A harmony co-exists between wine, architecture and soothing landscape elements at Everen Wines.
“Food, wine and hosting has been at the center of our relationship since it began in 2012,” explains Matthew Aksel, a former NCAA national champion water polo player at USC. Aksel and his wife, Hope Trumbull, opened Everen Wines in August of 2025.
“What started as a passion for hosting friends and family evolved into sommelier certifications, a wine degree and a space for getting together,” adds Aksel.
The tasting room is nestled within vineyards and wheat fields in Walla Walla’s Southside district on a 10-acre property. Artfully designed by the Seattle-based architecture and landscape studio Wittman Estes, the ambiance evokes the warmth and intimacy of a living room.
“We built the space to be comfortable so you can settle in for a while,” says Hope Trumbull.
The place has a timeless and natural quality. Guests can flow at an unhurried pace into the garden and terrace, offering a wine tasting experience amid tree-shaded seating, an outdoor kitchen, and a bocce court.
All these elements reinforce the owners’ spirit of conviviality and leisure.
“A wine’s first job is to taste good. And we fully believe that the setting, mood, cuisine, etc. all weigh in on what makes a wine taste good in that moment,” says Aksel.
His philosophy is that great wines come from great vineyards. “And we believe that sustainability is important. We make our wines to be elegant and fruit forward. We like a higher acid wine because we feel that makes a wine more versatile with meals.”
The landscape unfolds with a tapestry incorporating specimens that include honeylocust trees, birch trees, and ground cover of English lavender, Russian sage, dwarf maiden and fountain grasses.
“Our focus was on creating an exciting consumer experience, something new and beyond the traditional places found in Walla Walla,” says Aksel. “We designed the space to be ever-changing with the seasons, special and dynamic with each new visit.”
Visit the tasting room at 1823 Old Milton Hwy Walla Walla; phone (971) 219-7170. Open for reservations online at www.everenwines.com.