{"id":70,"name":"Reynvaan Family Vineyards","image_url":"https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipMseyorzkJOBeCgCbSgVfjxOWwsV9V1jebpfcu5=w464-h240-k-no","district":"East","hours":"Fri - Sat at 10am, 12pm, 2pm, and 4pm","hours_type":"limited","dog_friendly":true,"red_wine":true,"white_wine":true,"bubbles":false,"brewery":false,"woman_owned":false,"year_established":2007,"winemaker":"Matt Reynvaan, Amanda Reynvaan","website":"http://www.reynvaanfamilyvineyards.com/","phone":"(509) 525-3462","address":"6309 Cottonwood Rd, Walla Walla, WA 99362","description":"In cobblestone “In the Rocks” and loess “Foothills in the Sun,” the Reynvaan family coaxes Rhône reds and Bordeaux blends with hands‑on farming and an unwavering commitment to terroir","lat":46.0133297,"lng":-118.2239252,"appt_url":"https://www.reynvaanfamilyvineyards.com/reservations/","walk_in":false,"tasting_fee":"$100 per person ($75 for Allocation List Members) waived with 3 bottle purchase.","explorer_tags":["bold reds","experi","knowledge"],"profile":"# Reynvaan Family Vineyards — Sommelier Knowledge Profile\n\n## Founding Story\n\nReynvaan Family Vineyards (pronounced \"Rhine-van\") was founded as a family-owned and operated winery with roots in the Walla Walla Valley of Washington State. The winery's formal journey began in 2005 with the planting of its first estate vineyard, \"In The Rocks,\" located in Milton-Freewater, Oregon. A second estate vineyard, \"Foothills in the Sun,\" was established in 2008 in the foothills of the Blue Mountains. The family behind the winery includes Matt Reynvaan (Grower and Winemaker), Amanda Reynvaan, and other family members including Mike, Angela, and Gale Reynvaan, as well as Spencer Reynvaan-Hawes, who serves as Winery Partner. The founding vision, as articulated by Matt Reynvaan, centers on a deeply land-driven philosophy: \"We believe the land tells the story, and our role is to listen.\" The winery is dedicated to expressing the unique terroir of the Walla Walla Valley through minimal intervention, holistic farming, and meticulous craftsmanship across every vintage.\n\n## Winemaker\n\nMatt Reynvaan serves as both Grower and Winemaker at Reynvaan Family Vineyards. His philosophy is rooted in the belief that great wine originates in the vineyard, not the cellar. He emphasizes hands-on stewardship over every stage of production — from planting, trellising, and pruning to dropping fruit, hand-harvesting, and meticulous berry sorting. Matt's stated ambition is to \"produce Syrahs that are among the finest in the world\" from the winery's estate vineyards. His approach prizes precision and care without shortcuts, allowing nature to shape each vintage with minimal interference. He also references old-world winemaking traditions as an influence on each vintage's development.\n\n## Vineyard Sources\n\nReynvaan works exclusively with estate fruit from two owned vineyards, both within or adjacent to the Walla Walla Valley AVA.\n\n**\"In The Rocks\" Vineyard** was planted in 2005 and is located in Milton-Freewater, Oregon, on an ancient alluvial fan of the Walla Walla River. It spans 26.5 planted acres at an elevation of 800 feet. The soils consist of smooth, river-tumbled basalt and granite cobblestones — a profile frequently compared to the famed vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. These ancient river rocks, formed when the Walla Walla River shifted course approximately 15,000 years ago, force vine roots deep into the earth and absorb heat during the day, radiating it back to the vines at night to moderate temperatures and aid in ripening. The poor, well-draining soils produce wines of remarkable intensity, minerality, and complexity. Varieties planted include Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Viognier, Grenache Blanc, and Marsanne.\n\n**\"Foothills in the Sun\" Vineyard** was planted in 2008 and sits at 1,600 feet in elevation on the eastern edge of the Walla Walla Valley AVA, at the base of the Blue Mountains — making it one of the highest vineyard sites in the region. Soils are a complex blend of deep silty loam shaped by millennia of wind-blown loess, interwoven with clay, iron, and remnants of the ancient Missoula Floods, including pockets of large rocks that enhance drainage. The vineyard has a gentle western and southwestern exposure and experiences dramatic diurnal temperature swings — reaching 90°F by day and dropping to 40°F at night — which preserve vibrant acidity and freshness in the wines. Originally planted with Syrah and Viognier, the vineyard expanded in 2023 with the addition of Merlot. The winery describes its farming approach as holistic and regenerative, with an emphasis on old-world traditions.\n\n## Signature Wines\n\nReynvaan specializes in Rhône-style red and white wines, with Syrah as the clear centerpiece of the portfolio, alongside distinctive Bordeaux varietals. Named wines in the portfolio include:\n\n- **\"Stonessence\"** — A flagship Syrah that has received some of the winery's highest critical scores, including a 98-point placement in Wine Spectator's Top 100 (2013) and multiple 100-point scores from the International Wine Report.\n- **\"In The Rocks\"** — A vineyard-designate Syrah sourced from the cobblestone estate vineyard of the same name, consistently earning scores in the mid-to-high 90s across multiple publications and vintages.\n- **\"The Contender\"** — A Syrah that has appeared in Seattle Met's Top 100 and received a 98-point score from Jeb Dunnuck for the 2021 vintage.\n- **\"Foothills Reserve\"** — One of the winery's most decorated wines, with multiple 100-point scores from the International Wine Report across the 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 vintages, and consistent placement in major critic Top 100 lists.\n- **\"In the Hills\"** — A Syrah that has appeared in major critic rankings, including a 95-point score from James Suckling for the 2021 vintage.\n- **\"The Classic\"** — Earned 98 points from Jeb Dunnuck for the 2021 vintage.\n- **\"Queen's Road\" White** — A white wine that earned 96 points from the International Wine Report for the 2019 vintage and 98 points for the 2023 vintage, placing #18 on the International Wine Report's Top 100 in 2025.\n- **Viognier** — A standalone white wine that earned 97 points from Owen Bargreen for both the 2022 and 2023 vintages.\n- **Grenache Blanc** — Listed as part of the portfolio.\n- **Merlot** — Listed as part of the portfolio.\n\n## Tasting Notes\n\nWhile the winery does not provide extensive structured tasting notes in the scraped content, their descriptive language consistently associates \"In The Rocks\" wines with **depth, minerality, complexity, intensity, and elegance**, reflecting the cobblestone terroir. \"Foothills in the Sun\" wines are described as offering **exceptional structure, freshness, remarkable depth, energy, and vibrant acidity**, reflecting the high-elevation silty loam soils and extreme diurnal temperature variation. Across the portfolio, the winery uses the language of **complexity, balance, age-worthiness, and a profound sense of place** to characterize their wines.\n\n## Allocation List / Wine Club\n\nReynvaan Family Vineyards operates on a fully allocated model — the winery is currently at capacity with no open spots on its mailing list. Interested parties may join a waitlist. Allocation List Members receive meaningful benefits, including discounted tasting fees ($75 per person versus the standard $100) and exclusive access to special events. The winery's 20th Anniversary Celebration, held at the Seattle Golf Club in December, was made available exclusively to Allocation List Members and sold out. The allocation model underscores the winery's boutique, highly sought-after status.\n\n## Tasting Room / Visitor Experience\n\nReynvaan Family Vineyards offers tasting appointments by reservation only, available on Fridays and Saturdays from April through late August, with time slots at 10am, 12pm, 2pm, and 4pm (with additional slots added during special release weekends). The winery is described as tucked into the foothills of the Blue Mountains, offering sweeping views over the estate vineyard and across the Walla Walla Valley. The setting is characterized as \"quiet, open, and restful\" — a place designed to slow visitors down. Tastings are conducted as intimate, one-on-one appointments for each visiting group, keeping the experience personal and unhurried. Each 90-minute session is accompanied by a charcuterie board, and complimentary non-alcoholic beverages are available for designated drivers. Tasting fees are $100 per person ($75 for Allocation List Members), refundable with a three-bottle purchase.\n\n## Accolades\n\nReynvaan Family Vineyards has accumulated an extraordinary record of critical recognition:\n\n- **Wine Spectator Top 100**: #","somm_notes":[{"title":"Patti's notes on Reynvaan","content":"Some of the best Syrahs in the world? Absolutely. Matt Reynvaan crafts some of the most balanced Rhône-style wines in Walla Walla. Since their first vintage in 2005, they've produced world-class wines year after year. My absolute favorite is the 'In The Rocks' Syrah."}],"wines":[{"name":"Stonessence","vintage":"","variety":"","price":""},{"name":"In the Rocks","vintage":"","variety":"","price":""},{"name":"The Contender","vintage":"","variety":"","price":""},{"name":"Foothills Reserve","vintage":"","variety":"","price":""},{"name":"In the Hills","vintage":"","variety":"","price":""},{"name":"The Classic","vintage":"","variety":"","price":""},{"name":"Merlot","vintage":"","variety":"Merlot","price":""},{"name":"Viognier","vintage":"","variety":"Viognier","price":""},{"name":"Grenache Blanc","vintage":"","variety":"Grenache Blanc","price":""},{"name":"Queen's Road White","vintage":"","variety":"","price":""}],"patti":null,"visitor_ratings":[{"source":"google","rating":5.0,"count":14},{"source":"yelp","rating":4.3,"count":6}],"sample_reviews":[{"source":"reddit","reviewer":"u/grapemike","rating":null,"rating_max":null,"text":"Nice batch. I found the Quilceda over the top for my own taste; bang on with the other notes. I think I still have some more Reynvaan, Cayuse, Corliss. Now looking forward to another round!","date":"2024-02-14"}],"critic_scores":[{"wine_name":"Stonessence","vintage":2023,"score":100,"source":"International Wine Report","critic":"International Wine Report","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"Foothills Reserve","vintage":2022,"score":100,"source":"International Wine Report","critic":"International Wine Report","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"Foothills Reserve","vintage":2021,"score":100,"source":"International Wine Report","critic":"International Wine Report","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"Foothills Reserve","vintage":2023,"score":99,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"Stonessence","vintage":2024,"score":98,"source":"Wine Spectator","critic":"Wine Spectator","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"Foothills Reserve","vintage":2022,"score":98,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"The Contender","vintage":2021,"score":98,"source":"Jeb Dunnuck","critic":"Jeb Dunnuck","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"Foothills Reserve","vintage":2021,"score":98,"source":"Jeb Dunnuck","critic":"Jeb Dunnuck","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"The Classic","vintage":2015,"score":98,"source":"Jeb Dunnuck","critic":"Jeb Dunnuck","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"In the Rocks","vintage":2021,"score":97,"source":"Wine Enthusiast","critic":"Wine Enthusiast","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"Foothills Reserve","vintage":2021,"score":97,"source":"Wine Enthusiast","critic":"Wine Enthusiast","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"Foothills Reserve","vintage":2021,"score":97,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"Stonessence","vintage":2019,"score":97,"source":"International Wine Report","critic":"International Wine Report","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"Stonessence","vintage":2018,"score":97,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"Stonessence","vintage":2012,"score":97,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null}],"community_scores":[{"wine_name":"Stonessence Estate Syrah","vintage":2010,"score":98,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.8/5 (36 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Syrah In the Rocks","vintage":2018,"score":96,"source":"Wine Berserkers","critic":"John_Glas","tasting_note":") Day 1: This wine is on par with anything Cayuse is doing and I love Cayuse. White pepper, black olives, roasted meats, spice, dark fruits, minerals, stone and mild smoke. Super complex and super long finish. This is a top wine of the year candidate. 96 points ("},{"wine_name":"The Contender Estate Syrah","vintage":2012,"score":95,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.5/5 (39 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Syrah In the Rocks","vintage":2010,"score":95,"source":"Wine Berserkers","critic":"John_Glas","tasting_note":") _Mixed Offerings at Kenwood (Kenwood Restaurant, Minneapolis)(https://www.cellartracker.com/event.asp?iEvent=43833)_: This wine was unfortunately at the end of the tasting but the star. Finished a glass at home. Holly Cow!!! White pepper, stone, blueberries, cherry, dust, black olives and earth. Concentrated and long finish. This is a top 10 for sure for 2020! Cheaper than Cayuse and is as good! Wow! Day 2: Not as good. Lost the intensity. This is a consume on day 1. _("},{"wine_name":"Stonessence Estate Syrah","vintage":2021,"score":94,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.4/5 (374 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"In The Rocks Estate Syrah","vintage":2014,"score":94,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.4/5 (82 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Syrah In the Rocks","vintage":2010,"score":94,"source":"Wine Berserkers","critic":"John_Glas","tasting_note":") Day 1: Hour decant and much better than the pop and pour. White pepper, roasted meat, spice, underbrush, violets and minerals. This has been one of the better Syrah's in relationship to price in a while. For sure drink these up soon however as this is not as good as the last bottle a little bit ago. 94 points ("},{"wine_name":"In The Hills Estate Syrah","vintage":2013,"score":93,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.3/5 (26 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"In The Rocks Estate Syrah","vintage":2021,"score":92,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.2/5 (609 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"The Contender Estate Syrah","vintage":2021,"score":92,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.2/5 (424 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"The Classic Estate Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2017,"score":92,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.2/5 (31 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"The Unnamed Syrah","vintage":2014,"score":92,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.2/5 (73 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Syrah The Contender","vintage":2008,"score":92,"source":"Wine Berserkers","critic":"Alan_C_h_a_n","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"In The Hills Estate Syrah","vintage":2021,"score":91,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.1/5 (254 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"The Classic Estate Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2021,"score":91,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.1/5 (195 ratings)"}],"events":[]}