Hosted by Andrea Casa Bruno Rep
The Reininger Way
"A glass of wine is like climbing, because it’s all about the journey— summiting is just the cherry on top."
—Chuck Reininger
A Natural Progression
Every grape that grows in this valley tells a story of the massive forces that shaped our land thousands of years ago. Every barrel aging in our cellar is infused with these forces, as well as the spirit of Walla Walla—a spirit that has shaped our families for six generations.
The Reininger story begins with Chuck’s early exposure to the great outdoors, sparking a deep connection to the natural world and a passion for adventuring among the elements of Earth. He loved the journey to the summit, the camaraderie, the thrill of discovery, the underlying connection always being the land itself. After spending years as a mountaineering guide on Mt. Rainer, Chuck developed a unique intuition about the environment that made him thirsty to find a new way to “bring the outside in.”
After deciding a brewery wasn’t the right avenue, Chuck began experimenting with home winemaking and advancing his wine education with courses at UC Davis. He officially caught the “wine bug” when he literally got his feet wet crushing grapes for long-time friends at renowned Waterbrook Winery. Sharing the bounty of nature and the excitement of crush solidified a desire to become a part of the winemaking world, in a place where Chuck recognized amazing potential.
“I wasn’t a student of wine, I fell in love with where the wines come from.”
- Chuck
After following Tracy—now Chuck’s wife—to Walla Walla, they launched their dream of owning a premier winery in the promising Walla Walla Valley AVA. They ran Reininger Winery together for five years, successfully growing the business as team of two before joining forces with Tracy’s brothers and parents, fourth and fifth generation wheat farmers in Washington and Oregon.
The Present Day
Today, Chuck attributes his winemaking philosophy to those early adventures.
A patient palate and a trust in the terroir have ensured that every glass poured is perfectly representative of where it came from. It is this dedication that has made Reininger one of Washington’s top wineries.
$20 per person | 🍷 $5 off for Wine Club Members
$15 off all take home bottles!!
Reservations: Reserve your spot on opentable "Mention: Thursday Night Tasting in the notes"