{"id":41,"name":"Lagana Cellars","image_url":"https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipONVNgBT-4gSIvnc39A3vaWAV_Qb_qeq5U6Jvs=w408-h260-k-no","district":"Downtown","hours":"Thursday, Sunday, and Monday 11 am to 5 pm.\nFriday and Saturday 11 am to 6 pm.","hours_type":"limited","dog_friendly":false,"red_wine":true,"white_wine":true,"bubbles":true,"brewery":false,"woman_owned":false,"year_established":2013,"winemaker":"Jason Fox, Todd Bernave","website":"http://www.laganacellars.com/","phone":"(509) 876-0001","address":"16 N 2nd Ave, Walla Walla, WA 99362","description":"Founded in 2013, Lagana makes terroir‑driven wines with varietal purity and elegance; luscious reds and crisp whites greet visitors in a cozy downtown tasting room","lat":46.0673344,"lng":-118.3396627,"appt_url":"https://laganacellars.com/reservation/","walk_in":false,"tasting_fee":"$15 per person, waived with purchase","explorer_tags":[],"profile":"# Lagana Cellars — Knowledge Profile\n\n## Founding Story & Vision\n\nLagana Cellars is a Walla Walla Valley winery built around the principle of terroir-driven winemaking. The winery describes itself as producing \"handcrafted wines from the Walla Walla Valley and beyond,\" with a clear philosophical commitment to expressing the natural characteristics of the land in every bottle. The founding team — which includes winemaker Jason Fox and at least one partner — brings together complementary backgrounds, combining art, science, and technical knowledge to shape their winemaking vision. Their shared goal is to craft wines that are both terroir-specific and varietally expressive, highlighting what they describe as the \"finesse and elegance\" of each grape variety.\n\n## Winemaker\n\nJason Fox is the named winemaker at Lagana Cellars and is directly quoted in the winery's philosophy statement: *\"We craft wines that are terroir specific, expressing the natural world in which they were grown.\"* Fox and his partner approach winemaking as a dual discipline, blending artistic intuition with scientific rigor. Their process involves hands-on monitoring of grape maturation — tasting and testing fruit throughout the growing season to track how developing sugars, flavors, and natural acidity come into balance. Fox's philosophy holds that each grape varietal must be treated individually, reflecting the unique characteristics of the vineyard from which it originates.\n\n## Vineyard Sources\n\nLagana Cellars sources fruit from multiple vineyards across the Walla Walla and Columbia Valleys, working with what they describe as \"several talented vineyard owners and managers.\" The winery places significant emphasis on the grower's role, stating that what makes a vineyard truly great is \"the grower and their dedication and understanding of the land they manage.\" Two specific vineyard sources are named in connection with upcoming wine releases: **Minnick Hills Vineyard** and **Breezy Slope Vineyard**. Minnick Hills is associated with a Syrah bottling, while Breezy Slope is the source for a Pinot Noir. The winery acknowledges that vineyard location, soil type, elevation, microclimate, and terrain are the defining factors of terroir, suggesting careful site selection is central to their sourcing philosophy.\n\n## Signature Wines & Varieties\n\nLagana Cellars specializes in varietally distinct, single-vineyard or vineyard-designated wines. Among their current and upcoming releases are a **2018 Minnick Hills Vineyard Syrah** and a **2021 Breezy Slope Vineyard Pinot Noir**, both slated for release during Fall Release Weekend. The winery produces both red and white wines, each handled according to variety-specific protocols that reflect their dual art-and-science philosophy.\n\n## Winemaking Process & Style\n\nLagana Cellars follows a detailed and intentional winemaking process. All grape clusters are **handpicked early in the morning** to maintain cool fruit temperatures and minimize berry damage. White grapes are destemmed and pressed immediately into stainless steel tanks to preserve freshness and limit oxidation. Red grapes are sorted, destemmed into open-top fermentation bins, and fermented on their skins until dry using a combination of **punchdowns, pumpovers, macro-oxidation, and stem-inclusion**. Red wines are typically aged in **20–50% new French oak barrels**, depending on the variety, for approximately **22 months**. The wines are then filtered and bottled under **screwcaps** — a deliberate choice to reduce premature oxidation and eliminate the risk of cork taint.\n\n## Tasting Room & Events\n\nLagana Cellars participates in the broader Walla Walla Valley wine community through regional release events. Notable upcoming events include **Fall Release Weekend** in downtown Walla Walla — described as a festive atmosphere set against the backdrop of the snowcapped Blue Mountains — featuring live music, food and wine pairings, and first-access to newly released wines. The winery also participates in the **Holiday Barrel** event, where visitors can sample wines directly from barrel before bottling. The winery notes that some wines can only be purchased by visiting in person, emphasizing the value of the tasting room experience.\n\n## Winery Character\n\nWhat distinguishes Lagana Cellars within the Walla Walla wine scene is their unwavering focus on **terroir specificity** combined with a dual-perspective winemaking approach that honors both the science and the artistry of the craft.","somm_notes":[{"title":"Patti's notes on Lagana","content":"Combining science with a touch of art, Jason crafts a wide range of whites, reds, and a delicious sparkling wine. Definitely worth a stop if you're downtown on a tasting day."}],"wines":[{"name":"Inland Desert Albarino","vintage":"2024","variety":"Albarino","price":"$26.00"},{"name":"Sauvignon Blanc","vintage":"2023","variety":"Sauvignon Blanc","price":"$22.00"},{"name":"Eritage Vineyard Chardonnay","vintage":"2023","variety":"Chardonnay","price":"$24.00"},{"name":"Walla Walla Valley Viognier","vintage":"2023","variety":"Viognier","price":"$24.00"},{"name":"Breezy Slope Vineyard Pinot Noir Rosé","vintage":"2023","variety":"Pinot Noir","price":"$24"},{"name":"Breezy Slope Vineyard Pinot Noir Rose","vintage":"2023","variety":"Pinot Noir","price":"$24.00"},{"name":"Sparkling Sangiovese Blanc de Noir","vintage":"2022","variety":"Sangiovese","price":"$57.00"},{"name":"Breezy Slope Vineyard Pinot Noir","vintage":"2020","variety":"Pinot Noir","price":"$46.00"},{"name":"Walla Walla Valley Cabernet Franc","vintage":"2019","variety":"Cabernet Franc","price":"$46.00"},{"name":"Nox Eternelle Seven Hills Vineyard Carmenere","vintage":"2019","variety":"Carmenere","price":"$47"},{"name":"J&S Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":"2018","variety":"Cabernet Sauvignon","price":"$46"},{"name":"Walla Walla Valley Syrah","vintage":"2017","variety":"Syrah","price":"$40"}],"patti":null,"visitor_ratings":[{"source":"google","rating":5.0,"count":26},{"source":"yelp","rating":4.7,"count":15},{"source":"tripadvisor","rating":4.4,"count":7}],"sample_reviews":[],"critic_scores":[{"wine_name":"'Breezy Slope Vineyard' Pinot Noir","vintage":2018,"score":91,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Eritage Vineyard' Malbec","vintage":2018,"score":91,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"Rose","vintage":2020,"score":90,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Eritage Vineyard' Chardonnay","vintage":2018,"score":90,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Walla Walla Valley' Syrah","vintage":2017,"score":90,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Eritage Vineyard' Cabernet Franc","vintage":2017,"score":90,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'J&S Vineyard' Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2017,"score":90,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Columbia Valley' Sauvignon Blanc","vintage":2020,"score":89,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null}],"community_scores":[{"wine_name":"Eritage Vineyard Cabernet Franc","vintage":null,"score":89,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 3.9/5 (25 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Breezy Slop Vineyard Pinot Noir","vintage":null,"score":88,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 3.8/5 (36 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Eritage Vineyard Chardonnay","vintage":null,"score":88,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 3.8/5 (35 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Breezy Slope Vineyard Pinot Noir Rosé","vintage":null,"score":88,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 3.8/5 (27 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"J&S Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":null,"score":88,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 3.8/5 (26 ratings)"}],"events":[]}