Wawawai Canyon Winery is family owned and operated, and our vineyard is the first commercial vineyard planted in Whitman County since prohibition. We hand prune the vines, pick the grapes, crush and ferment the juice and age and bottle the wine.  We started in 1994 with a test block of twelve different varietals.  Those that flourished in our distinctive climate were planted in the main vineyard, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah,  Sauvingon Blanc and Rkatsiteli.  We have since added Carmenere, Malbec, and Petit verdot for blending.
 
Ben Moffett, the owner and winemaker, was involved in the vineyard from an early age and went on to earn a Viticulture and Enology degree and brings that expertise and an intuitive sensitivity to making wines.  If you stop by for a bottle of wine or a tasting, he can regale you with his knowledge and love of wine.
    
David, the vineyard manager, spends a lot of time working there and it is his favorite place to be, especially as the sun sets; he refers to this as the “golden hour.”

   
Stacia might pour your wine in the tasting room and entertain you with stories about life in Wawawai and our sustainable grape-growing practices.

 

David and Stacia Moffett are retired from Washington State University. It was Stacia's dream to live in a beautiful natural setting and when she saw Wawawai Canyon, she said "This is it."

 

Wawawai is variously translated from the Nez Perce language as "Council Grounds" or "Place of Mosquitoes." An apple orchard was planted in 1877, and a fruit-growing community was established. Steam boats on the Snake river would dock there to be loaded  with fruit.  Much of that history is under water now, due to the Lower Granite Dam, but the Moffetts honor that history and add to the story today.

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