after a day of wine tasting.

The next day we drove out of Walla Walla, happy to have had such a great experience after a long absence.

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor