HOUSE OF SMITH

HOUSE OF SMITH’s World Headquarters in Walla Walla, Washington, puts Charles Smith’s wines inside a converted auto-repair warehouse just off Main Street. At 35 South Spokane Street, the tasting room trades vineyard scenery for downtown convenience and industrial architecture. Two large, crank-operated steel swing windows, part of the Olson Kundig design, open onto sidewalk seating. Those windows and the music give the room its character; this is no farmhouse tasting stop.

Smith’s wine story begins with 330 cases of 1999 K Syrah, and Syrah remains a central reason to know HOUSE OF SMITH. K Vintners focuses on small-lot, single-vineyard wines, including Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Tempranillo and Sangiovese, with hand-picked grapes, naturally occurring yeasts and basket pressing. The broader family stretches beyond reds: SIXTO concentrates on old-vine Washington Chardonnay, while CasaSmith explores Italian varieties such as Barbera, Primitivo and Sangiovese using Washington fruit.

The downtown tasting room welcomes walk-ins Tuesday through Sunday, with wine flights and glass or bottle service. Indoor seating is limited, so reservations make sense, and groups of eight or more need to call ahead. Live music changes the format: service shifts to glasses and bottles rather than tasting flights. Children are welcome, and dogs can join their owners at the exterior seating.