Picturesque at Longshadows

We only visited a couple of tasting rooms on our little road trip last weekend to Walla Walla, but Longshadows was definitely one of my favorites. It actually might be one of the prettiest wineries with the yummiest wine with the nicest guy managing the tasting room that I have ever been in!

A solid 20 plus minute drive outside of Walla Walla on a small winding road off the beaten path, Longshadows is not necessarily private, but you do need to know about it and you do need to make a reservation. They don't really need to cater to the drunken masses stumbling around on Main Street in Walla Walla; their wines are pretty pricey but pretty delicious and unique as well.

It is not one winery, but a sort of incubator for top wine makers to come and make their own label. It has had the same small selection of wine makers for years now and each one is from all over the world and brings to the table a different style and flavor in their wines.

We loved the Poet's Leap Riesling, but just when we thought we were done with the tasting, we were offered a sample of this special Botrytis Riesling. It was served with apple pie at the White House state dinner in January for Chinese president Hu Jintao. (Fun note: two of the three wines served at that dinner were from Washington State!) The only way I can describe it is liquid ambrosia and honey; it was pretty fantastic.

My favorite of the bunch was the Pedestal Merlot. It is one of the pricier ones ($55) so we only bought one for ourselves to save for something special. But it was fruity and rich and had that unmistakable Eastern Washington mouth feel that I love so much. OK, that sounded pretty wine snobby, but trust me, this stuff is good!
The guy that started Longshadows, Allan Shoup, is a pretty big mucky muck in the wine world--he helmed the wine group that owned Chateau St. Michelle and Columbia Crest, among others for 20 years. So, of course, when he made his tasting room, who else but Dale Chihuly would provide the artwork?

I love how these bowls look like they are glowing from within while they just have a tiny spotlight on them!

And the color combinations never get old for me. I love that lime green with the aqua interior.

Next time you get out to Walla Walla, call ahead and see if you can get into Longshadows!