A few miles south of downtown Walla Walla amongst acres of wheat fields, a new colorful winery has arisen.

Tertulia Cellars is a place that stands out amongst its peers in terms of architecture and design. From the outside, one is immediately struck by the bold multi-colored building as a place that might be taking a different approach to the winery experience. Walking inside only confirms what these folks have brought to the Walla Walla Valley: a place designed to be a social gathering around wine.

The approach Tertulia Cellars is taking with their tasting room is in keeping with the translation of their Spanish name, "a social gathering of friends". Entering their tasting room, I was taken by the large circular bar, the high tables and chairs, and the cozy den of couches and chairs surrounding a warm fireplace. It is a space conducive to socializing with others while sampling Tertulia wines.

For a $5 refundable fee, visitors can taste five wines which on the Saturday I visited were being poured by Christine, Tertulia's tasting room manager. The line up on this day included an '06 viognier, '05 cab, '05 merlot, '05 red table wine, and an '06 tempranillo. While pouring each taste, Christine provided a good overview of where the grapes were sourced and how the wine was made. I was impressed with her knowledge of and enthusiasm for each wine.

Unlike other wineries, Tertulia Cellars built their tasting room first and then proceeded to construct the winemaking facility in stages as additions. This backward approach clearly breaks the mold on traditional winery construction, whereby many places end up with an undersized and unimpressive tasting room. At Tertulia, their spacious, comfortable tasting room takes center stage.

As a result of my visit, I ended up purchasing a bottle of the '06 viognier and a bottle of the '05 cabernet sauvignon. Both wines appealed to me for their food friendliness. However, I remain a bit confused by the label on the '05 cab, which states that it is a Columbia Valley wine, even though the tasting notes specify that most of the fruit was sourced from the Pepper Bridge Vineyard in Walla Walla Valley. Furthermore, the percentages in the tasting notes add up to 104%, suggesting something is amiss here. It was a distinction that I did not pick up on until writing this post.

Tasting notes aside, Tertulia's setting, service, and stories made for an enjoyable visit and an opportunity to see how breaking the traditional mold is a good thing when it comes to experiencing wine. I look forward to returning to this winery with friends or family for it is a place that invites one and all to gather together over some enjoyable wine.

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