{"id":118,"name":"Waterbrook","image_url":"https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipOjo9hmA2wVeMuNxd8nzM4wYJ8zNeeupFnDVteQ=w408-h272-k-no","district":"West","hours":"Sun - Thurs: 11 am – 6 pm\nFri: 11 am – 8 pm\nSat: 11 am – 7 pm","hours_type":"limited","dog_friendly":true,"red_wine":true,"white_wine":true,"bubbles":true,"brewery":false,"woman_owned":false,"year_established":1984,"winemaker":"John Freeman","website":"http://waterbrook.com/","phone":"(509) 522-1262","address":"10518 US-12, Walla Walla, WA 99362","description":"A Walla Walla classic since 1984, Waterbrook’s 49‑acre estate and winemaker John Freeman yield fruit‑forward, terroir‑driven wines—160+ 90‑point scores—served with year‑round hospitality","lat":46.0536905,"lng":-118.5576612,"appt_url":"https://waterbrook.com/tasting-room","walk_in":false,"tasting_fee":"$25 per person waived with 3 bottle purchase.","explorer_tags":["scenic","full day","occasions"],"profile":"# Waterbrook Winery — Knowledge Profile\n\n## Founding Story\n\nWaterbrook Winery was established in 1984, making it one of the earliest bonded wineries in Walla Walla, Washington — specifically the town's fourth. The winery was founded by a group of visionaries who, in the early 1980s, recognized the untapped winemaking potential of the Walla Walla Valley and set out to help realize it. Beyond simply producing wine, Waterbrook's founders actively cultivated a spirit of community among fellow winemakers, growers, and friends in the region — a culture of camaraderie that helped lay the social and professional foundation for what Walla Walla wine country would eventually become. The winery celebrated 35 years of winemaking in 2019, and its stated vision has remained consistent from the beginning: to produce fruit-forward, varietally correct wines that authentically express Washington's outstanding vineyards. Waterbrook credits itself with helping put Walla Walla wine on the world stage.\n\n## Winemaker\n\nWinemaking at Waterbrook is led by **John Freeman**, who oversees every detail of production from vineyard to bottle. The winery describes Freeman as the head of a committed production team. Beyond his leadership role, the scraped content does not provide additional biographical details about his training or career path. Waterbrook's guiding winemaking philosophy — which Freeman upholds — centers on crafting wines that are fruit-forward and varietally correct, with an emphasis on terroir expression from the Walla Walla Valley and Columbia Valley AVAs. The goal, as the winery articulates it, is for each wine to exemplify \"what Washington tastes like.\" Guests visiting the tasting room may also encounter **Sommelier Shawn Smith**, who leads the winery's blending sessions.\n\n## Vineyard Sources\n\nWaterbrook sources fruit from both its own estate vineyard and from vineyards across the broader Columbia Valley AVA.\n\n**Waterbrook Estate Vineyard** is a 49-acre property located in the northeastern corner of the Walla Walla Valley AVA, situated in the Spring Valley area on the former site of homesteader Uriah Corkrum's historic wheat fields. The vineyard was first planted in 2009 and saw its inaugural harvest in 2012, with plantings continuing to expand. Varieties grown on the estate include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Chardonnay. The site features unique silt loam soils with little sand content, which helps retain moisture. The vineyard benefits from the classic Columbia Valley diurnal shift — hot days and cool nights — which promotes concentrated flavors while locking in balanced acidity. Notably, wheat still grows in nooks and valleys across the property during summer, and light reflected off this bright landscape aids grape ripening. Critics have noted that red wines from this area express intense, terroir-driven flavors with almost syrupy notes laced with streaks of herb and grass, evoking the wheat crop that historically dominated its rolling hills.\n\nThe winery also draws on the broader **Columbia Valley AVA**, which it describes as a winemaker's dream due to low rainfall, long sunny days during peak summer, and the pronounced diurnal temperature shift — conditions that produce concentrated, flavor-rich, well-balanced wines.\n\n## Winery Character and Identity\n\nWaterbrook occupies a distinct position in the Walla Walla wine community as one of the region's true pioneers — the fourth bonded winery established in the town. Over its decades of operation, the winery has earned more than 100 combined Best Buys and 90-plus point scores, reflecting a sustained commitment to quality and value. The winery operates a state-of-the-art production facility alongside a full visitor center and its nearby estate vineyard, positioning itself as a genuine wine country destination rather than solely a production facility.\n\n## Tasting Room and Visitor Experience\n\nWaterbrook's tasting room and grounds offer a notably expansive visitor experience. Nestled among serene ponds with panoramic views of the Blue Mountains, the property invites guests to spend extended time exploring and relaxing. The tasting room is open seven days a week, Monday through Thursday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday evenings feature a dinner service beginning May 15, offering a three-course curated dinner paired with three wines.\n\nGuests may taste wine indoors via flights, glasses, or bottles paired with food from the full-service kitchen, relax on the outdoor patio (with up to 90 minutes of outdoor seating, weather permitting), or reserve the intimate Canoe Room for a private tasting experience. The winery also offers a range of outdoor recreational activities including bocce ball, disc golf, horseshoes, fishing in a stocked trout pond (including an annual fishing derby), and cornhole. Picnic baskets with local cheeses, meats, and charcuterie are available to enjoy on the landscaped grounds.\n\nElevated experiences include guided vineyard hikes covering sustainable farming and the winemaking process, behind-the-scenes production tours with tank samples and access to the winemaking team, hands-on cooking classes featuring Waterbrook and Canoe Ridge Vineyard wines, and blending sessions led by Sommelier Shawn Smith in which guests blend, label, and bottle their own Bordeaux-style blend. The kitchen draws on local and seasonal ingredients from the winery's own garden and surrounding farms, producing farm-to-table fare with daily specials and a seasonal menu. The property also features bookable fire pits during fall and winter months and a scenic hilltop area called The Hill.\n\n## Accolades\n\nWaterbrook has earned more than 100 combined Best Buy designations and 90-plus point scores across its history of winemaking. The winery is broadly recognized for producing wines that authentically represent the Walla Walla Valley and Columbia Valley AVAs.","somm_notes":[],"wines":[{"name":"Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc","vintage":"2025","variety":"Sauvignon Blanc","price":"$18.00"},{"name":"Waterbrook Farms Mélange Blanc","vintage":"2024","variety":"White Blend","price":"$28.00"},{"name":"Columbia Valley Merlot","vintage":"2024","variety":"Merlot","price":"$20.00"},{"name":"Columbia Valley Pinot Gris","vintage":"2024","variety":"Pinot Gris","price":"$18.00"},{"name":"Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc","vintage":"2024","variety":"Sauvignon Blanc","price":"$18.00"},{"name":"Columbia Valley Sangiovese Rosé","vintage":"2024","variety":"Sangiovese Rosé","price":"$18.00"},{"name":"Columbia Valley Syrah","vintage":"2024","variety":"Syrah","price":"$20.00"},{"name":"ICON Chardonnay","vintage":"2023","variety":"Chardonnay","price":"$34.00"},{"name":"Columbia Valley Malbec","vintage":"2023","variety":"Malbec","price":"$20.00"},{"name":"Columbia Valley Melange Red Blend","vintage":"2023","variety":"Red Blend","price":"$22.00"},{"name":"Columbia Valley Merlot","vintage":"2023","variety":"Merlot","price":"$20.00"},{"name":"Columbia Valley Chardonnay","vintage":"2023","variety":"Chardonnay","price":"$18.00"},{"name":"ICON Carménère","vintage":"2022","variety":"Carménère","price":"$47.00"},{"name":"Waterbrook 40th Anniversary Red Blend","vintage":"2022","variety":"Red Blend","price":"$50.00"},{"name":"Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":"2022","variety":"Cabernet Sauvignon","price":"$29.00"},{"name":"Reserve Merlot","vintage":"2022","variety":"Merlot","price":"$28.00"},{"name":"Vintners Selection Red Blend","vintage":"2022","variety":"Red Blend","price":"$29.00"},{"name":"Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":"2022","variety":"Cabernet Sauvignon","price":"$20.00"},{"name":"Columbia Valley Syrah","vintage":"2022","variety":"Syrah","price":"$20.00"},{"name":"ICON Barbera","vintage":"2021","variety":"Barbera","price":"$47.00"},{"name":"ICON Carménère","vintage":"2021","variety":"Carménère","price":"$47.00"},{"name":"ICON Chardonnay","vintage":"2021","variety":"Chardonnay","price":"$34.00"},{"name":"ICON Dolcetto","vintage":"2021","variety":"Dolcetto","price":"$47.00"},{"name":"ICON Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":"2021","variety":"Cabernet Sauvignon","price":"$52.00"},{"name":"ICON Viognier","vintage":"2021","variety":"Viognier","price":"$34.00"},{"name":"Reserve Chardonnay","vintage":"2021","variety":"Chardonnay","price":"$25.00"},{"name":"Vintners Selection Red Blend","vintage":"2021","variety":"Red Blend","price":"$29.00"},{"name":"Reserve Malbec","vintage":"2021","variety":"Malbec","price":"$28.00"},{"name":"Al's Run Red Blend","vintage":"2020","variety":"Red Blend","price":"$42.00"},{"name":"ICON Merlot","vintage":"2020","variety":"Merlot","price":"$47.00"},{"name":"ICON Mourvedre","vintage":"2020","variety":"Mourvedre","price":"$47.00"},{"name":"ICON Chardonnay","vintage":"2020","variety":"Chardonnay","price":"$34.00"},{"name":"ICON Carménère","vintage":"2020","variety":"Carménère","price":"$47.00"},{"name":"Reserve Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":"2020","variety":"Cabernet Sauvignon","price":"$29.00"},{"name":"ICON Estate Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":"2019","variety":"Cabernet Sauvignon","price":"$50.00"},{"name":"ICON Merlot","vintage":"2018","variety":"Merlot","price":"$45.00"},{"name":"ICON Sparkling Brut","vintage":"","variety":"Sparkling","price":"$35.00"},{"name":"ICON Sparkling Brut Rosé","vintage":"","variety":"Sparkling Rosé","price":"$35.00"},{"name":"Waterbrook Farms Rose Bubbles","vintage":"","variety":"Sparkling Rosé","price":"$26.00"},{"name":"Waterbrook Clean Non-Alcoholic Pinot Grigio","vintage":"","variety":"Pinot Grigio","price":"$13.00"}],"patti":null,"visitor_ratings":[{"source":"tripadvisor","rating":4.1,"count":156},{"source":"yelp","rating":3.7,"count":107}],"sample_reviews":[{"source":"yelp","reviewer":"Maureen H.","rating":null,"rating_max":5.0,"text":"The food was unbelievable..... great charcuterie board (Merlot cheddar was the bomb), bougie French fries, tasty flatbread.","date":null},{"source":"yelp","reviewer":"Kristin K.","rating":null,"rating_max":5.0,"text":"The grounds are spectacular and the large tasting room has a huge window overlooking a pond.","date":null}],"critic_scores":[],"community_scores":[{"wine_name":"Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2017,"score":92,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.2/5 (31 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Vintner's Selection Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2019,"score":91,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.1/5 (30 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Icon Walla Walla Red","vintage":2018,"score":91,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.1/5 (91 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Reserve Merlot","vintage":2015,"score":91,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.1/5 (73 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2014,"score":91,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.1/5 (131 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Vintner's Selection Red Blend","vintage":2018,"score":90,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.0/5 (28 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2015,"score":90,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.0/5 (141 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Mélange Founder's Red Blend","vintage":2015,"score":90,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.0/5 (63 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Reserve Malbec","vintage":2013,"score":90,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.0/5 (62 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2022,"score":89,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 3.9/5 (1,590 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Syrah","vintage":2019,"score":89,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 3.9/5 (35 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Malbec","vintage":2013,"score":89,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 3.9/5 (141 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Sangiovese Rosé","vintage":2017,"score":88,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 3.8/5 (95 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Icon Estate Chardonnay","vintage":2017,"score":88,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 3.8/5 (32 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Chardonnay Reserve","vintage":2014,"score":88,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 3.8/5 (45 ratings)"}],"events":[]}