Where is All The Walla Walla Wine?

by | Nov 10, 2018

Walla Walla wine deserves far more attention, especially considering Walla Walla, Washington, is just 620 kilometers from Vancouver—a quick 7-hour drive, perfect for a long weekend getaway. Despite its proximity, I hadn’t visited until last month and could only recall tasting one or two wines from the area beforehand—a travesty! Meanwhile, South Africa, over 16,000 kilometers away, fills our liquor store shelves with its wines and captivates me with its producers, indigenous varieties, and tourist attractions.

So why is a wine region so close to home still such a mystery? Why don’t we see more Walla Walla wine readily available? Shipping wine from South Africa isn’t easier or cheaper, so what’s holding Walla Walla back?

Exploring Walla Walla Wine at #WBC18

I asked this question often while attending the Wine Bloggers Conference in Walla Walla last month. We were lucky to be able to chat with a vast number of local wineries from across both Washington and Oregon. And the answer I got most was not necessarily Walla Walla specific. To put it simply, it’s too expensive.

Annette Bergevin’s family has been farming their estate vineyard, Bergevin Springs Vineyard, since 1903. She’s the partner and general manager of Bergevin Lane Vineyards and sold her wines in BC between 2008 and 2013. She opted out of the market after a successful year participating in the Vancouver International Wine Festival. 

“I think the conversion rates along with taxes really hiked up the price of our wine. We started out selling a lot of wine and then I think it just became too price prohibitive. To be competitive we need to significantly reduce the cost on our wine in the market and most times it just doesn’t pencil.”

Annette Bergevin
Bergevin Lane Viognier - Walla Walla wine

Meanwhile, Matt Wieland from Fullerton Wines in the Willamette Valley says,

“Fullerton Wines crafts around 5,000 cases per year. 70% of Willamette Valley producers make fewer than 5,000 cases annually. When you combine this reality with the fact that exporting internationally adds layers of complexity not found when distributing in the United States, it simply makes more sense to sell our wines domestically.”

Matt Wieland

So, as consumers, let’s get out there and support the wines from Walla Walla that ARE sold in British Columbia. Of the 3,760 wines available at BC Liquor Stores, only 28 are from Washington and Oregon — 20 red and five white, which tells you a great deal about their specialty. The remaining three are sparkling. 

Coming Soon

I also encountered two wineries just about to enter the market, likely starting in select private stores. Look out for Avennia, which specializes in Bordeaux and Rhone Valley varietals. I featured them on Instagram and was blown away by their flavour extractions. Also, Brooks in the Willamette Valley. They received Biodynamic certification in 2014 and have established a living legacy of Jimi Brooks. You can read about it here. 

It’s easy to grab the latest vintage of our favourite BC winery off the shelf. Trust me, I’m guilty of it too. However, the next time you’re shopping, ask the clerk where the USA section is and start searching for Washington and Oregon – you won’t be disappointed!