{"id":87,"name":"Deux Soldats (Two Soldiers) Estate Vineyard","image_url":"https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipNPrR6gyOpBureFFsiSxVjHp_VtISa8cgkvoxEY=w408-h544-k-no","district":"South","hours":"By reservation Friday - Sundays 12pm - 4pm","hours_type":"limited","dog_friendly":true,"red_wine":true,"white_wine":true,"bubbles":false,"brewery":false,"woman_owned":true,"year_established":2018,"winemaker":"Dave Harvey","website":"https://deuxsoldats.com/about-us/","phone":"+1 509-956-9939","address":"1180 Whiteley Rd, Walla Walla, WA 99362, United States","description":"Deux Soldats pays tribute to two soldiers—owners Eric and Ruthann Haider—who, after Army careers, planted 10 acres of Syrah, Cabernet and Malbec; winemaker Dave Harvey shepherds their estate vines","lat":46.014557,"lng":-118.3498194,"appt_url":"https://deuxsoldats.com/reservation/","walk_in":false,"tasting_fee":"$20 per person, refundable with $50 purchase","explorer_tags":[],"profile":"# Deux Soldats Estate Vineyard — Sommelier Knowledge Profile\n\n## Founding Story\n\nDeux Soldats, meaning \"Two Soldiers\" in French, was founded by Eric and Ruthann Haider, a husband-and-wife team who met while serving in the United States Army. During their long-distance relationship — Ruthann stationed in Washington D.C. and Eric pursuing post-graduate studies in Monterey, California — the couple made frequent visits to Napa Valley, where conversations walking through vineyards sparked an early dream of one day owning a family wine estate. After completing careers spanning more than 20 years each, with numerous military deployments and raising two children, Eric and Ruthann turned that dream into reality by establishing a family wine estate in the Walla Walla Valley of Washington State. The winery's name is a direct tribute to their shared military service and the partnership at the heart of the enterprise.\n\n## Winemaker\n\nDave Harvey serves as winemaker for Deux Soldats, bringing over 28 years of winemaking experience in Washington State. His career includes tenures at several notable Washington wineries, among them Townshend Cellars, Gordon Brothers, Terra Blanca, Bergevin Lane, and Red Band Cellars. Harvey is described as highly knowledgeable about Washington vineyards and has produced a substantial body of work across his career. His role at Deux Soldats is focused on crafting estate wines from the Walla Walla Valley.\n\n## Vineyard Sources\n\nDeux Soldats sources exclusively from its own estate vineyard. The Deux Soldats Estate Vineyard is located within the Walla Walla Valley AVA of Washington State, situated approximately one mile north of the Washington-Oregon border. The vineyard was planted in 2011 at an elevation of 886 feet. Soils are composed of Spofford Silt Loam and sand, along with wind-blown glacial loess — a porous, well-drained, mineral-rich profile well suited to viticulture.\n\nThe estate currently encompasses 10 acres planted to French Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec, with an additional three acres of French Cabernet Franc planned for planting in 2021. Vine spacing is set at four feet between vines and eight feet between north-south rows, yielding a high-density planting of 1,361 vines per acre. This close spacing in low-vigor soil is intentional: competition between vines encourages deeper root development, which the Haiders believe results in more complex fruit.\n\nThe vineyard employs a Vertical Shoot Positioning (VSP) trellis system, which promotes air circulation and even light exposure to support uniform ripening. Given the Walla Walla Valley's average growing season rainfall of eight inches or less, precision drip irrigation is used to manage water delivery, canopy vigor, berry volume, and ultimately wine style and aromatics. The farming philosophy emphasizes producing fruit-forward, balanced wines.\n\nThe vineyard holds certification through the internationally recognized Low Input Viticulture and Enology (LIVE) program for sustainable farming and is also certified Salmon Safe. These certifications reflect a commitment to environmentally responsible viticulture with minimal use of agrochemicals. The vineyard crew is shared with a neighboring sister vineyard, a practical arrangement that supports full-time seasonal employment for their small team.\n\nA beloved estate fixture is Sully, the vineyard dog named by the Haiders' children after a Disney film. He greets visitors upon arrival and serves as an informal alarm system for the property.\n\n## Signature Wines\n\nDeux Soldats specializes in estate-grown Bordeaux and Rhône varieties, specifically French Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and the forthcoming French Cabernet Franc. All wines are produced from their single estate vineyard, giving them a consistent sense of place rooted in the Walla Walla Valley terroir.\n\n## Tasting Room\n\nDeux Soldats is in the process of converting an existing structure on the estate into a tasting room with barrel storage, representing the next phase of the Haiders' vision for the property. The tasting experience is set within the estate vineyard itself, offering visitors an immersive connection to the land.\n\n## Winery Character\n\nDeux Soldats occupies a distinctive niche in the Walla Walla Valley as a true family estate winery built on a foundation of military service and a long-held personal dream. The name, the origin story, and the husband-and-wife ownership model give the winery a deeply personal identity. Their commitment to sustainable, certified farming, high-density estate viticulture, and the use of an experienced Washington State winemaker positions Deux Soldats as a quality-focused, terroir-driven producer. The presence of the estate vineyard, the family character of operations, and touches like the vineyard dog Sully all contribute to an authentic, approachable identity within the broader Walla Walla wine community.","somm_notes":[{"title":"Patti's notes on Deux Soldats","content":"This charming tasting room comes with a stunning view of the Blues. Their Cab Franc Rosé is the perfect summer sipper."}],"wines":[{"name":"Sangiovese Rosé","vintage":"2025","variety":"Sangiovese","price":"$27.00"},{"name":"Sauvignon Blanc","vintage":"2025","variety":"Sauvignon Blanc","price":"$27.00"},{"name":"Winemaker's Blend","vintage":"2023","variety":"Red Blend","price":"$37.00"},{"name":"Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":"2023","variety":"Cabernet Sauvignon","price":"$51.00"},{"name":"Cabernet Franc","vintage":"2023","variety":"Cabernet Franc","price":"$48.00"},{"name":"Petit Verdot","vintage":"2023","variety":"Petit Verdot","price":"$48.00"},{"name":"Winemaker's Blend","vintage":"2022","variety":"Red Blend","price":"$35.00"},{"name":"Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":"2022","variety":"Cabernet Sauvignon","price":"$49.00"}],"patti":null,"visitor_ratings":[{"source":"google","rating":5.0,"count":22},{"source":"yelp","rating":4.7,"count":3}],"sample_reviews":[],"critic_scores":[],"community_scores":[],"events":[{"title":"Military History & Leadership Book Club","start_date":"2026-11-04","start_time":null,"url":"https://deuxsoldats.com/about-us/","is_members_only":false},{"title":"Veterans Day Observance","start_date":"2026-11-14","start_time":null,"url":"https://deuxsoldats.com/about-us/","is_members_only":false}]}