Bledsoe | McDaniels – Schafer Estate in Walla Walla

“Let me start by saying — we came for the wine, but we stayed for the charm, the laughs, and the moment. We briefly considered abandoning all of our worldly responsibilities to become full-time grape whisperers. This fabulous Walla Walla winery delivered an experience so good, it nearly restructured our DNA. The wines? Spectacular. We're talking "angels breakdancing on your taste buds" level. But the real gem? The wine expert John. Picture a sommelier crossed with a stand-up comedian and a pinch of wine wizard. Not only could he recite the terroir history like a bedtime story for adults, but he also dropped wine knowledge bombs with the kind of dry wit that made our Pinot Noir(s) nearly exit our noses from laughter. Highlights included: ** A Merlot so smooth it should come with a velvet smoking jacket. ** A bold red blend that was basically liquid confidence in a glass. We felt ready to negotiate world peace after two sips. To sum it up: if you’re in Walla Walla and you don’t stop by this winery, you’re doing life wrong. Go. Laugh. Sip. Buy a case. Pretend you’re a wine connoisseur even if your usual pairing is “whatever’s open” and string cheese. Cheers to wine, wit, and the best Walla Walla welcome we could’ve asked for. 🍷”

“A highlight of our first visit to Walla Walla. Private tastings require an exceptional host, and John knocked it out of the park. We thoroughly enjoyed learning everything from winemaker background to AVA history to the anatomy of a grape! The wines highlighted were, by far, the most complex and approachable of the trip. We look forward to enjoying the bottles we took home and will certainly be back for more!”

“Absolutely phenomenal experience at Bledsoe-McDaniels... we entered through the private gate and were greeted at the door upon arrival. All tastings are private, so we had John all to ourselves! We started with a vineyard tour while enjoying a stunning Pinot Noir before moving inside. John was extremely knowledgeable about the wines specifically and the wine-making / vineyard process. The tasting included 2 Pinots and 2 Syrahs - all were by far the best we had in Walla Walla all weekend. Absolutely magnificent. The price point is high in comparison to others ($80+), but worth the increase. John was generous with the pours as we went back and forth debating what to buy! Highly highly recommend.”

“Private tastings by reservation only. High quality, but pricey wines. We definitely enjoyed our experience with John, and even learned a few things in the vineyard, which is a new thing for us, as we have done close to a hundred tastings all over the world.”

“We had such a lovely experience at this tasting! John was a perfect host and so informative in a very friendly and funny way. We actually went out to look at the grapes on the vine and he explained how the grapes are cared for, the soil, the ground cover, and many other things one would never think of. It goes without saying that the wine itself was the star of the show! It's a bit of a drive out there but totally worth every minute and mile!”