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Southside District Wineries - Amavi

Walla Walla Wine 101: Southside District Wineries

Did you know that Walla Walla has six wine districts? 

The Walla Walla Wine 101 series will spotlight each of these unique tasting regions within the Valley.

Up first, the Southside district wineries! 

Walla Walla Southside District: Amavi Cellars

For magnificent views and equally magnificent wines, you’ll want to visit Amavi Cellars. Their patio is the perfect setting for sipping on delicious Sémillon or members-only Ceres red blend while enjoying the beautiful Blue Mountains. If the weather doesn’t accommodate patio enjoyment, never fear! You can still use the telescope in the tasting room to peer beyond the valley to the mountains beyond.  There are several neatly arranged areas to taste and visit privately in the Amavi Cellars tasting room, and their hospitality team strikes the perfect balance of attentive and knowledgeable without being at the table every 5 minutes. Amavi Cellars is a great entry point to the Southside, with approachable wines to suit a variety of palates.

Here’s a hot locals tip: This is the best spot to bring your musically-inclined friends. There’s a guitar hanging on the tasting room wall, and guests are invited to play. 

Wine & Dine on the Southside

The gorgeous patio at Valdemar Estates

In the Southside district, you can easily avoid the dangerous trap of power tasting (even though there are many amazing wineries in close proximity to each other). A visit to Valdemar Estates offers a unique tasting experience of wines from Walla Walla as well as Bodegas Valdemar in Spain, paired with traditional Spanish tapas if one desires.

You can also jaunt across the border into Milton-Freewater for Bomb Tacos. Their name is not false advertising:  These tacos are the bomb!  Bring cash and drop $10 for a taco platter complete with rice, beans, and three tacos of your choosing. 

Castillo de Feliciana

Southside District Wineries - Castillo de Feliciana
It’s Wine Time at Castillo de Feliciana!

Then pack that picnic taco platter over to Castillo de Feliciana to pair the Bomb Tacos with their expressive and delightful wines. Yes, bring your picnic. Many Southside District wineries are more than accommodating to you packing along a light meal. The lovely lawn at Castillo de Feliciana is perfect for dining al fresco, and when it’s a little dreary outside there are plenty of tables inside for you to relax and enjoy your meal alongside your tasting.

The stand-out pairing? Castillo de Feliciana’s Garnacha with the spicy salsa roja on the Bomb veggie tacos.

Walla Walla Southside District: Va Piano Vineyards

Another can’t-miss stop on the Southside is Va Piano Vineyards, known for their exceptional wines, beautiful Tuscany-themed tasting room, and signature laid-back hospitality. We highly recommend the Black Label Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah. A gorgeous lawn with plenty of space for picnic tables and comfortable lawn furniture accommodate guests during warmer weather visits, when the tasting room is really bustling. Va Piano is an especially great spot if you’re visiting with younger (read: not of legal drinking age) travelers. There are very friendly winery dogs on site most days to frolic across the lawn and entertain them. 

Walla Walla Southside District: Revelry Vintners

On your way back into town, be sure to visit Revelry Vintners. Their D11 Cabernet Sauvignon took the top honors in the red wine category among the 2020 Rodeo Uncorked! International Wine Competition in Houston, and a 12-bottle case went for $105,000 at the Houston Rodeo Uncorked Wine Auction (a Washington wine auction record). 

We can’t say that we were surprised. 

Southside District Wineries - Revelry Vintners
photo courtesy of Revelry Vintners

In Summary: A day at the Southside District wineries isn’t enough!

These stops in Walla Walla’s Southside can only scratch the surface of what this incredible, diverse district has to offer. When you visit, we invite you to copy our itinerary or design your own here