Patit Creek Cellars

The numbers can tell the Patit Creek Cellars’ story. Six partners (actually three couples) own Patit Creek Cellars (Larry & Marilou Cassidy, Connie & Lee Kearney, and Paul & Marcene Hendrickson). There are two locations where you can experience their wine. The winery itself located in charming Dayton about 30 miles north of Walla Walla; and their spacious wine tasting room in downtown Walla Walla. They focus on just two wines – Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. They source their grapes from two Walla Walla Valley vineyards – Pepper Bridge and Seven Hills. The six partners launched Patit Creek Cellars in 1999 and the winery is located just 3 miles from where famous explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark camped on May 2, 1805 as part of the journey of the Corp of Discovery. Whew.

Having dispensed with the numbers, we benefit from the fact that Patit Creek concentrates its winemaking talents on the quintessential wines of Washington – Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Winemaker Paul Hendrickson (another Walla Walla area pharmacist by day, winemaker by night) and Swiss winemaking consultant Jean-François Pellet of Pepper Bridge Vineyard fame, continue to receive high marks for their reds. Perhaps it’s due to the labor-intensive practices they use (e.g., they hand sort the already handpicked grapes and they age-bottle the wine for a full year before release). Alternatively, maybe it is the top-notch grapes that they press. Whatever the reason, the result is sensational.

A distinctive wine also deserves an equally distinctive wrap. To that end, they have chosen the art of Leslie Williams Cain’s chalk-pastel drawing of Patit Creek to decorate the label. Two wines, six partners, two locations, and one great label. It all adds up to one memorable experience.

Directions: Patit Creek Cellars is located at the Walla Walla Regional Airport Complex. From Walla Walla, take US-12 east about 3 miles. Take exit to Walla Walla Airport and go left (north) onto Airport Rd. Airport Rd becomes A St. Arrive at 325 A St.

Events: Spring Release Weekend, Balloon Stampede Weekend, Vintage Walla Walla, Holiday Barrel Tasting

Addresses

• Walla Walla Airport WineTrail

  Winery/Tasting Room

  325 A Street, Walla Walla, WA 99362
  Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 11–5; Sunday 11–4; Closed Monday