Reininger Winery
Winemaking has a way of attracting people from different career fields. Washington’s wine scene includes many lawyers, doctors, engineers, and accountants who pick up winemaking as a second career. But how about adventuresome souls whose résumés include mountaineer and climbing guide? Such is the case with Charles Reininger of Reininger Winery.
After working as a mountain guide for many years, Charles hung up his ice axe, moved to the Walla Walla Valley, and married Tracy Tucker, a Walla Walla native. That was back in the early ’90s. It was around this time that Charles caught the wine bug and began assisting at Waterbrook Winery, dabbling in home winemaking on the side. For most mountain guides, their reward is in the journey itself. For winemakers, their reward is to create the ultimate expression of the grape, its true varietal character. As Charles notes on the winery’s website, “Wine is the adventure of the soul.” We submit, however, that the destination can be great, too, whether it is a mountain summit or recognition by Wine & Spirits as being one of America’s top 40 wineries (2005).
Reininger Winery produces small lots of Walla Walla Valley merlot, cabernet sauvignon, and syrah, in addition to its Helix-labeled wines, which are made with fruit from the Columbia Valley. Much of the fruit for the Reininger label comes from nearby Ash Hollow Vineyard, owned in part by the Reiningers. By the way, the name “Helix” honors the family’s hardworking grandparents, Marvin and Erva Tucker. The proceeds from the sale of the Tuckers’ farmland, near Helix, Oregon, provided the needed capital to launch the Helix wine label.
Located six miles west of Walla Walla right off the new Highway 12, the 15,000-square-foot Reininger Winery is actually a converted potato shed. However, there are no spuds in sight here. The Reiningers’ newly designed tasting room is more of a tasting pavilion, featuring a fusion of basalt harvested from the Snake River in northern Walla Walla County; reclaimed potato-shed wood; zinc-covered countertops, and finely crafted cabinetry. One particularly aesthetic touch are the vines intertwined around the perimeter of the tasting bar. This is a grand tasting room that invites all who trek here to linger longer and enjoy the stellar line-up of wines. Just remember to remove your backpack and stow your climbing poles before imbibing at this wine summit.
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Order the book!
Reininger Winery was featured in WineTrails of Walla Walla as part of the Walla Walla WineTrail West on page 422!
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Order the book!
Reininger Winery was featured in WineTrails of Washington as part of the Walla Walla WineTrail West on page 422!
WineTrail: Walla Walla WineTrail West
Owner: Charles Reininger, LLC
Winemaker: Chuck Reininger
Opened: 1997
Tasting Room: Open to the public
Amenities: Gift Shop, Picnic Area, Tasting Room, Tours, Wine Club, Facebook, Online Store, Wine Sold by the Glass and Production: 10,000 cases; Blog. Facebook
Where To Buy: Winery, Secured Website, Wine Shops
Phone: 509-522-1994 Fax: 509-522-3530
Website: www.reiningerwinery.com
Official Winery Rep/Owner: Information Change? Click Here
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Reininger Winery
Winery/Tasting Room
5858 Old Highway 12 , Walla Walla, WA 99362 -118.445825 46.054556Hours: May through December, daily 10–6; January through April, daily 10–5
Directions: From Walla Walla, head west on Hwy 12 for 6 miles. Turn left on Spalding Rd (at the Whitman Mission exit). At the stop sign turn right onto Vintage Loop (Old Hwy 12) and Reininger Winery will be on the right. From the Tri-Cities take Hwy 12 east for approximately 40 miles to the winery. Pass through the towns of Touchet and Lowden. Reininger Winery is about 9 miles east of Touchet and 4.5 miles east of Lowden. Turn right on Spalding Rd (at the Whitman Mission exit). Turn right at the stop sign onto Vintage Loop (Old Hwy 12) and Reininger Winery will be on the right.
