Wittman Estes: Nestled within vineyards and wheat fields in Walla Walla’s Southside district, Everen Wines’ new tasting room is conceived as a quiet retreat in which to taste and experience the culture of wine and hospitality of the region. Located on a 10-acre property, the tasting room is approached by rising vines on a hill and ends in a crushed-stone auto court framed by a pair of long concrete walls that withhold views of the hospitality space itself. The two walls frame the entry, which provide access to the calming interior rendered in muted wood, subtly raked plaster, and basalt. Spaces and views to the landscape abound unfold, whether to the adjacent gardens and terrace or to the Blue Mountains beyond.
The 1,700-square-foot, L-shaped building is low slung. Conceptually, the building is composed as a series of cast-concrete walls and open terraces that merge architecture with landscape. A knife-edged roof tops the structure. The tasting room is designed to feel like a living room, offering both protection and shelter from the elements with the opportunity to extend out into the expansive landscape. The set of spaces are intimate with materials that are natural and timeless and meant to capture the elemental qualities of the vineyard and region. The adjacent garden and terrace feature tree-covered seating, an outdoor kitchen, and a bocce court.
The tasting room will open in the spring of 2025.
