Review: L' Ecole No 41 Winery
On Highway 12 going to Walla Walla, you'll find L'Ecole No 41 winery just outside the town of Lowden. Like the other wineries on Highway 12 coming east into town, L'Ecole is a frequent stop for folks traveling to Walla Walla. And this Monday visit was no exception, with about a half dozen cars in the parking lot.
L'Ecole No 41 is named after the school house in which it is located. It is a beautifully restored building that was originally constructed in 1915. L'Ecole produces about 30,000 cases each year, making it one of the larger wineries in the Walla Walla area. They feature cabernet sauvignon, merlot, syrah, chardonnay, semillon and chenin blanc made with fruit from a vareity of appelations.
Their tasting room on the second floor reflects this size, offering a large space to taste and walk around. In fact, when walking into the room, you kind get the sense this is a "stroll up to the bar and get a drink" kind of place. It's clearly a room that can accomodate large groups, if not busloads of people.
Carla, the woman pouring wine, was friendly and knowledgeable. She offered a menu list of 11 wines in all - all complimentary tastings - 5 white and 6 red wines. With a young couple and a family of four also present at the time of my visit, Carla was fairly busy, but still attentive to our needs. She took a "pour your wine and not linger" approach, but made herself available if you had questions.
Besides selling wine, the tasting room is your typical winery gift shop, offering all kinds of clothing. In fact, you could probably purchase just about every piece of clothing you need to dress yourself up in the L'Ecole logo. For me, I find it kind of cheesy to be in a place like this, but clearly they are successful selling the stuff or it would not be there.
Overall, I found L'Ecole to be a bit less personal and experiential than other wineries I have visited. Other than enjoying the building's history, I left without being able to make any type of tangible connection to the place. The school house alone makes it worth the stop on your way into town, as the site is truly unique.
Also, if you're with a large group, then it can clearly accomodate you, although their website suggests calling first to make an appointment if you're traveling with 10+ people. In addition, you'll be charged $3 per person for group tastings.
