WALLA WALLA, Wash. - The world's largest travel site has named Walla Walla one of the top wine destinations in the nation.
Trip Advisor, the world's largest travel site, just announced the winners of its 2012 Traveler's Choice Wine Destinations Awards which are based on reviews from millions of travelers.
32 locations world wide were recognized, and Walla Walla was named the 8th best place in the country to go wine tasting, and it's the only spot in the state to be recognized.
The director of the Walla Walla Wine Alliance said he has asked many of the tourists who come through their town why they love it.
He said it comes down to a quaint downtown, fine dining and intimacy that's hard to get at big wineries.
"Especially in the California markets, the larger, the Napa valleys and Sonomas, you don't frequently get to talk to the wine makers. They have so many people coming through. Its not possible. So the experience here with the wine makers and the whole winery experiences, kind of what sets it apart," said Duane Wollmuth, a member of Walla Walla Wine Alliance.
The 25 tasting rooms in downtown make it easier for people to taste wines without traveling long distances, he said.
He says there are about 120 wineries in the valley, 100 tasting rooms... And the wine industry has an estimated 500 million dollar impact on the community each year.
Below is Trip Advisor's list of top ten wine destinations:
The top 10 U.S.wine destinations
1.Sonoma County, California
2.Napa Valley, California
3.Willamette Valley, Oregon
4.Finger Lakes, New York
5.Long Island, New York
6.Paso Robles, California
7.Temecula Valley, California
8.Walla Walla, Washington
9.Palisade, Colorado
10.Plymouth, California
