A new tasting room at 31 E. Main will officially open Friday, May 2 starting Spring Release Weekend: Browne Family Vineyards & Associated Vintners.
Andrew Browne, founder of Browne Family Vineyards, has a 20-year history of creating and marketing some of the best-known wines in the country. Browne Family Vineyards serves as a tribute to his family and, in recent years, this collection of mostly Bordeaux wines has met with high acclaim from wine’s most critical publications and soaring demand from across the country. With the expansion of the Browne wine collection to include a new 2011 Petit Verdot and 2011 Merlot, the time arrived for a tasting room in the birthplace of Browne Family: Walla Walla.
Compelled to curate a unique and well-rounded offering of wines at the shop, Andrew invited three winemaking friends and colleagues to room to showcase their small-lot, limited-production wines at the tasting room. These “Associated Vintners” include Ross Mickel of Ross Andrew Winery (Rhône reds), Paul Gregutt of Waitsburg Cellars (old vine, aromatic whites), and Peter Dow of Cavatappi (Washington-grown Italian varieties).
The tasting room interior was stylized with a herringbone timber accent wall, handsome brown leather sofas and sitting areas with plaid wingback chairs. Behind the main tasting counter are seasonally available wines on two taps, to be filled in one-liter, refillable flip-top glass bottles called “Villagers.” In addition to wines are unique lifestyle items and merchandise, including Pointer Brand totes, Le Pen, Rifle Paper Co., and Terrapin. This “blend” of wineries and the artisanal merchandise within create a standout offering in Walla Walla.
The shop’s wine club will offer a mix of options to order wine from one or all four Walla Walla wineries featured. A special “Browne Box” wine club tier will feature Browne wines and merchandise personally selected by Andrew Browne.
Throughout the fair-weather season, the open patio will host a full calendar of entertainment and gatherings to meet the Associated Vintners for special tastings and releases.
Browne Family Vineyards features wines from legacy Columbia Valley vineyards such as Alder Ridge, The Benches, Canyon Vineyard Ranch and select Red Mountain lots. Founder Andrew Browne and winemaker John Freeman allow Browne wines extended aging in French oak. Over the past seven vintages, Browne wines have received more than 20 scores of 90 points or higher from critical wine trade publications. Learn more by getting on the email list; contact manager Michelle Monda, michellem@brownefamilyvineyards.com or phone 509-522-1261.