{"id":25,"name":"Browne Family Vineyards","image_url":"https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/gps-cs-s/AC9h4noakcoAsW4FvTrRjTP8VMHlRbtVPKtWFKVbQCfdnLNT1mMGu2bP8bsu3XoacnkXyqut_9iS0_nuJ_9X8_UdYBwxBYZqHQjdapFQU9cgcMacfXnJxjLwXDde0wEqrZS9YizWHqWtTQ=w408-h271-k-no","district":"Downtown","hours":"Mon-Tue 11am-6pm\nWed-Sat 11am-8pm\nSun 11am-6pm","hours_type":"limited","dog_friendly":true,"red_wine":true,"white_wine":true,"bubbles":true,"brewery":false,"woman_owned":false,"year_established":2005,"winemaker":"John Freeman","website":"http://brownefamilyvineyards.com/","phone":"(509) 522-1261","address":"31 E Main St, Walla Walla, WA 99362","description":"Andrew Browne’s tribute to his grandfather yields world‑class Bordeaux reds and aromatic whites, handcrafted by John Freeman in Walla Walla to honor family, empathy and excellence","lat":46.0672954,"lng":-118.3384066,"appt_url":"https://brownefamilyvineyards.com/walla-walla","walk_in":false,"tasting_fee":null,"explorer_tags":[],"profile":"# Browne Family Vineyards — Sommelier Knowledge Profile\n\n## Founding Story\n\nBrowne Family Vineyards was founded by wine entrepreneur Andrew Browne as a tribute to his family, and specifically to honor his late grandfather, William Bitner Browne — described as a mentor, veteran, and community stalwart. William Bitner Browne is characterized as embodying the American dream: a 50-year law career, over 60 years of marriage to his wife Dottie, and more than 40 years of volunteer service in civic and charitable organizations. Andrew Browne cites his grandfather's legacy as the guiding force behind the winery's ethos, distilled into a personal mantra: \"What would Bitner do? Make great wines, practice empathy, strive for excellence, and leave the world a better place.\" Andrew and his wife Courtney Browne extend that family spirit to all guests, positioning the winery as a place where good friends, good food and wine, and good times are always on the agenda. The winery is headquartered in Walla Walla, Washington, and produces wines from Washington, Oregon, and beyond.\n\n## Winemaker\n\nJohn Freeman serves as Head Winemaker for Browne Family Vineyards' Washington program. He began his wine career in his native Napa Valley, California, giving him a deep foundation in bold, structured red winemaking — particularly Cabernet Sauvignon. At Browne Family, Freeman is known for producing award-winning expressions of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Chardonnay. He particularly enjoys working with the winery's unique estate vineyards and employs extended aging in French oak to develop texture in his wines. His winemaking philosophy is straightforward and results-driven: make the best wine possible. The winery also employs Sarah Cabot as winemaker for its Oregon program under the Battle Creek Cellars label, though her work is focused outside the Washington/Walla Walla portfolio.\n\n## Vineyard Sources\n\nBrowne Family Vineyards owns and farms three estate vineyards:\n\n**William's Estate Vineyard** is located in the Walla Walla Valley, within the Spring Valley District. Planted in 2009, it features soils notably low in sand content, giving them a sticky, moisture-retentive texture that supports concentrated, terroir-driven flavors. The site benefits from significant diurnal temperature shifts — hot days and cool nights — which further intensify flavor development. Planted varieties include Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Chardonnay, Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Malbec.\n\n**Willow Tree Estate Vineyard** is situated in the Yakima Valley near Prosser and is described as a primary source for Browne Family wines. The vineyard features basalt-laced sandy loam soils with excellent air drainage, imparting notable minerality and deep fruit character to its wines. Cooler growing season temperatures allow for later ripening in fall, naturally preserving bright acidity. Planted varieties include Riesling, Pinot Gris, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Gewürztraminer.\n\n**Wittenberg Estate Vineyard** is also located in the Yakima Valley, just one mile outside the Red Mountain AVA — a location prized for its heat accumulation and suitability for red wine production. At approximately 15 years old at the time of the website content, it is the earliest-ripening site for Browne Family Vineyards. Reflective light and warmth from a nearby ridge contribute to the bold, full-bodied character associated with the area. Planted varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Dolcetto, Barbera, and Petit Verdot.\n\n## Signature Wines & Varieties\n\nJohn Freeman's focus at Browne Family centers on Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, and Chardonnay. The winery also produces a Rosé (marketed as \"Gigi's Garden\") and a range of spirits including whiskeys, vodkas, and gins under the Browne Family label. Named spirit offerings mentioned include Browne Vanilla Bean Bourbon Whiskey, Bitner's Bourbon Whiskey, and Browne Rye Whiskey — several of which are named in tribute to the Browne family legacy. The winery promotes a portfolio of wines rated 90 points or above.\n\n## Tasting Notes\n\nThe scraped content offers limited formal tasting language for wines, though vineyard-level descriptors provide context. Wines from William's Estate are described as exhibiting concentrated and pronounced flavors driven by moisture-retentive soils and diurnal temperature shifts. Willow Tree Estate wines are noted for minerality, deep fruit characteristics, and naturally bright acidity. Wittenberg Estate is associated with \"big red\" style wines, reflecting the heat and reflective light of its near-Red Mountain location. French oak aging is used by Freeman to develop texture across the portfolio.\n\n## Tasting Rooms\n\nBrowne Family Vineyards operates five tasting room locations across the Pacific Northwest. The **Downtown Walla Walla** location on Main Street features an outdoor patio suited for people-watching and casual sipping. The **Seattle** tasting room is located in Pioneer Square, positioned near the city's dining, art, music, and sports venues, and is described as a warm and welcoming urban retreat. The **Tacoma** location sits in the historic Proctor District and offers in-store sipping, shopping, curbside pickup, and local delivery. The **Spokane** location — Andrew Browne's hometown — houses a state-of-the-art boutique distillery and tasting room where guests can connect with the ingredients and craftsmanship behind both wines and spirits. The **Bellevue** location in Old Bellevue is the newest, designed to feel like a home away from home and surrounded by local businesses, shops, and fine dining. All locations host community events, including themed evenings such as Boombox Bingo, Musical Bingo, and Bunco Night.\n\n## Winery Character\n\nBrowne Family Vineyards distinguishes itself through its deeply personal founding story, its multi-location retail and hospitality footprint across Washington State, and its commitment to community and family values. The winery has partnered with One Tree Planted to support Pacific Northwest reforestation efforts, operating on a \"one bottle, one tree\" model. Beyond wine, the brand extends into locally sourced, limited-edition spirits, reflecting a broader lifestyle orientation. The guiding ethos — rooted in Andrew Browne's tribute to his grandfather — infuses the brand with a sense of purpose, empathy, and aspiration toward excellence that differentiates it from purely production-focused wineries in the region.","somm_notes":[{"title":"Patti's notes on Brown","content":"This is a great spot to sit outside and do a little people-watching! Whether you go for bubbles, wine, or even a splash of whiskey-you'll be glad you did."}],"wines":[{"name":"Bitner Estate Grenache Rose","vintage":"2025","variety":"Grenache","price":"$20.00"},{"name":"Gigi's Garden Rosé","vintage":"2025","variety":"Rosé","price":"$25.00"},{"name":"Gigi's Garden White Blend","vintage":"2025","variety":"White Blend","price":"$25.00"},{"name":"Mural Collection Pinot Gris","vintage":"2025","variety":"Pinot Gris","price":"$24.00"},{"name":"Mural Collection Sauvignon Blanc","vintage":"2025","variety":"Sauvignon Blanc","price":"$24.00"},{"name":"Mural Collection Rose","vintage":"2025","variety":"Rosé","price":"$48.00"},{"name":"Estate Unoaked Chardonnay","vintage":"2024","variety":"Chardonnay","price":"$32.00"},{"name":"Medallion Series Dottie Chardonnay","vintage":"2023","variety":"Chardonnay","price":"$52.00"},{"name":"Bitner Estate Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":"2022","variety":"Cabernet Sauvignon","price":"$35.00"},{"name":"Forest Project Canyon Ranch Petit Verdot","vintage":"2022","variety":"Petit Verdot","price":"$60.00"},{"name":"Bitner Estate Chardonnay","vintage":"2022","variety":"Chardonnay","price":"$25.00"},{"name":"Forest Project White Blend","vintage":"2022","variety":"White Blend","price":"$26.00"},{"name":"Heritage Chardonnay","vintage":"2022","variety":"Chardonnay","price":"$20.00"},{"name":"Medallion Series Dottie Chardonnay","vintage":"2022","variety":"Chardonnay","price":"$52.00"},{"name":"Premier Collection Unoaked Chardonnay","vintage":"2022","variety":"Chardonnay","price":"$32.00"},{"name":"DES Red Blend","vintage":"2022","variety":"Red Blend","price":"$110.00"},{"name":"Bitner Estate Pinot Gris","vintage":"2022","variety":"Pinot Gris","price":"$20.00"},{"name":"Bitner Estate Tribute Red Blend","vintage":"2022","variety":"Red Blend","price":"$30.00"},{"name":"Spymaster Series Homecoming Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":"2022","variety":"Cabernet Sauvignon","price":"$80.00"},{"name":"Spymaster Series \"Homecoming\" Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":"2022","variety":"Cabernet Sauvignon","price":"$80.00"},{"name":"Alder Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":"2021","variety":"Cabernet Sauvignon","price":"$50.00"},{"name":"City Collection Bellevue Red Blend","vintage":"2021","variety":"Red Blend","price":"$44.00"},{"name":"City Collection Tacoma Red Blend","vintage":"2021","variety":"Red Blend","price":"$44.00"},{"name":"City Collection Walla Walla Red Blend","vintage":"2021","variety":"Red Blend","price":"$44.00"},{"name":"Do Epic Shit Reserve Red Blend","vintage":"2021","variety":"Red Blend","price":"$50.00"},{"name":"Estate Vineyard Cabernet Franc","vintage":"2021","variety":"Cabernet Franc","price":"$60.00"},{"name":"Estate Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":"2021","variety":"Cabernet Sauvignon","price":"$60.00"},{"name":"Estate Vineyard Malbec","vintage":"2021","variety":"Malbec","price":"$60.00"},{"name":"Celebrate Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":"2021","variety":"Cabernet Sauvignon","price":"$110.00"},{"name":"Forest Project Conservation Collection Malbec","vintage":"2021","variety":"Malbec","price":"$35.00"},{"name":"Forest Project Conservation Collection Merlot","vintage":"2021","variety":"Merlot","price":"$35.00"},{"name":"Forest Project CV Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":"2021","variety":"Cabernet Sauvignon","price":"$30.00"},{"name":"Forest Project CV Red Blend","vintage":"2021","variety":"Red Blend","price":"$30.00"},{"name":"Forest Project Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":"2021","variety":"Cabernet Sauvignon","price":"$60.00"},{"name":"Mural Collection Grenache","vintage":"2021","variety":"Grenache","price":"$42.00"},{"name":"Mural Collection GSM","vintage":"2021","variety":"Red Blend","price":"$42.00"},{"name":"Medallion Series Bitner Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":"2021","variety":"Cabernet Sauvignon","price":"$100.00"},{"name":"Medallion Series Dottie Chardonnay","vintage":"2021","variety":"Chardonnay","price":"$52.00"},{"name":"Spymaster Series Homecoming Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":"2021","variety":"Cabernet Sauvignon","price":"$80.00"},{"name":"Spymaster Series Liberation of Paris Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":"2021","variety":"Cabernet Sauvignon","price":""}],"patti":null,"visitor_ratings":[{"source":"tripadvisor","rating":4.4,"count":46},{"source":"google","rating":4.4,"count":97},{"source":"yelp","rating":4.2,"count":38}],"sample_reviews":[{"source":"yelp","reviewer":"Becky P.","rating":null,"rating_max":5.0,"text":"As god as it gets is a great way to describe this perfectly located winery in downtown Walla Walla.","date":null},{"source":"yelp","reviewer":"Jessica H.","rating":null,"rating_max":5.0,"text":"I was greeted immediately walking in the door and was lucky to have Shawna helping me.","date":null}],"critic_scores":[{"wine_name":"Viognier","vintage":2022,"score":91,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Bitter Estate' Rose","vintage":2022,"score":90,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"Vineyards 'Bitter Estate' Rose","vintage":2022,"score":90,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Tribute Bitner Estate' Red Wine","vintage":2020,"score":90,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Bitter Estate' Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2020,"score":90,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"Vineyards 'Bitner Estate' Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2020,"score":90,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Willow White Blend' White Wine","vintage":2022,"score":89,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Cabernet Franc' Rose","vintage":2022,"score":89,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"Vineyards'The Homecoming' Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2020,"score":89,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"Vineyards'The Continent' Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2020,"score":89,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Liberation Of Paris' Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2020,"score":89,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'The Farm' Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2020,"score":89,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Forest Project Paso Robles' Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2020,"score":88,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Willamette Valley' Pinot Noir","vintage":2020,"score":87,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"Vineyards'Forest Project' Red Wine","vintage":2020,"score":86,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null}],"community_scores":[{"wine_name":"Spy Master Liberation of Paris","vintage":2017,"score":96,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.6/5 (29 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"London is Calling","vintage":2016,"score":95,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.5/5 (45 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Advocate Red Blend","vintage":2016,"score":94,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.4/5 (41 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Spy Master The Farm","vintage":2016,"score":94,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.4/5 (28 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"The Visionary Red Blend","vintage":2021,"score":92,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.2/5 (33 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Bitner Red Blend","vintage":2019,"score":92,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.2/5 (152 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Site Series Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2018,"score":92,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.2/5 (66 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Cabernet Franc","vintage":2018,"score":92,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.2/5 (72 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Tribute","vintage":2017,"score":92,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.2/5 (94 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Petit Verdot","vintage":2015,"score":92,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.2/5 (49 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Heritage Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2014,"score":92,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.2/5 (62 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Gigi's Garden Sauvignon Blanc - Pinot Gris","vintage":2024,"score":91,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.1/5 (63 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Bitner Estate Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2020,"score":91,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.1/5 (292 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Grandfather's Legacy Red Blend","vintage":2018,"score":91,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.1/5 (40 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Chardonnay","vintage":2016,"score":91,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.1/5 (105 ratings)"}],"events":[{"title":"Walla Walla Trivia Tuesday","start_date":"2026-11-10","start_time":"17:30","url":"https://brownefamilyvineyards.com/events/ww-trivia-tuesday-nov10","is_members_only":false},{"title":"Walla Walla Trivia Night","start_date":"2026-11-10","start_time":"17:30","url":"https://brownefamilyvineyards.com/events/ww-trivia-nov10","is_members_only":false},{"title":"Walla Walla Trivia Night","start_date":"2026-11-10","start_time":null,"url":"https://brownefamilyvineyards.com/events","is_members_only":false},{"title":"Mingo: Musical Bingo","start_date":"2026-11-11","start_time":null,"url":"https://brownefamilyvineyards.com/events","is_members_only":false},{"title":"Boozy Book Fair","start_date":"2026-11-12","start_time":"16:00","url":"https://brownefamilyvineyards.com/events/ww-boozy-book-fair","is_members_only":false},{"title":"Bellevue Trivia Night","start_date":"2026-11-18","start_time":null,"url":"https://brownefamilyvineyards.com/events","is_members_only":false},{"title":"Walla Walla Trivia Night","start_date":"2026-11-24","start_time":"17:30","url":"https://brownefamilyvineyards.com/events/ww-trivia-nov10-kabtr","is_members_only":false},{"title":"Walla Walla Trivia Night","start_date":"2026-11-24","start_time":null,"url":"https://brownefamilyvineyards.com/events","is_members_only":false}]}