It isn’t often that parents get to relax and indulge a little. Our children’s needs come first, which means weekends are often spent at the zoo, date nights are rare, and the idea of a couple’s getaway sounds exotic.
As much as we love our children, we still need to pamper ourselves once in a while. If you live in the greater Seattle area, getting away for a wine tasting weekend is easier than you might expect. I spent a few days exploring Walla Walla, Washington, thanks to Buick, and was pleasantly surprised by the small town and wine country that is just a short distance away.
Getting There
By car, Walla Walla, Washington is just a few hours from Seattle or a quick 45 min flight on Alaska Airlines. It doesn’t matter if you fly into the Walla Walla airport or the Tri-Cities airport, both are relatively small, which translates to hassle free travel. Another perk to flying is that Alaska Airlines has the Taste and Tote program, which lets you check your first case of wine free.
There are more than 120 wineries near Walla Walla. Many of the wineries have tasting rooms along Main Street. But the real fun of Walla Walla is going out to the vineyards and seeing where the grapes are grown. The views are just as spectacular as the wine.
We flew into the Tri-Cities airport, which gave an opportunity to test drive the 2015 Buick Enclave on the way to our first destination. It was a far cry from the Buick that my mom would drive us to school in when I was a kid. The Enclave had comfy leather seats that you could heat and cool (perfect for the changing weather in Walla Walla). The full sized luxury SUV had seating for three rows of adults, with room for our luggage as well. With the dual sun roof, chrome accents, and luxury interior, I felt like a VIP as we cruised through the rolling green hills.
Woodward Canyon
The first stop on our tour was Woodward Canyon, which produces Cabernet Sauvignons, Merlots, and Chardonnays. Woodward Canyon is a smaller winery and only produces about 15,000 cases. The tasting room is inside a restored 1870’s farmhouse and for only $5 you can sample a few of their varietals. I was most impressed with the merlot, which was a pleasant surprise since it is not a type of wine that I drink often.
Adjacent to the tasting room is the Woodward Canyon Reserve House Kitchen, which is open for lunch. They advertise it as a Mediterranean inspired menu, with house made pasta dishes, and fresh, local vegetables. The group I was with had a nice, relaxing lunch there and it was a good opportunity to try some of the wines that weren’t part of the tasting flight in the farm house.
Garrison Creek Cellars
As we headed to the Garrison Creek Cellars, our appointed drivers took over and I got to experience the Buick vehicles as a passenger. I rode in the 2015 Buick Encore, which is a compact SUV that felt luxurious despite its small size. Some of this had to do with the vehicle’s styling, which is part of Buick’s new look. The Encore had a waterfall grille, chrome accents and surrounds, and even a stainless steel exhaust tip which added to the premium look.
The drive up to Garrison Creek Cellars was spectacular because they route you through the vineyards before you reach the tasting room. I even asked our driver to stop at one point just so I could take a photo. Walla Walla is a great place for growing grapes because of the colder temperatures in the morning, followed by the sunlight in the afternoon, which stresses the vine and produces a better quality grape. For the times when the temperatures get too cold, most of the vineyards have small windmills that help move the low hanging fog and improve the temperature for the grapes.
The tasting room at Garrison Creek Cellars as a cathedral feel because of the high ceiling and sunlight streaming in through the windows. The wines are primarily Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, which are produced in fewer than 1000 cases. We had the opportunity to see the wine cellar and to do a little barrel tasting, which helped me understand how the flavor of the wine changes as it ages. One of the highlights was seeing the room where they store bottles from each vintage produced by the winery. They also had a neat dog who seemed to enjoy licking up the drops of wine on the ground. #WineDog
Basel Cellars
At this point in the tour, I was ready for a nap. It felt great to take a break from the 85 degree temperatures by slipping into the backseat of the 2015 Buick Lacrosse. The sedan had all of the amenities you could hope for, including OnStar 4G LTE Wi-Fi, but the air conditioning was my favorite feature at the moment. The onboard Wi-Fi was handy because I was able to stream video on my tablet and read a little about the next winery before we arrived. Considering how much my son plays with his iPad in our car, he would love this feature in the Lacrosse.
As we pulled up to Basel Cellars, I was blown away by the size of the main house. It looked like the ultimate log cabin and my jaw hit the floor when I saw the hand carved double wooden doors. We later took a tour of the grounds and learned about the theatre inside, in addition to the swimming pool in the back. You can rent the 8-bedroom home, which seems like it would be an amazing place to stay if you had a large group.
The Basel Cellars had the most relaxing feel of the wineries that we visited because of its welcoming atmosphere that was anything but pretentious. The outdoor patio gave us an opportunity to enjoy the sun and to play corn hole and their massive Jenga game. As our host, Woody, poured tastings for everyone, it felt like we were hanging out at a friend’s house for a backyard barbecue. If we didn’t have dinner reservations, we easily could have just stayed there for a few hours.
Seeing the vineyards is a unique part of visiting Walla Walla and we had an opportunity to talk with one of the winemakers during our visit. It was neat to see him emerge from the vineyards sunburned and covered in dirt. He then led us on a tour through their cellar and explained how some of the wine making equipment worked. It was apparent that everyone who worked there loved the craft of winemaking.
Whitehouse-Crawford Restaurant
Dinner at the Whitehouse-Crawford Restaurant was a perfect end to the day. The restaurant is inside a building that housed a lumber mill in the 1880s. A few historic elements remain, such as the boiler face that welcomes you into the restaurant. The hostess told me it was originally part of a steam engine that powered the belts throughout the factory.
The restaurant serves a seasonal menu that is sourced from local farmers. It was hard to pick a favorite dish, as everything we tried was excellent. The restaurant had an extensive wine list, which was another opportunity to try wines from various Walla Walla vineyards. If you are visiting Walla Walla for a couple’s getaway, the Whitehouse-Crawford Restaurant is an excellent place for a romantic dinner for two.
Where to Stay
Walla Walla has several Bed and Breakfast locations that would be perfect for a couple’s getaway. You can also stay at one of the hotels or motels located closer to downtown. We stayed at the Marcus Whitman Hotel, which is a historic location in the heart of Walla Walla. The hotel’s lobby was fun for picture taking and the front desk staff were very helpful and friendly.
Heading Home
It was hard to say goodbye to Walla Walla after having so much fun touring the vineyards. Before we headed to the airport, we had breakfast at Bacon & Eggs, a ridiculously good place to eat. Breakfast is my favorite meal and it was very hard to pick just one item. I decided on the Huevos Rancheros, which were excellent. The French Toast looked like it would have been an equally good choice. I’ll have to get that next time around.
On the way to the airport, I drove the Buick Regal, which is a mid-sized sedan. Being a dad, and out of habit, I asked everyone in the car if they were buckled before I put the car into drive. It wasn’t until everyone gave me the thumbs up that I realized what I had said. I guess some habits never go away.
The Regal cruised along the highway like a champ and we used the eight inch touchscreen to pick a Sirius radio station and to set the navigation. The car had a refined feel with the leather seats and ice blue ambient lighting. It certainly didn’t feel like the cars that I knew from my childhood. Buick has made a lot of great changes that changed the way I looked at their vehicles.
For most parents, sipping a glass of wine in the evening is the only respite they get in the day. With Walla Walla just a short drive from Seattle, it is easy to change that. Wouldn’t you rather relax with a glass in hand while looking out on a vineyard? Dining at one of Walla Walla’s restaurants is much better than cooking dinner at home and the peace and quiet would be a nice break anyway. So find a sitter, book your travel, and head out for a little sun and wine. Every parent deserves a little luxury in their lives.
