{"id":27,"name":"Corliss","image_url":"https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipOD5q5CZ9mCSJV2WjqQIgwnNkd826X7x5DwyTf2=w408-h272-k-no","district":"Downtown","hours":"Call for Reservations after 12 pm","hours_type":"limited","dog_friendly":false,"red_wine":true,"white_wine":true,"bubbles":false,"brewery":false,"woman_owned":false,"year_established":2001,"winemaker":"Michael Corliss","website":"http://corliss.wine/","phone":"+1 509-526-4400","address":"511 N 2nd Ave, Walla Walla, WA 99362, United States","description":"At Corliss Estate, each berry is hand‑sorted and native‑yeast fermented before years of élevage; Michael and Lauri Corliss and Atelier Melka pursue perfection through sustainable farming","lat":46.0711124,"lng":-118.3438796,"appt_url":"https://corliss.wine/home/visit/","walk_in":false,"tasting_fee":"$75 per person","explorer_tags":["bold reds","knowledge"],"profile":"# Corliss Estates — Winery Knowledge Profile\n\n## Founding Story & Vision\n\nCorliss Estates is a Walla Walla, Washington winery built around an uncompromising commitment to quality at every stage of the winemaking process. Founded by Michael and Lauri Corliss, the winery operates under a guiding philosophy of discipline and patience — from how the vines are farmed to how long the finished wines rest in bottle before release. The Corlisses have been involved in every detail of the operation from the beginning, positioning themselves as the central force and \"barometer of consistency\" for developing what the winery calls the Corliss style.\n\n## Winemaker & Team\n\nMichael and Lauri Corliss serve as the philosophical and practical anchors of the winemaking program, described as engrossed in every detail of production and guiding the winery's overall direction. They are supported by a staff of winemaking professionals who collaborate collectively across vintages. The winery also works with **Atelier Melka**, described as \"one of the world's most highly regarded winemaking consultant teams,\" whose partnership adds international expertise and prestige to the Corliss program. The winemaking at Corliss is explicitly described as the result of **teamwork and patience**, rather than a single individual's vision in isolation.\n\n## Farming & Viticulture\n\nCorliss sources from its own **Estate Vineyards**, which are farmed using **sustainable** practices with what the winery describes as meticulous viticulture. Beyond that, specific vineyard names, AVA sub-locations, soil types, and elevations are not detailed in the available text.\n\n## Production Philosophy & Winemaking Process\n\nThe Corliss winemaking approach is distinguished by an exceptionally hands-on, unhurried process. Key elements include:\n\n- **Individual berry sorting** at harvest, indicating an extremely selective approach to fruit quality\n- **Slow native yeast fermentation**, preserving terroir expression and complexity\n- Fermentation conducted in **micro-scale custom oak and concrete fermenters**, allowing precise lot management\n- **Extended elevage in barrel**, followed by rigorous selection of the best lots for blending\n- **Over two years of additional aging in bottle** before wines are labeled and released\n\nThis extended timeline before release reflects a commitment to allowing wines to fully develop prior to reaching the consumer — a notably patient approach by any standard.\n\n## Signature Wines & Portfolio\n\nSpecific wine names, varieties, and tasting notes are not detailed in the available text. The winery references \"consistently beautiful vintages of Corliss\" and the development of a distinctive \"Corliss style,\" but does not elaborate on individual bottlings in the scraped content.\n\n## Wine Club / Registry\n\nCorliss wines are available **exclusively to Registry members**, making the winery essentially a private allocation model. The winery directs prospective customers to enroll in the Registry to gain access to purchase. Details about club tiers, pricing, or specific member benefits beyond access are not described in the available text. The website navigation also references a section called **\"Tranche,\"** which may relate to allocation releases, though no further detail is provided.\n\n## Tasting Room & Visitor Experience\n\nThe winery's website includes a **\"Visit\"** section in navigation, indicating that some form of visitor experience exists, but no details about tasting room hours, location description, or the nature of the experience are provided in the scraped content.\n\n## Winery Character & Identity\n\nWhat most distinctly sets Corliss apart in the Walla Walla Valley is its **exclusivity paired with obsessive process discipline**. The combination of estate-grown fruit, native yeast fermentation, micro-scale fermentation vessels, and more than two years of bottle aging before release reflects a Burgundian-influenced patience unusual even among premium Washington producers. The partnership with Atelier Melka signals international ambition and a world-class frame of reference. The fact that wines are available only through a private Registry — not through conventional retail or tasting room walk-ins — reinforces the winery's identity as a **luxury, allocation-driven producer** for a dedicated membership rather than a broadly accessible brand.","somm_notes":[{"title":"Patti's notes on Corliss","content":"Yes, it is possible to reserve a tasting at this beautiful winery-and you absolutely should. The wines are stunning, and for me, the Syrah will always be a favorite."}],"wines":[{"name":"Syrah","vintage":"2021","variety":"Syrah","price":""},{"name":"Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":"2020","variety":"Cabernet Sauvignon","price":""},{"name":"Red Wine","vintage":"2020","variety":"","price":""}],"patti":null,"visitor_ratings":[{"source":"yelp","rating":3.3,"count":3}],"sample_reviews":[],"critic_scores":[{"wine_name":"Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2020,"score":99,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2019,"score":99,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"Syrah","vintage":2019,"score":98,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"Red Wine","vintage":2020,"score":97,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"Red Wine","vintage":2019,"score":97,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"Syrah","vintage":2020,"score":96,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null}],"community_scores":[{"wine_name":"Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2015,"score":96,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.6/5 (47 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Syrah","vintage":2014,"score":96,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.6/5 (27 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Red","vintage":2006,"score":95,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.5/5 (49 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Syrah","vintage":2012,"score":93,"source":"Wine Berserkers","critic":"John_Glas","tasting_note":") Red currants, dust, minerals, black pepper and earth. Good concentration and no hurry on consuming these. ("},{"wine_name":"Syrah","vintage":2017,"score":91,"source":"Wine Berserkers","critic":"John_Glas","tasting_note":") Blueberry, sour cherry, black licorice, pepper and earth. Medium finish. ("},{"wine_name":"Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":null,"score":94,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.4/5 (858 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Red","vintage":null,"score":94,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.4/5 (595 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Syrah","vintage":null,"score":94,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.4/5 (330 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Cabernet Franc","vintage":null,"score":92,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.2/5 (33 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Malbec","vintage":null,"score":92,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.2/5 (27 ratings)"}],"events":[{"title":"Annual Fall Release Celebration","start_date":"2026-11-07","start_time":null,"url":"https://corliss.wine/home/visit/","is_members_only":false}]}