Wawawai Canyon Winery is family owned and operated, and our vineyard is the first commercial vineyard planted in Whitman County since prohibition. We developed the vineyard sites and 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.

​

Hand Crafted

Ben Moffett, our 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

sense for wine to the job. if you stop by for a bottle of

wine or a tasting, he can regale you with his love of wine.

​

The Dream 

David, the vineyard manager, spends a lot of time working there and it is his favorite place to be, especially as the sun sets and turns the hills gold.

David and Stacia Moffett, are retired from Washington State University. It was Stacia's dream to live in a beautiful natural setting and the first time she saw Wawawai Canyon, she said "This is it." The canyon has a rich history and Wawawai (sounds like Hawaii) 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 loaded their fruit on steam boats on the Snake River. Much of that history is under water now, due to the Lower Granite Dam, but Moffetts are glad to be growing fruit in Wawawai again.

Wawawai Canyon Winery and Tasting Room

202 South Montgomery St. 

Uniontown, Washington 99179

(509) 288-0952