What guests ask before they book
If your question is not here, call (509) 540-3600 and ask Ryan directly. For the whole process in order, see how to plan a wine tour.
Planning your day
How much does a private wine tour cost?
The Weekend and Early Week tours are quoted by the hour, and the Origins Tour by the day. For two guests, rates start at $85 per hour Sunday through Wednesday and $95 per hour Thursday through Saturday, with a four- and five-hour minimum respectively. Most days run five and a half to six and a half hours, and the rate is the same for every hour. Larger groups are priced by party size. Shared, per-person tours are $95 per guest, or $115 with lunch. Winery tasting fees are paid separately at each winery, lunch on a private tour is paid separately, gratuity is at your discretion, and prices exclude tax.
How far ahead should I book?
Harvest — September and October — and summer weekends fill first, and two to three months ahead is sensible for those. Midweek dates and the winter months are often open on shorter notice, sometimes within the same week. If your dates are close, call rather than email.
Do you require a deposit?
A deposit is typically 50% of the projected service cost, with the balance due within 48 hours after the service concludes. Because most tours are quoted rather than priced from a list, the exact figure comes with your quote.
What is your cancellation and refund policy?
Deposits are refunded on a sliding scale based on how far ahead you cancel: cancel 45 or more days before your scheduled service and the deposit is refunded in full; cancel 21 to 44 days before and half the deposit is refunded; inside 21 days of the service date the deposit is non-refundable. We confirm these terms in writing with your booking.
How many wineries will we visit?
Most private days include three wineries. The exact number depends on the route and on the appointment times we can get: most of the estate wineries outside town run on booked slots, so we build the day around what is actually available. We plan a pace that is not a race, and you will have the plan before you arrive.
Do you offer shared or per-person tours?
Yes. Shared tours are $95 per guest, or $115 with lunch, and run five hours any day of the week — curated to the same standard as our private days, with the added pleasure of meeting people who share your interests. Sunday through Wednesday they depart with a minimum of two guests; Thursday through Saturday the minimum is six. They are operated by our team and booked through our partner, Walla Walla Travel.
Can our group book a shared tour together?
It’s possible, but there’s a point/group size where it’s a better value to go with a private tour (typically 9 or more guests, but please contact us for more information).
How can we visit Walla Walla wineries without driving?
Book a private or a shared wine tour. On a private tour, Northwest Touring & Concierge picks your group up at your hotel or rental, sets the tasting appointments and drives you between wineries; for two guests it is from $85 an hour Sunday through Wednesday and $95 an hour Thursday through Saturday. A shared tour is five hours on a route set in advance, at $95 per guest, booked through our partner Walla Walla Travel.
Do we need appointments at the tasting rooms?
Many of the estate wineries outside town take guests by appointment, and the most popular tasting rooms downtown fill up on weekends. We set every appointment as part of planning your day, so each winery is expecting you when you arrive.
Weekend or midweek — which is better?
Weekends have the fullest slate of open tasting rooms and the most energy. Midweek, Sunday through Wednesday, is quieter: staff are less stretched, conversations run longer, and the hourly rate is lower. If tasting and talking matter more to you than atmosphere, come midweek.
On the day
Is lunch included?
On a private tour, we plan lunch into the day and arrange it before you arrive, either brought in to sit alongside a midday tasting or at a restaurant downtown; the meal itself is paid separately. On a shared tour, lunch is included at the $115 rate.
Where do you pick up and drop off?
Your hotel, your rental or the airport, door to door. On a tour day, the same guide stays with you from pickup to drop-off. Evening and dinner service after a downtown drop-off is available if you want it.
What vehicle will we be in?
A late-model Mercedes-Benz Sprinter — high roof, climate control and storage for the cases you buy. We have run most vehicle types over the years and settled on these.
How large a group can you take?
Groups of up to 14 ride together in a single Sprinter, and larger groups travel together across several, on one plan for the day. Private tours are priced by party size, so tell us how many are coming when you inquire and we will quote the day for your group.
Can we buy wine along the way?
Yes, and there is case storage in the vehicle. Most wineries can ship to most states and many ship internationally, so you can buy freely and have it sent home rather than carry it.
Can we bring children or guests under 21?
Yes. Guests of any age are welcome to ride along; only guests 21 and over taste. Let us know who is coming when you inquire, so we can plan stops that welcome younger guests.
Can we bring our dog?
Yes, with notice. Tell us when you inquire: not every winery allows dogs, so we plan stops that do. Service animals are always welcome.
Can you accommodate guests with limited mobility?
We help guests in and out at every stop, and our Sprinters are easy to walk into, with headroom to stand. They do not have a wheelchair lift, so tell us about any mobility needs when you inquire and we will plan the day around them.
Can we bring snacks or drinks on board?
Snacks are welcome, and we provide water. Outside alcohol is not allowed in the vehicle.
About the valley
What is the Walla Walla Valley known for?
Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot above all, along with Bordeaux blends that have built the valley’s reputation. The appellation crosses the Washington–Oregon border and holds well over a hundred wineries, ranging from founding family estates to rooms opened in the last few years.
What is The Rocks District?
The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater is a small sub-appellation on the Oregon side of the valley, named for the cobblestones left by the Walla Walla River. Those stones give its Syrah a distinctly savory character, and it is one of the most sought-after growing areas in the Northwest. We visit it regularly.
When is the best time of year to visit?
Late spring through harvest is the most rewarding stretch. September and October bring the valley to life as fruit comes in, though the calendar tightens and tasting rooms are busy. Spring is quieter and green, and winter brings the most unhurried tastings of the year.
Beyond the valley
Do you drive outside the Walla Walla Valley?
Yes. The Rocks District in Oregon, Columbia Valley and the Tri-Cities, Yakima Valley, Willamette Valley, Seattle and Woodinville, Spokane, and multi-day itineraries across the Northwest. We are licensed in Washington State and for interstate travel, so the state line isn't a limit. Every multi-day trip is different, so contact us to talk yours through.
Which airport should we fly into?
Pasco (PSC) is the practical arrival for most guests. Walla Walla Regional (ALW) works well if routing through Seattle is convenient for you, and Eastern Oregon Regional in Pendleton (PDT) if connecting through Portland is. We pick you up at any of the three, timed to your arrival. We can also arrange pickups from Spokane, Seattle, Portland and Boise.
How do we get from the Pasco airport (PSC) to Walla Walla?
Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco is about 50 miles from Walla Walla, roughly an hour’s drive. We provide private, door-to-door transfers from Pasco to your hotel or rental anywhere in the valley, timed to your flights and quoted for your group. We also provide transfers from Walla Walla Regional (ALW) and from Eastern Oregon Regional in Pendleton (PDT).
Do you handle corporate groups and events?
Yes — retreats, client outings, weddings, release parties and private dinners. For weddings we run guest shuttles between hotels and the venue, and transportation for the wedding party. Our partner Walla Walla Travel can take on venues, lodging and the rest of the planning.
Do you do golf trips?
Yes — door-to-door golf transportation and combined wine-and-golf days in the Walla Walla Valley, in the same licensed Sprinters, to courses including Wine Valley Golf Club. We coordinate tee times when asked. Rates on request.
Licensing
Are you licensed and insured?
Fully. We are licensed in Washington State by the Utilities and Transportation Commission, and for interstate travel by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (USDOT 3603851, MC 1225087). The federal authority is what lets us carry passengers across the state line, including on the Oregon side of the valley. We are fully insured, with a certificate of insurance available on request, and our licensing page links to the public federal record.
We would be happy to take a few no pressure minutes talking through your trip, sharing insights and helping you plan, ideally including a tour with us, but we are happy to help ensure you have a wonderful time in Walla Walla either way.
