Walla Walla is a quiet city of 34,000 people in eastern Washington, near the Oregon border.
Last year,USA Todaynamed itthe best wine region in the country.
Plenty of stars agree.
Many vineyard owners and winemakers are women, people of color, and/or LGBTQ+.
Visitors can also have potential face time with the people who know the products best.
Not sure where to go?
Here are Ahmeds favorite wineries.
Its the first Washington winery owned and operated by an Asian woman.
Ita:Want a taste of the future?
Delmas:The vineyard is built on a sea of rocks, lending its wines a funky minerality.
Theaward-winning wineryis also home to an inn and a prix fixe restaurant inspired by local flavors.
It produces cabernet sauvignon, merlot, and chardonnay, among other offerings.
On-site, try a range of varietals with the $20 Tastings and Tapas deal.
The tasting room showcases a range of flavors and styles, including collabs with outside winemakers and vineyards.
Grosgrain Vineyards:Snuggle up by the cozy fireplace in this airy, chic tasting room.
This is the place to try organic wines made from under-the-radar grapes.
Their bottles are simply fun to drink, Ahmed says.
For more, use theMap My WA Wineto find additional wineries.
I was surprised to find that I liked driving around just as much as I liked touring the vineyards.
Walla Walla is an ideal road trip spot.
If youd like someone else to play DD, you could book atour or driver.
How To Get There
Its about a four-hour drive from Seattle, Portland, and Boise.
If youre coming from Oregon, take the scenic route along the Columbia Gorge.
Theres a 40-minute flight between Seattle and the Walla Walla Regional Airport (ALW).
These winemakers are often grads of the community colleges enology and viticulture program, a local industry powerhouse.
If you plan to bring home souvenirs, fly Alaska Airlines your first checked case of wine is free.
This article was originally published onDec.
