Wautoma Springs Winery’s roots trace back to 2008 when a unique wine project was formed between a winegrape grower Tom Merkle and winemaker Jessica Munnell to produce a couple hundred cases of premium Cabernet Sauvignon.
Their idea was to showcase the finest grapes coming from Wautoma Springs Vineyard, which Tom had planted in 1999 (and still owns and manages).
As time passed, the Merkle and Munnell collaboration flourished, laying the foundation for steady growth.
By 2019, Wautoma Springs Winery opening a tasting room nestled within the popular Prosser Vintner’s Village complex. Rachel Mercer, a local food and wine guru, joined the partnership.
Tom Merkle is a second-generation grape grower who has developed his Wautoma Springs Vineyard into a 120-acre site. In addition, he manages a number of high-ranking vineyards in the Wahluke Slope AVA from which the winery also sources from.
Jessica Munnell is an award-winning winemaker whose impressive career includes stints at renowned wineries such as Snoqualmie Winery, Chateau Ste Michelle, Canoe Ridge and Mercer Wine Estates.
In early 2025 the winery launched a presence on the state’s western side in the Woodinville Winery Warehouse District. The tasting room is shared with The Bunnell Family Cellar, another Prosser winery. To complement the food-friendly wines, there is a modest variety of gourmet provisions and artisanal snacks available in Woodinville, and a much larger selection at the Prosser location. This culinary aspect of wine tasting is an integral part of the experience they strive to provide, allowing guests to indulge in the full spectrum of flavors that Washington wines have to offer.
These are seriously exciting wines made in extremely small bottlings by an experienced grower and veteran winemaker team, making this an absolute must-try in either Woodinville or Prosser.
Visit: The new location is at 19501 144th Ave NE, Suite C-800, Woodinville, (425) 286-2964. Their Eastern Washington location is at 236 Port Ave, Suite C, Prosser; (509) 303-4330. Learn more at www.wautomasprings.com.
Below are four releases we recently reviewed:
Wautoma Springs 2020 “Inky” Malbec
94 pts.
Made from grapes grown at StoneTree Vineyard, this concentrated version is inky purple-black in hue, displaying towering structure and brimming with macerated blueberry, brilliant violet and blackberry tea notes, backed by a swath of finely glazed tannins and unfolding layers of vanilla wafer, espresso and crushed stone that hum with outstanding intensity on the lengthy finish. $50
Wautoma Springs 2021 “Fork + Spoon” Cabernet Franc
93 pts.
Elegantly structured, showing good tension and interplay between the moderate tannins and succulent acidity. This red displays earthen-toned plum mingled with anise, clay and loam that finishes on a high note with blueberry and red currant, ending with a pleasingly firm grip. Sourced from Wautoma Springs Vineyard. $50
Wautoma Springs 2022 Grenache Blanc
91 pts.
This expressive white wine sourced from JMST Vineyard bursts forth with floral and herbal-tinged aromas of honeysuckle, pear and notable wet stone minerality. The mouthwatering palate carries saline notes alongside a citrusy-driven core of lemon-lime, green apple, melon rind and an intriguing dash of garden herbs. $25
Wautoma Springs 2022 Albariño
91 pts.
Crisp and well defined, driven by a spear of juicy acidity that pierces the refreshing palate with minerally-charged details of Granny Smith apple, green melon, limestone and lemon citrus notes that maintain their high-energy potency on the lip-smacking finish. The grapes were grown at JMST Vineyard in the Columbia Valley. $22