All bubbles, all the time — surprisingly well done
· Walla Walla · Market/Wine Bar · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · September 18, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Runway Market & Sparkling Wine Bar’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
The list is four wines long and every single one of them fizzes — this place has staked its identity entirely on sparkling wine, and in Walla Walla, that's a genuinely bold move. No red, no white, no rosé that sits still. Either you're in, or you're in the wrong room.
Four bottles, four countries, four styles: an Italian Prosecco Rosé from Zardetto, a Spanish Cava from Dibon, a French sparkling white from Maurice Bonnamy, and a domestic sparkling rosé from SMAK. The range actually covers the major sparkling categories without repeating itself, which takes some editorial intention. What's missing is any depth beyond a single expression per category — there's no vintage choice, no prestige tier, no still wine anchor for the reluctant companion. But as a tightly curated sparkling flight program, the logic holds.
All four wines are available by the glass, priced between $20 and $30. That's the whole list — there's no bottle-only tier or hidden reserve hiding behind the menu. The pricing sits noticeably above what you'd pay retail for these labels, but this is a wine bar, not a bottle shop.
The Bottom Line
Runway is a one-trick pony that actually knows its trick cold. If you want still wine, go somewhere else — but if you want to work through four different expressions of sparkling wine in one sitting with a focused, purposeful list, this is a legitimately fun stop in Walla Walla. The prices run steep for the producers involved, but the concept earns some goodwill for sheer commitment.
· Walla Walla · Wine bar/tasting room
L'atitude 47 is a single-producer tasting room, and the wine list reflects exactly that — eight labels, all in-house, all fairly priced for Walla Walla. If you're looking for a broad regional survey, look elsewhere. But if you want to get inside one producer's head at prices that won't require a conversation with your accountant, this is a genuinely low-stakes, high-curiosity stop. We'd send a wine-curious friend here without hesitation.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Downtown Walla Walla · Walla Walla · Winery Wine Bar with Bites
Heritage Wine Bar is the right answer if you're in Walla Walla and want to understand why Washington wine is having its moment — knowledgeable staff, a focused list from a producer with serious credentials, and a room that rewards slow drinking. We'd send a friend here without hesitation, especially someone who thinks Washington wine is just grocery-store Riesling. It will change their mind.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Walla Walla · Wine-focused tavern
Tavern Ancestrale is the kind of spot Walla Walla needed — a relaxed, knowledgeable room where the wine is taken seriously without making you feel like you need a merit badge to order. We'd send any wine-curious friend here without hesitation, especially if they're willing to trust the staff and lean into whatever's local.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Knowledgeable & Friendly
Set & Forget
Proper
· Walla Walla · Wine bar with light bites
The Thief is punching well above its weight for a 24-bottle list in a wine bar format — the pricing is genuinely fair, the curation shows real taste, and the presence of Txakolina, Trousseau, and 1er Cru Champagne on the same short list earns serious respect. If you're in Walla Walla and want to drink well without a PhD in wine or a big wallet, this is the stop.
Small but Thoughtful
Steal
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Walla Walla · French bistro
Brasserie Four is a French bistro in wine country that somehow resists the obvious move of leaning hard on local bottles, and the list is better for it. Fair pricing, smart French selections, and a sparkling section that embarrasses restaurants three times its size make this a genuine destination pour in Walla Walla. If you're in town for the Washington wine trail, this is the stop where you take a break from Cab and remember France exists.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Walla Walla · Italian
Passatempo is exactly the kind of place where Walla Walla's wine identity and Italian-American kitchen instincts should collide in interesting ways — and by all accounts, the room and concept deliver on that promise. We don't have the full list detail to call it a Rager, but the regional focus and cuisine alignment earn it a Wild Card: unexpected upside in a setting that could've played it much safer. Make a reservation, ask the staff what's local, and let the osso buco do the rest.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
One wine list review, one adventure pick, one quick tip, and a personal note. Every week. Under 500 words.