Many wine enthusiasts love Va Piano Vineyards. The tasting room in Walla Walla is always packed with people having fun. The reason is simple: Va Piano offers a talented winemaker, amazing wine, and fantastic staff who provide an excellent wine experience.
Those are the reasons this winery makes our list of Favorite Washington Wineries every year.
As soon as you drink Va Piano wines, you will become a fan too.
Winemaker Justin Wylie
Winemaker, owner and “chief relaxation officer” Justin Wylie draws the crowd. According to the winery website, “Justin began his first commercial crush in the fall of 2003 and Va Piano was born. In his free time, Justin enjoys hanging out at the winery on the weekends and shooting the shit with customers.”
Of course we like him! How can you not like a winemaker who says, “My winemaking philosophy is very simple: Grow the best grapes we can and don’t screw it up in the cellar.”
Justin is so friendly, knowledgeable about the wine industry, and super talented. We’ve known him for years, and he always has a hug and a smile. And now he also has an adorable dog, Murphy. Derri Reid, general manager, always adds to the excellent experience. And then there’s the wine!
Va Piano VIneyards WInes
We first visited the Va Piano tasting room during the Wine Bloggers Conference in Walla Walla in 2010. Eight years later, the group returned to eastern Washington and so did we. Of course, we stopped in at Va Piano Vineyards.
We also visited many times in between the conferences.
Here are our favorites wines during our recent trip.
2015 Va Piano Cabernet Sauvignon Black Label Rosebud Vineyard ($95)
This is one sexy wine for very special occasions such as Valentines Day! Known as Rosebud, this Cabernet Sauvignon is beautiful, complex, textured and classic. Simply put, Rosebud has the wow factor.
2015 Va Piano Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain ($60)
We always say that we never met a grape from Red Mountain that we didn’t like. Well, we love this Red Mountain Cab, which is mouthwatering delicious.
2015 Va Piano Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley ($50)
Let’s just call this Cab sensational, seductive and stellar. Someone once said Justin creates art in a bottle, which is underlined by this impressive Cab Sauv.
Va Piano 2017 Sauvignon Blanc Black Label ($35)
Justin’s Black Label offerings are vineyard-designated, crafted with the best barrels of these wines, and limited to small lots of 200 cases or less. Year after year, we adore this Sauvignon Blanc, and the 2017 vintage is no exception.
Va Piano Rosé 2017 Cabernet Franc ($22)
Unfortunately, this wine sells out very quickly. We highly recommend it, so keep your eye out for the next release! Va Piano’s rosé sings of summer — a perfect bottle for the deck, patio, pool, or by the lake. But such a good rosé pairs with just about anything, anytime of the year.
Visit Va Piano Tasting Rooms and Eritage Resort
You can taste these wines in three locations — In addition to Walla Walla, you can also find Va Piano tasting rooms in Spokane and Bend, Oregon.
And next time we’re in Walla Walla, we plan to stay at Justin’s Eritage Resort, located on 300 acres in the rolling fields of wheat and vineyards about six miles north of Walla Walla.
Cheers!
Margot and Dave