Our recent trip to Walla Walla with our auction lot purchasers who contributed so much to Hospice of North Idaho was in short, a blast! We found the town to be vibrant and in so many ways updated from the last time we were there. One of the ironies of owning and running a small retail shop on a day-to-day basis is that it leaves little time to get away to our favorite wine country destinations. It has been a while since we were there.

Last time, the tough economy of the last six years seemed to be taking its toll. Restaurants were fewer, empty storefronts were greater, and energy was more subdued.

Not any more. Many new restaurants have sprung up and the two we visited, Southfork Grill and Brasserie 4, did a great job, with yummy food and lively ambiance. Downtown is busting at the seams with walkable tasting rooms around every corner.

One of the most generous donations to the auction lot was the rooms that the Marcus Whitman graciously contributed. While there are alternatives for your overnight stay, the recently remodeled rooms at this grand old hotel are lovely! The front desk staff was equally gracious and accommodating, adding to what has always been a central location, perfect for wandering around downtown. It is difficult to envision a better base of operations for your wine adventure.

The wineries that contributed free tours and tastings and the distributors who helped with the arrangements all did a great job. Forgeron Cellars, Seven Hills Winery, Long Shadows Winery, Sleight of Hand Cellars, Saviah Cellars, Corliss Winery, Foundry Vineyards, Walla Walla Vintners, Alison Atkins from Click Distributing, Scott Conant from Vehrs, Deb Keller from Idaho Wine Merchant, and Lynne Moyer from Hayden Beverage all deserve great thanks. The hospitality at all of the wineries was fabulous and the wines we tasted were showing beautifully.

Our visit with Griffin Frey, winemaker at Tranche Winery, sister winery to Corliss, was one of the highlights of the trip. Grif hosted us at the breathtaking Corliss facility located just on the north end of downtown. While the building is noticeable as you drive or walk by it, there is no name on the surrounding walls or the structure. An appointment is necessary to taste there, and a kind word from your favorite wine professional will help open the doors, as well. The renovation of the historic structure is spectacular; it is decorated impeccably and kept immaculately clean, from the tasting room to the production facility located on the lower floors. Grif spent over two hours with us, and we tasted three wines from the combined Tranche and Corliss portfolios and countless others out of barrel. It was an extraordinary afternoon.

Long Shadows, too, is a stunning facility, staffed by welcoming and knowledgeable tasting room employees. This combination winery has a compelling strategy, put together by owner Allen Shoup. Allen has assembled the best winemakers from around the world, and brought them to Washington to make the varietals of their native appellations with fruit grown right here in the Northwest. The end products are delicious, and sport some of the most beautiful packaging in the business. The facility is modern and slick, with a fabulous collection of Chihuly glass from the Seattle artist. Tasting at Long Shadows is also by appointment.

One other stop not to be missed is the visit south of town to Saviah and Sleight of Hand, located next to each other; you can easily walk from tasting room to tasting room. Fun and lighthearted, the folks at both facilities are informative and welcoming, and the chance to taste outside on a warm early summer day is the quintessential wine country experience. Add the warmth and generosity of winemakers Rich Funk and Trey Busch of Saviah and Sleight of Hand, respectively, and it is a 10-minute drive that should be made.

This is a worthwhile trip for wine consumers, full of fun and great wine and a manageable three-hour drive from Coeur d'Alene. Many of our friends and neighbors are making that drive, too, based on the number of folks we ran into while we were there. If you go, a couple of phone calls from your favorite wine professional will help make for an even better wine tour - or stop by the shop and let us know when you are headed to Walla Walla, and we will do our best to help with your plans.

If there is a topic you would like to read about, or if you have questions on wine, you can email George@thedinnerpartyshop.com, or make suggestions by contacting the Healthy Community section at the Coeur d'Alene Press.

George Balling is co-owner with his wife Mary Lancaster of the dinner party, a wine and table top decor shop in Coeur d'Alene by Costco. George has also worked as a judge in many wine competitions; his articles are published around the country and is the wine editor for Coeur d'Alene Magazine (www.cdamagazine.com). You can learn more about the dinner party at www.thedinnerpartyshop.com. You can get all of these articles, as well as other great wine tips, by friending us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/dinnerpartyshop.