{"id":71,"name":"Tranche","image_url":"https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/gps-cs-s/AC9h4nqWlhqKTGwBK4uEDY5O8YxgsC5Ej93ecuA26UxMmQ9AsfCQeow8uWMLeubsMcHoTupD350PiMfKhsFzMnAmC3t6WL80FVEIG10VrdPr0-mawTWaPaPdKIn1n94Ran2W1j6F2tutDQ=w408-h541-k-no","district":"East","hours":"Mon - Thu 12pm - 5pm \nFri 12pm - 9pm \nSat 11am - 9pm \nSun 11am - 5pm","hours_type":"limited","dog_friendly":true,"red_wine":true,"white_wine":true,"bubbles":false,"brewery":false,"woman_owned":false,"year_established":2004,"winemaker":"Spencer Williams","website":"https://www.tranche.wine/about/","phone":"(509) 526-3500","address":"705 Berney Dr, Walla Walla, WA 99362","description":"In the Blue Mountain foothills, Tranche crafts expressive, aromatic wines; deeply textured reds and elegant whites reinterpret Rhône blends with Washington clarity and live music","lat":46.0630149,"lng":-118.2841281,"appt_url":"https://www.tranche.wine/visit","walk_in":false,"tasting_fee":"$25 per person waived with a $40 bottle purchase","explorer_tags":["relaxed","scenic","lighter reds","white/rose","dog","occasions"],"profile":"# Tranche — Winery Knowledge Profile\n\n## Founding Story\n\nTranche was founded by husband-and-wife team Michael and Lauri Corliss, who together brought complementary backgrounds to building a lasting wine enterprise. Michael Corliss, a fourth-generation Washington State native, built a successful real estate investment portfolio before transitioning into the wine business in 1999. His passion for wine was sparked in his twenties when he had the opportunity to taste wines from the former cellar of Alfred Hitchcock — classic, well-cellared bottles that shaped his palate and continue to inform and inspire every decision he makes in wine. Lauri Corliss brings a background in banking, real estate, and development, and deepened her wine knowledge over years of traveling and acquiring wines at auction, where she developed a refined understanding of quality and attention to detail across the full spectrum of winemaking. Together, the Corlisses established Tranche on a spectacular site in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, east of Walla Walla, with a stated devotion to crafting \"expressive, aromatic and beautifully defined wines.\" Their vision encompasses both deeply textured reds that convey the unique character of the land and elegant whites and rosé that offer a New World interpretation of classic Rhône blends.\n\n## Winemaker\n\nSpencer Williams serves as Winemaker at Tranche. He grew up on Vashon Island, Washington, and began developing his palate while studying wine at Central Washington University. His formative international experience working with Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling in New Zealand ignited a particular passion for white winemaking — a sensibility that continues to shape his approach. This drew him to Walla Walla in 2012, when he joined Tranche. In his role, Spencer oversees all production from vine to bottle and is committed to the goal of producing entirely estate-grown, terroir-driven wines that push the boundaries of what is possible in Washington State.\n\n## Vineyard Sources\n\nTranche draws from three distinct vineyard sources, each contributing a unique expression to the portfolio.\n\n**Blue Mountain Estate Vineyard** is Tranche's flagship estate, located in the foothills of the Blue Mountains east of Walla Walla within the Walla Walla Valley AVA. The vineyard climbs to elevations as high as 1,265 feet, offering exceptional airflow, moderate rainfall, and balanced sun exposure that together maximize the growing season, protect against frost and winter freeze, ensure physiological ripening, promote acid retention, and minimize the need for irrigation. Red varieties — Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah — anchor the estate, while 11 acres are planted to Rhône white varieties including Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne, Viognier, Picpoul, and Clairette Blanche, with some of the first plantings of these varieties in Washington State. Tranche farms at low yields for maximum fruit intensity and concentration, employs sustainable farming methods, and is steadily moving toward biodynamic viticulture. All farming and harvesting is carried out by hand. Recent plantings have focused on increased clonal and rootstock diversity to add depth and complexity.\n\n**Celilo Vineyard**, located high above the Columbia River in the Columbia Gorge AVA, is described as long considered the finest white wine vineyard in Washington State. The 71-acre dry-farmed site sits at elevations ranging from 800 to 1,200 feet in a sub-alpine location at the intersection of wetter maritime weather from the west and high desert conditions from the east. Soils originate from the extinct volcanic cone of Underwood Mountain — deep, moisture-retentive soils that allow the vines to survive without irrigation, producing wines with concentration, minerality, and high natural acidity. Varieties planted include Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir.\n\n**Blackrock Vineyard** sits on the eastern edge of the Yakima Valley AVA, near Red Mountain. Planted on steep, rocky slopes since 1998, the vineyard covers over 50 acres and offers a range of soil profiles, aspects, row orientations, and microclimates. Varieties include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault, and Counoise. The site's climate runs 5 to 10 degrees cooler on average than nearby Red Mountain, making it particularly well suited to Tranche's delicate, mineral, acid-driven style. The vineyard is sustainably farmed, with most operations carried out by hand due to the rugged terrain.\n\n## Signature Wines\n\nTranche's portfolio centers on two primary stylistic pillars. **Pape Blanc** is the winery's benchmark Rhône-style white, assembled each year from the finest components of Grenache Blanc, Roussanne, Marsanne, Viognier, Picpoul, and Clairette Blanche grown at Blue Mountain Estate. **Pink Pape** is the winery's rosé, expressly crafted from Blackrock Vineyard fruit to showcase a delicate, mineral, and acid-driven character that the site's cooler microclimate uniquely enables. The flagship red wines from Blue Mountain Estate — Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah — are known for classic varietal characteristics and fine, polished tannins.\n\n## Winery Character\n\nTranche occupies a distinctive position in Walla Walla as a winery deeply committed to estate-grown, terroir-driven winemaking across both Bordeaux and Rhône variety traditions. The winery is notably progressive in its white and rosé programs, having planted some of the first Rhône white varieties in Washington State and continuing to champion varieties such as Picpoul and Clairette Blanche alongside established names. The combination of a high-elevation Blue Mountain estate, a renowned dry-farmed Columbia Gorge vineyard source, and a sustainably managed Yakima Valley site gives Tranche an unusually broad yet cohesive identity. Winery operations are managed by Katie Davis, daughter of the Corliss founders, who oversees Tranche alongside sibling wineries Corliss, Secret Squirrel, and San Juan Vineyard.","somm_notes":[],"wines":[{"name":"Pink Pape","vintage":"2025","variety":"Rosé","price":"$28.00"},{"name":"Pinot Gris Orange Wine","vintage":"2025","variety":"Pinot Gris","price":"$28.00"},{"name":"Pape Blanc","vintage":"2023","variety":"White Blend","price":"$35.00"},{"name":"Pape","vintage":"2023","variety":"Red Blend","price":"$45.00"},{"name":"Grenache","vintage":"2023","variety":"Grenache","price":"$45.00"},{"name":"Chardonnay","vintage":"2022","variety":"Chardonnay","price":"$48.00"},{"name":"Syrah","vintage":"2022","variety":"Syrah","price":"$45.00"},{"name":"Cabernet Franc","vintage":"2022","variety":"Cabernet Franc","price":"$50.00"},{"name":"Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":"2022","variety":"Cabernet Sauvignon","price":"$60.00"},{"name":"Ice Wine","vintage":"2022","variety":"Ice Wine","price":"$45.00"}],"patti":null,"visitor_ratings":[{"source":"tripadvisor","rating":4.4,"count":32},{"source":"yelp","rating":4.2,"count":48}],"sample_reviews":[{"source":"yelp","reviewer":"Laura C.","rating":null,"rating_max":5.0,"text":"We paid for a flight and got:  \n2014 Chardonnay\n2013 Cab Franc\n2013 Cab Sauv\n2013 Syrah \nBonus barrel wine, not to be released until end of 2019.","date":null},{"source":"yelp","reviewer":"Khoa N.","rating":null,"rating_max":5.0,"text":"Went here with a group of 10 people, we did a tasting of the 2018 Chardonnay, 2019 Pape, 2019 Syrah, and the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon.","date":null}],"critic_scores":[{"wine_name":"'Pape Blanc' White Wine","vintage":2023,"score":95,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Pape' Red Wine","vintage":2023,"score":95,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"Syrah","vintage":2021,"score":95,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"Cabernet Franc","vintage":2021,"score":95,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2021,"score":95,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Pape' Red Wine","vintage":2021,"score":95,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Estate' Pinot Gris","vintage":2025,"score":94,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Pape Blanc' White Wine","vintage":2021,"score":94,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Pink Pape' Rose","vintage":2025,"score":93,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Pape' Red Wine","vintage":2017,"score":93,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Estate' Syrah","vintage":2017,"score":93,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Pink Pape' Rose","vintage":2023,"score":92,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Estate' Chardonnay","vintage":2017,"score":92,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Pape Blanc' White Wine","vintage":2017,"score":92,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null},{"wine_name":"'Estate' Cabernet Franc","vintage":2017,"score":92,"source":"Owen Bargreen","critic":"Owen Bargreen","tasting_note":null}],"community_scores":[{"wine_name":"Blackrock Vineyard Pink Pape Rosé","vintage":2018,"score":93,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.3/5 (35 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Estate Grown Cabernet Franc","vintage":2015,"score":93,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.3/5 (57 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Slice of Pape Red","vintage":2012,"score":93,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.3/5 (31 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Estate Pape","vintage":2017,"score":92,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.2/5 (53 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Blue Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Franc","vintage":2012,"score":92,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.2/5 (39 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Syrah Estate","vintage":2012,"score":92,"source":"Wine Berserkers","critic":"John_Glas","tasting_note":") Very nice with spice, cherry, floral, minerals, earth and mushrooms. Medium finish. Drink now. ("},{"wine_name":"Blue Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2010,"score":92,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.2/5 (39 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Estate Grown Pape Blanc","vintage":2020,"score":91,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.1/5 (29 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Blue Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":2017,"score":91,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.1/5 (274 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Barbera","vintage":2012,"score":91,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.1/5 (25 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Estate Grown Cabernet Franc","vintage":null,"score":92,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.2/5 (338 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Blue Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":null,"score":91,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.1/5 (274 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":null,"score":91,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.1/5 (87 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Estate Grown Chardonnay","vintage":null,"score":91,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.1/5 (45 ratings)"},{"wine_name":"Blackrock Vineyard Pink Pape Rosé","vintage":null,"score":90,"source":"Vivino","critic":null,"tasting_note":"Vivino community: 4.0/5 (412 ratings)"}],"events":[{"title":"SUM People","start_date":"2026-10-31","start_time":null,"url":"https://www.tranche.wine/livemusic/2026/10/31/sum-people","is_members_only":false},{"title":"Tranche or Treat","start_date":"2026-10-31","start_time":null,"url":"https://www.tranche.wine/livemusic/2026/10/31/tranche-or-treat","is_members_only":false}]}