{"id":94,"name":"Floating Balance Cellars","image_url":"https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/p/AF1QipNstlImngq6KSiMt1uuwqw22F4R3isAiNPj8M-n=w408-h544-k-no","district":"South","hours":"Mon Tues – closed\nWed Thurs – by appointment\nFri - Sun 11am-4pm","hours_type":"appointment","dog_friendly":true,"red_wine":true,"white_wine":true,"bubbles":false,"brewery":false,"woman_owned":false,"year_established":2022,"winemaker":"David Kreindel and Shane Erickson","website":"http://www.floatingbalance.com/","phone":"+1 509-520-3869","address":"2100 Stateline Rd, Walla Walla, WA 99362, United States","description":"Floating Balance finds equilibrium between flavor, art and time; their small‑batch wines feature labels by artist Frankie Laufer, embodying the fleeting balance of wine and art","lat":46.0006952,"lng":-118.3606632,"appt_url":"https://www.floatingbalance.com/reservations/","walk_in":false,"tasting_fee":"$20 per person waived with bottle purchase","explorer_tags":["bold reds"],"profile":"# Floating Balance Cellars — Knowledge Profile\n\n## Founding Story\n\nFloating Balance Cellars was born from a spontaneous act of faith between two friends who purchased a vineyard on Walla Walla's Southside and committed themselves to crafting exceptional wine from outstanding grapes. The winery's origin story is rooted in serendipity — the founders did not follow a conventional path into winemaking but rather embraced an opportunity and built from the ground up. With professional guidance to manage the land and an experienced winemaker brought in to handle production, the venture evolved from a leap of faith into a fully realized wine brand. The winery's governing philosophy is encapsulated in its tagline: **Science | Art | Time**, and its name is drawn from a quote attributed to A. Caruba: *\"A great glass of wine is like a Floating Balance of flavor.\"* The founders describe their mission as celebrating the land, climate, and tradition through meticulous attention to detail at every stage, from vine to bottle.\n\n## Winemaker / Ownership\n\nFloating Balance Cellars is owned and operated by **David Kreindel** and **Shane Erickson**, who serve dual roles as founders and hands-on stewards of the winery's direction.\n\n**Shane Erickson** was raised in Lewiston, Idaho and holds a degree in Food Science from Washington State University. He spent much of his professional career as a director in Food Safety and Environmental Affairs. Building on that scientific foundation, he completed his Enology certification through WSU and is currently pursuing further studies in Viticulture. His personal interests include horology — specifically clock and watch collecting and repair — as well as swimming and competing in triathlons throughout the Pacific Northwest.\n\n**David Kreindel** grew up in Southern California and first developed an appreciation for wine while studying abroad in France as a young man. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in French from California State University and built a career in international tourism and hospitality sales, leveraging his language skills throughout. His immersion in French wine culture is reflected in the winery's appreciation for Old World tradition balanced with New World craft.\n\nThe vineyards are professionally managed by **Walla Walla Vineyard Management**, a family-owned consulting business that assists with varietal selection, vineyard design and installation, irrigation, and all aspects of winemaking from harvest through bottling.\n\n## Vineyard Sources\n\nFloating Balance Cellars draws from multiple vineyard sources across two AVAs, with an emphasis on quality of site.\n\n**Aria Vineyard (Estate)** — Located on Walla Walla's Southside, this 11.5-acre estate vineyard was planted in 1996 and was formerly part of the celebrated Pheasant Run Vineyard. The Southside terroir is well recognized for producing high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Soils are Spofford Loam with fine silty characteristics. Rows are oriented north to south, allowing morning and evening sun to reach opposite sides of the canopy. The vineyard offers views toward the Blue Mountains and is surrounded by neighboring acclaimed producers.\n\n**Breezy Slope** — The source for the winery's Pinot Noir and Rosé, this vineyard features north-to-south row orientation. Warm, sunny summer days promote excellent ripening and deep color development, while cool nights preserve natural acidity well into October.\n\n**Rose Oasis Vineyard (Columbia Valley)** — Situated west of the Columbia River, approximately five miles northwest of Benton City and the Red Mountain AVA, this Columbia Valley site is the source for Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris. The vines tend to fall over the wires and self-shade, lowering fruit zone temperatures and preserving the variety's characteristic grassiness. Sauvignon Blanc has been sourced here since 2021; Pinot Gris since 2022.\n\n**Sagemoor Vineyard Complex (Columbia Valley)** — Located on the east bank of the Columbia River, five to ten miles north of the Tri-Cities, this historic vineyard complex encompasses Sagemoor, Bacchus, and Dionysus Vineyards and was originally planted in the 1970s. Sandy loam soils produce some of Washington's most praised white and red wines. Floating Balance sources Sauvignon Blanc from this complex.\n\nThe winery's overarching vineyard philosophy emphasizes a **vineyard-first, holistic approach** with a strong commitment to sustainability, ecosystem health, and connection to sustainable food systems.","somm_notes":[],"wines":[{"name":"Lost in Time","vintage":"2026","variety":"Red Blend","price":"$49.00"},{"name":"Albarino","vintage":"2025","variety":"Albarino","price":"$29.00"},{"name":"Rose","vintage":"2025","variety":"Rosé","price":"$29.00"},{"name":"Estate Merlot","vintage":"2023","variety":"Merlot","price":"$49.00"},{"name":"Pinot Gris","vintage":"2023","variety":"Pinot Gris","price":"$29.00"},{"name":"Estate Cabernet Sauvignon","vintage":"2022","variety":"Cabernet Sauvignon","price":"$49.00"},{"name":"Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve","vintage":"2022","variety":"Cabernet Sauvignon","price":"$52.00"},{"name":"Syrah","vintage":"2022","variety":"Syrah","price":"$49.00"},{"name":"Sauvignon Blanc","vintage":"2022","variety":"Sauvignon Blanc","price":"$29.00"},{"name":"Lost in Time","vintage":"","variety":"Red Blend","price":"$49"}],"patti":null,"visitor_ratings":[{"source":"yelp","rating":5.0,"count":1},{"source":"google","rating":5.0,"count":3}],"sample_reviews":[],"critic_scores":[],"community_scores":[],"events":[]}