The Inn at Abeja

written by Cara Strickland

If you’re looking for a restorative retreat in Walla Walla wine country, Abeja should be on your list. The farmhouse and outbuildings, built in the early 1900s, have been restored to offer luxurious, comfortable accommodations for guests year-round. The name Abeja (pronounced ‘ah-BAY-ha’) is Spanish for bee. Abeja founders Ginger and Ken Harrison chose it to honor the land, thirty-eight acres of Abeja vineyards and its winery. This property is the perfect launchpad for a Walla Walla adventure, just a few minutes from downtown.

ACCOMMODATIONS

From the Edison House (which used to be the power building), to the Chicken Coop and the Summer Kitchen, each lodging option has a distinct personality as well as luxurious touches. All the rooms, suites and cottages are decorated with a blend of antique and modern furnishings. The Farmhouse is perfect for gathering in wine country with family and friends. The 4,376 sq. ft. homestead offers a fully equipped gourmet kitchen and wine bar, living room, library and sunroom, dining room, two fireplaces and a wrap-around deck overlooking the gardens and vineyards. Each of the five bedrooms has a private European-style bath. The property is the perfect size for an intimate wedding, as it can accommodate twenty-eight guests, or for a wine-country elopement.

DINING

Wake up with a complimentary two-course country breakfast each morning (delivered to your room upon request) with fresh baked goods, freshly squeezed orange, Walla Walla Roastery coffee with fresh cream and something substantial to sustain you for a day of wine tasting or outdoor activities. Whether or not you’re staying the night, make a reservation for Abeja’s newly launched dinner service—choose a five- or seven-course prix fixe menu which changes weekly. The cuisine showcases seasonal Northwest ingredients—for example, some recent dishes included Oeuf Parfait, a vapor-poached egg with foraged morels, asparagus, brioche, and nettle cream, as well as potato crusted halibut with buttered leeks, chanterelle mushrooms and cider beurre blanc.

The Kitchen at Abeja sources ingredients from the vineyards, farmlands, orchards, coastal waters and ranches of Washington.

WINERY

When you arrive at the Inn, you’ll be welcomed with a glass of wine. During your stay, do a tasting. Abeja is known for their bold reds such as cabernet sauvignon and syrah, as well as chardonnay and viognier. Abeja’s winemaking philosophy is based on the conviction that estate-grown fruit differentiates a wine and strengthens the winemaker’s ability to maintain a consistent style and exceptional quality. Abeja’s estate-grown wines are made from sustainably farmed grapes harvested at the property’s Heather Hill and Mill Creek estate vineyards.