Walla Walla Bold in the Heart of Pinot Country: Zerba Cellars tasting room in Dundee 

After a recent visit to Bravuro Cellars, the team there pointed us toward another stop that sounded almost too good to be true: a Walla Walla winery with a small tasting room right in Dundee. We headed over to Zerba Cellars at 810 Hwy 99W, and we were blown away by the selection of bold reds.

Don’t be surprised by the quaint tasting room. From the outside it is very modest — a small, unassuming spot along 99W that you could easily drive past. What you find inside more than makes up for it. This is Walla Walla Valley fruit poured in the middle of Pinot country, and the wines have the depth and confidence to prove it.

Zerba is an estate winery based in Milton-Freewater, on the Oregon side of the Walla Walla Valley, making wine since 2002. Founders Cecil and Marilyn Zerba farm three estate vineyards and grow a wide range of varieties - Cabernet, Syrah, Italian reds, Rhône grapes, and Spanish Tempranillo among them. That diversity is the whole point of a stop like this: you can taste serious eastern Oregon reds without leaving the Dundee Hills.

The Tempranillo was the standout for us. It was delicious, with that classic Tempranillo finish of pepper right at the end - savory, clean, and exactly what you hope for from the grape. The rest of the bold-red lineup held up just as well. If you scan their awards list, you quickly see this winery is not a joke. Zerba has stacked Platinum medals for years, was named Wine Press Northwest’s Pacific Northwest Winery of the Year, and has taken Best of Show and Double Gold honors across competitions, including strong showings for Tempranillo and their popular Wild Z blend.

A typical flight here is a white, a rosé in season, and several bold reds, often with a bonus pour. No reservations are required. The modest tasting fee is waived with a bottle purchase, which is an easy decision once you’ve tasted through the reds.

Visit Zerba Cellars – Dundee Tasting Room
810 Hwy 99W, Dundee, OR 97115
(503) 537-9463
Open daily, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. (last tasting at 4:15 p.m.)
No reservations required

If you’re in Dundee and craving something bigger than Pinot, this is an easy, rewarding detour. The building is small. The wines are not.

Cheers,
Dave & Carla
Wine Country Accents