The Walls

There is nothing more gratifying than watching a young local winery grow and become successful. As a food and wine blogger, I often enjoy opportunities to visit wineries and taste fantastic wines. The wineries range from well-established classics to smaller start-ups. Years ago when I owned an Interior Design Studio in Magnolia, we hosted “Vino in the Village,” the local quarterly wine walk. At one event I was paired with a brand new start-up, The Walls. 

The person pouring the wines was Owner Mike Martin. Mike left his job in the tech world to build The Walls. Mike and I hit it off right away - it was a fun evening learning about the wines and the stories behind the creations. The passion and excitement that Mike exuded for his wines was contagious. I stayed in touch with Mike after that event, and on a recent trip to Walla Walla I got a tour and tasting behind the scenes of the winery. 

Why call a winery “The Walls”? Well, it’s a play on the fact that Walla Walla has housed the Washington state penitentiary since 1886.  The other meaning signifies that we all build up walls to protect ourselves from others. One way to tear down those walls between people is to open and share a bottle of delicious wine. 

A favorite of their wines is the Curiositas, a Cabernet Sauvignon from Red Mountain. “Curiosity is the soul of our wines, it is what drives our willingness to engage in the depths of complexity of wine and this wine celebrates that. We could make it easier on ourselves but we must fulfill our curiosity,” says Mike. This wine keeps you curious with its dark purple color and a nose of blackberries, fresh herbs and a bit of mineral. Compared to a big, bold Napa Cabernet, this wine is medium but full of richness. Grab a bottle to enjoy now or let it sleep for upwards of 15 years.

For those that buy wine based on what the label looks like, well, they win at this as well.  All the labels feature a cartoon in the look of The New Yorker Magazine style.  Mike hired freelance cartoonist Joe Dator. Joe draws cartoons for many publications, including The New Yorker.  In other publications he has a recurring character named Walter Groovy, so for The Walls labels Joe created Stanley Groovy.  Stanley Groovy even has his own bottle of wine named for him, a red blend of Portuguese varietals.  

This winter why not visit Walla Walla. Hotels are more affordable and with fewer tourists you will have more one on one experience at wineries and tasting rooms, which will fill your curiosity for wine.  The Walls should be at the top of your list to visit.  Booking your tasting is easy on their website.  Stay curious - avoid the state penn – and find yourself in the groovy walls of the winery!

This article was featured in the December 2019 issue of the Laurelhurst & Windermere Living Magazine.