{"id":11,"name":"Hoquetus Wine Co.","image_url":"https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipPCuDsq9V0JHSqyf3JxJ8P8_uACs19X_qk9xycK=w408-h510-k-no","district":"Downtown","hours":"Friday : 11am - 4pm\nSaturday : 11am - 4pm\nSun Mon : By reservation only","hours_type":"limited","dog_friendly":true,"red_wine":true,"white_wine":true,"bubbles":true,"brewery":false,"woman_owned":false,"year_established":2020,"winemaker":"Robert Gomez","website":"https://hoquetuswine.com/","phone":"+1 509-312-9148","address":"210 1/2 E Alder St, Walla Walla, WA 99362, United States","description":"Robert and Bri Gomez’s winery, named after a medieval musical motif, crafts elegant, site‑driven wines with soft hands and minimal intervention so the vineyard’s voice prevails","lat":46.0669,"lng":-118.33552,"appt_url":"https://app.squareup.com/appointments/book/htn4dwvpupa1nz/L8X05YKZCV6MX/start","walk_in":false,"tasting_fee":"$25 per person waived with wine purchase","explorer_tags":["learning","lighter reds"],"profile":"# Hoquetus Wine Co. — Knowledge Profile\n\n## Winery Character & Founding Story\n\nHoquetus Wine Co. is a small, independently operated winery based in Walla Walla, Washington, producing what they describe as \"hi-fi wines made in lo-fi ways.\" The winery is self-described as \"tiny,\" with a clear emphasis on minimalist, hands-off winemaking rooted in a strong sense of place. Their guiding philosophy is straightforward: \"good wine is the result of paying attention — to place, to time, and to knowing when to leave things alone.\" This approach reflects a deliberate restraint in the cellar, allowing the character of the fruit and its origin to express itself without heavy intervention.\n\nThe winery is a family operation, run by Robert and Bri. Robert brings a notably eclectic background to the role — he is described as a musician, bartender, sommelier, and winemaker, suggesting a path to winemaking that passed through hospitality, service culture, and a deep personal connection to wine before formalizing into production. Bri contributes as a design UX engineer and winery employee, reflecting the modern, independently minded spirit of the project. The household also includes Uly, their child, who has reportedly \"been in charge for 6.5 years,\" and Ms. Daisy Pumpkins, the resident corgi, credited with quality control and occasional dissent.\n\n## Winemaker\n\nRobert Gomez serves as winemaker at Hoquetus Wine Co. His background is multidisciplinary — spanning music, bartending, sommelier work, and winemaking — suggesting a sensory-driven, hospitality-informed approach to the craft rather than one rooted in formal viticulture or enology academia. His philosophy aligns closely with the low-intervention, terroir-focused school of winemaking: the winery's stated belief in \"knowing when to leave things alone\" points to minimal-handling practices in the cellar, likely including native or minimal yeast intervention, restrained use of additives, and a preference for allowing vintage and vineyard character to dictate the wine's profile.\n\n## Vineyard Sources & Farming\n\nHoquetus sources from sustainably farmed grapes grown in Walla Walla, Washington. The winery explicitly describes its wines as \"wines of place,\" underscoring a terroir-first philosophy. Sustainable farming practices are confirmed, though specific vineyard names, soil types, elevations, and ownership or contract details are not disclosed in available content.\n\n## Wine Club\n\nHoquetus offers three wine club tiers, each with a distinct name and structure, shipping twice yearly in Fall and Spring allocations.\n\n**El 3** is the entry-level tier, delivering 3 bottles per shipment (6 annually) at an average shipment price of approximately $121. Members receive complimentary tastings for themselves and one guest, a paired playlist with each shipment, and access to exclusive events, new releases, and limited production wines.\n\n**Badhache** is the mid-tier, delivering 6 bottles per shipment (12 annually) at an average shipment price of approximately $218. Benefits expand to include a 10% discount on all bottle purchases, flat-rate shipping at $25, the ability to customize shipments, paired playlists, and the same access to exclusive events and limited releases. Complimentary tastings for two are also included.\n\n**Coolese** is the top-tier offering, delivering 12 bottles per shipment (24 annually) at an average shipment price of approximately $411. Members receive a 15% discount on bottle purchases, flat-rate $25 shipping, shipment customization, paired playlists, complimentary tastings for two guests plus one additional guest, and full access to exclusive events and limited production wines.\n\nA distinctive and personality-driven feature across all club tiers is the inclusion of a **paired playlist** with each shipment — a nod to Robert's background as a musician and the winery's broader identity as a culturally engaged, creative operation.\n\n## Tasting Room & Visitor Experience\n\nHoquetus offers visits by appointment, inviting guests to schedule time at the winery directly through their website. The experience is intentionally intimate, consistent with the winery's small-scale, hands-on identity. No walk-in hours are listed; the appointment-only model reflects the boutique, personally managed nature of the operation.\n\n## Winery Identity\n\nWhat distinguishes Hoquetus Wine Co. within the Walla Walla Valley wine scene is the convergence of artistic sensibility, low-intervention winemaking, and a warm, irreverent personality. The winery's name itself — *hoquetus*, a medieval musical technique involving interlocking melodic voices — signals a deep connection to music and composition as an analogy for winemaking. Their voice is unpretentious and community-minded, evidenced by the playful club tier names, the corgi quality-control team, and the inclusion of curated playlists as a club benefit. For consumers seeking terroir-driven, sustainably farmed Walla Walla wines made with care and without pretension, Hoquetus represents a distinctly human-scale alternative.","somm_notes":[{"title":"Patti's notes on Hoquetus","content":"This tiny gem of a winery is turning out some of the most fruit-forward, easy-drinking wines around. Sustainably farmed and beautifully structured, it's an absolute must-visit. My favorite? The Carbonic Syrah-so delicious!"}],"wines":[{"name":"Riesling Les Collines Vineyard","vintage":"2024","variety":"Riesling","price":""},{"name":"Roussanne","vintage":"2024","variety":"Roussanne","price":"$42.00"},{"name":"Mencia","vintage":"2024","variety":"Mencía","price":"$42.00"},{"name":"Cabernet Franc Blue Mtn Vineyard (Barrique)","vintage":"2023","variety":"Cabernet Franc","price":""},{"name":"Syrah Les Collines Vineyard","vintage":"2023","variety":"Syrah","price":""},{"name":"Riesling","vintage":"2023","variety":"Riesling","price":"$34.00"},{"name":"Unfiltered Rosé of Cabernet Franc Seven Hills Vineyard","vintage":"2023","variety":"Cabernet Franc","price":"$30.00"},{"name":"La Syranique Carbonic Syrah","vintage":"2023","variety":"Syrah","price":"$32.00"},{"name":"Cabernet Franc Amphora Blue Mountain Vineyard","vintage":"2023","variety":"Cabernet Franc","price":"$42.00"},{"name":"Cabernet Franc Blue Mountain Vineyard (Barrique)","vintage":"2022","variety":"Cabernet Franc","price":"$40.00"},{"name":"Francisca's Vineyard Syrah","vintage":"2022","variety":"Syrah","price":"$56.00"},{"name":"Les Collines Vineyard Syrah","vintage":"2022","variety":"Syrah","price":"$60.00"},{"name":"Initials R.B.B.","vintage":"2022","variety":"Red Blend","price":"$42.00"}],"patti":null,"visitor_ratings":[{"source":"google","rating":4.8,"count":13}],"sample_reviews":[],"critic_scores":[],"community_scores":[{"wine_name":"Blue Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Franc Amphora","vintage":null,"score":91,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.1/5 (25 ratings)"}],"events":[]}