Tertulia Cellars

By Brooke Young

On my first visit to Walla Walla last June, I tasted wine at some great places, but the visit to Tertulia Cellars elevated the experience for me in many ways. The new tasting room had just been completed, and its vivid red and gold facade and funky interior décor was in great contrast to the rows of army buildings that make up the airport tasting rooms. We tasted a Viognier, two different Syrahs and my favorite everyday wine that Tertulia just calls Red Table Wine. But best of all, winemaker Ryan Raber took us down to the cellar and let us sample Tempranillo right out of the barrel. I can tell you that nothing is so delightful as standing on the cold stone floor and talking wine with the person who makes it, and we felt special getting this time with him and his incredible wine.

I left Tertulia that day with two cases of wine and my very first membership in any wine club.

Membership benefits at Tertulia include discounts up to twenty percent on wine purchases; tasting notes and technical information shipped with each order; tasting fees waived for members and up to four guests; priority access to purchase limited releases and special cellar selections; and exclusive invitations to special Wine Club events.

This August, members are invited to the winery to celebrate the release of the 2006 Sobra (the new version of their Red Table Wine) and the 2006 Pepper Bridge Merlot. There will be a reception followed by a Winemaker’s Full Moon BBQ Dinner outside, behind Tertulia’s new facility. This is a great opportunity to check out the new production facility and talk with winemaker Ryan Raber all about his new playground. It is also a wonderful chance to meet the new Vineyard Manager, Ryan Driver, who will be leading tours around the baby vines and talking about the future of their Whistling Hills Vineyard.

This kind of access to winery and winemakers are what make this wine club so special. When I call, email or drop by Tertulia, they know who I am. Tertulia is a Spanish word meaning “a social gathering of friends,” and that convivial feeling is the spirit behind the people that make Tertulia Cellars such a great place to visit and the wine so good to drink.