- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Bookwalter Winery
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
21 reviews for Bookwalter Winery
21 reviews in English
-
Review from Jen C.
Kennewick, WA
4/13/2012
I love this place! I'm not much of a bar person anymore, so when I am looking for an evening (or daytime) out, I usually turn to Bookwalter.The staff is always nice and accommodating, the food is EXCELLENT, and the wine is one of my favorites. (I'm a fan of the Protagonist) I am also a Wine Club member, so I get great benefits.
They are starting to do more "event" type evenings which I'm exciting for. 80's night tonight, toga, bocce ball tourney--just to name a few. If you like drinking wine in a relaxed atmosphere, Bookwalter is your place. -
Review from Gabrielle F.
Bothell, WA
5/15/2012
I went here for the mother's day brunch on Sunday, which I guess is only their second brunch? Sounds like its only on occasion they do it--a shame, it should be done weekly! There were a few kinks to be worked out, but once those get tweaked this brunch is a can't-miss. Hey, it's STILL a can't-miss.
The kinks? We waited almost 20 minutes to get menus. However, this could be our fault, we bounced tables once for the blaring speaker (more on that later) and once for my over-eager Pacific Northwest skin frying without shade. Next, the music. I am okay with a little background music, but this was so loud we were all shouting to hear each other talk. Also, I had to ask for my water to be refilled, a personal pet peeve of mine when at a restaurant.
But I mean it when I say the food mostly made up for these little blips. Omlettes with a salt-and-pepper bechamel I'm still dreaming about, potatoes lyonnaise, and the bananas foster french toast. The food came immediately, but the potatoes were a tad cold, but the food was soooo good we didn't care. -
Review from Jenny P.
West Richland, WA
5/3/2012 2 photos
Good food & wine. I'd go back.
-
Review from Jim S.
Redmond, OR
5/7/2012
Very nice atmosphere, beautiful outdoor patio. We had our five year old and one and a half year old. we all enjoyed the experience.
-
Review from Brian G.
8/26/2011 5 Check-ins Here
Had a delightful evening here under their covered patio/porch. The appetizers are delicious and they make one of my favorite wines (the Subplot.)
Hadn't been in awhile and left last night wondering why I'd stayed away so long. -
Review from Angel R.
Richland, WA
9/6/2011 4 Check-ins Here
It's really more of a 4.5--the service knocks it down a half point.
I'm becoming somewhat of a regular. I find the wine good, both reds and whites. Beginning at 4, they start serving their full menu. Before that, they serve cheese and meat plates. I love their cheese fondue. I hear their flat breads are also good, but I stick to the fondue. I've also tried some of their desserts--all of them good.
As for service . . . it's a mixed bag. If you get what I call a regular server, you will have good to great service. But if you get someone that typically works during the day when they are not as busy, the service can be disappointing. My recommendation is just be patient and try to get a different server--a regular, and your night will get better.
The ambiance is great. They have outdoor seating (3-4) different areas and have live music every Thursday night. They also have special events for Book Club (wine club) members. -
Review from JungWoo L.
Seattle, WA
7/25/2011
It's so nice place.
Taste is wonderful.
Price is reasonable.(Lunch 8~12)
Service is nice.
Atmosphere is good. ( I have a dinner at next to fountain )
Sunshine is perfect.
I love this place. : D -
Review from Jayne T.
El Paso, TX
5/11/2011
This was my first visit to Bookwalter, as well as my first time tasting their wines, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. Some friends and I met here for "W.I.N." (Wine Industry Night), where industry employees are offered 50% off select wines by the glass and bottle from 6-8pm. They also extend the Happy Hour menu to industry employees through 8pm on Mondays.
The atmosphere is one of the best in the Tri-Cities, in styling and space. They have wonderful outdoor seating in front and in back of the restaurant, as well as plenty of seating inside. You could bring any size group here and be easily accommodated. Modern, simplistic decor throughout was welcoming. We choose to sit in the back of the building, which is shaded and covered with a full canopy of sorts (this spot will be perfect in the hot summer!). The chairs are large and padded, very comfortable. You feel like you are in someone's backyard garden, surrounded by greenery and vines. Check out the "Gathering Place" link on Bookwalter's website for a short video of the Winery & Bistro.
The menu was impressive...many surprising offerings, such as artisan cheese and meat trays and fondue, as well as standard fare (including my favorite, flatbreads!).
The wines are overall pricier than I expected, as I had not heard much about them prior to my visit. We tried the Subplot ($20) and Protagonist ($55) red blends, and agreed that the Protagonist was delightful, and the Subplot was lacking focus (also had some overwhelming sediment in both bottles we ordered). I am anxious to try the Antithesis red blend ($48.75) on my next visit. I consider the food fairly priced for the beautiful setting. The Happy Hour menu has fabulous $2 small plate items, such as breads/olive oil, blue cheese stuffed olives and dates, and stuffed grape leaves. Happy Hour also includes a nice selection of wines by the bottle and glass at 50% off.
I am already looking forward to heading back here; I am planning to bring my husband for a fun night out (hoping to catch some of the live music they host!). For wine lovers, Bookwalter hits all the notes - great wine paired with appetizing food selections and a casual yet sophisticated atmosphere. -
Review from Tom B.
Seattle, WA
5/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'll admit to having gone in here with my head a little bit focused on some of the Yelp reviews mentioning service issues, but we were definitely pleasantly surprised with our night. We went to the winery location after a solid day of wine tasting out in Walla Walla, before heading back to our hotel in Kennewick, for some dinner and nice wine. I'm a wine club member (via the tasting room in Woodinville), and am super familiar with the wines, which made it a no brainer.
They did a great job putting together a veggie plate for my girlfriend, and my charcuterie tray was an ample portion, with some freshly baked bread. Dessert - a cabernet fruit tart - was dead on, and paired well with the bottle we had ordered.
I dare say a bit of a gem if you're in the neighborhood, with live music, a nice place to sit outside (or semi-outside, at least), and a decent variety of food to go with the great wines. Would definitely go back, and it's a unique experience in the area, for sure. -
Review from Mackenzie B.
Seattle, WA
12/8/2010
First of all, the 4 star review is for the wine and not the service.
We were here as guests of our friends who are members of the wine club and arrived at the tail-end of the Fall Barrel Tasting party.
Upon arrival we were give a ticket which was good for one taste of their most recent vintage red. One of our friends who is a member only drinks white wine and was told that she couldn't use her ticket to taste the white.
Talk about poor service! There girl who was pouring the red gave us such a small amount that we had to ask for more and then she proceeded to knock the bottle over, spilling half the contents on the table!
I went inside to see about getting my friend a glass of white and the girl at the counter grilled me about whether I was a member or not which wasn't the right approach to sell wine.
The wine was quite good for a recent vintage and justly so at $50-$75 for a bottle.
The atmosphere was cozy and I can see where this would be a good place to relax with friends so I'm willing to give it another visit. -
Review from Adam J.
Richland, WA
8/16/2010
I go to wineries to hang out with friends and relax, not to drink pretentious wines at over the top prices. Bookwalter is the place for this past time.
Not to say the wine isn't good, because it is. And not to say that your tab won't be high, because it will be. But this is just a great darn place to relax and enjoy a cool desert night.
There are no less than 4 distinct seating areas, 1.) front porch, bands and booze, 2.) inside, hip and comfortable, 3.) back porch, quiet and semi-formal, and 4.) **my favorite** the way back, comfy outdoor upholstery in a feet up like you are in your own (more attractive) back yard.
After dinner or happy hour, you should go here. Great for a date (think area #2), and great for a night out with a group (think #4, just don't take my spot).
Now you know, your welcome. -
Review from Corey G.
What a nice place to hang out for an eve--I can't believe this was my first time making it to Bookwalter: great wine, great food, nice live music, awesome staff, and great company.
Made it here to try a bottle of Bookwalter wine with a tapas-style supper. I'm far from being a wine snob, and know just about zero when it comes to drinking a wine. Yeah, yeah, I know you should smell the cork, swirl it around to let it breath, then become a vino palm reader and be able to determine the personal history of the bottle you are partaking. With all that, I still have no clue!
** Enter Carra **
My girlfriend and I ultimately picked out a lovely red--most of the credit should go to my girlfriend. I mainly jumped on our choice because it consisted of CHOKE CHERRIES! I'm half Siksika/Blackfoot & choke cherries have been a staple for us. I've picked them along the banks of the Bow River in Alberta many a time. So, when I saw a wine consisting of a tinge of choke cherries I was sold.
Carra was our server and wine-tasting professional. We divulged being wine novice, and Carra came to our rescue. She was very gracious in giving us a pour. She explained the whole ceremony of sniffing the cork--we finally learned how important this act is! Carra explained a bit about the types of wines they offer as well as which wines might be good to try out. Ours was a blend, and we were happy with our choice, and we were pleased with the education Carra gave us.
To accompany our drink, we ordered a plate consisting of tasty cheeses, breads, and olives. We also ordered something else...I believe it was a crab cheese cake. Both of these plates did more than fill us with yumminess.
Now we didn't eat in the large dining/drinking area, but in a more cozier spot near a smaller bar around to the side. This was a perfect area. We shared a couch and ate on a coffee table. We could hear the musician in the main area (it would have been too loud to talk if we were in the main area, so we liked where we were). The musician was cool. He played some nice old tunes....and dare I admit he even played a Michael Franks song (I get crap so much crap from my bros for admitting I like Franks!).
We were also joined by some friends later in the evening (one of which knew Carra--Small World!). They ordered a dark & rich chocolatey concoction which looked and tasted pretty darn evil!! (I had a couple bites).
All in all we had an excellent evening at Bookwalter, and I would give this place a solid 4.5-stars and definitely plan a return visit (I hear dining outside in the summer is fantastic, and that they have a Latin-style musician on Wednesdays).Listed in: My Top FUCs, My Tops For Tri-Cities Dining
-
Review from Angie B.
9/10/2009
PROTAGONIST - try it, you'll love it!!
If you love to try different Melange/Meritage type wines, this is a winner.
This is a mix of Red Mountain Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Syrah & Cabernet Franc
Planning to buy some more bottles locally, since we just enjoyed a bottle for an adults' night out w/ some chocolates & cheese. They say it'll cellar for a few years too...YUM!Listed in: I'm a wine-o
-
Review from Michael M.
Richland, WA
1/23/2012
Bookwalter is one of our favorite wineries. Its a great place to hang out with friends for the evening. You can sit by a fire pit, play some Bocce Ball or just listen to music with a nice glass of BookWalter Wine. They have nice appetizers and Beer (sometimes its just a nice change). Service is a casual and can be bit slow on busy nights. But really its about the vibe of the place that keeps us coming back. The grounds are beautifully maintained and it has a feel of a vineyard without the drive. Perfect!
-
Review from Jennifer C.
Seattle, WA
5/10/2010 1 photo
Located along Richland's vino hot spot Tulip Lane, Bookwalter is a well-styled winery offering good product. Its wines are cleverly named after literary terms (i.e. Anecdote, Foreshadow, Conflict) and our pours were served by a chap wearing a shirt emblazoned with "ANTAGONIST". I majored in English...gotta love it.
$5 buys one 5 pours from the regular list or 3 pours from the reserve line-up. My friend and I went with the first option, and sipped samples while listening to R&B music and other patrons' banter with the host. I preferred Bookwalter white wines, my favorite being the 2009 Tercet with its flavors of pear, melon, and banana. Banana, seriously. I imagine it going quite well with Mexican food or cuisine from other tropical regions. -
Review from Konrad H.
Austin, TX
7/10/2011
Excellent assortment of outside seating. We had two glasses of the J Bookwalter Winery Foreshadow Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2008 $45/btl $14/glass. It was one of the better Cabs we tasted in the area and worth the money. We did the Chocolate Fondue plate. Everything was excellent including the Bananas and Strawberries. Our visit was over the 4th of July weekend 2011.
-
Review from Rick C.
Richland, WA
Updated - 5/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
We had another great evening at Bookwalter. They have enclosed a fairly large portion of their outside patio which was great on a chilly spring evening. Our group of twelve enjoyed the fire pit, the excellent wine and the ambiance. PS: the patio walls are portable and will be open when it get's warmer .... also, I see that John is building two bocce' ball courts ... looks great!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
3/12/2011
During the summer evenings my wife and I will hang out at Bookwater's outdoor patio and have a… Read more »
-
-
Review from Julian H.
Seattle, WA
8/17/2010
While visiting friends. We are Seattle folk so I didn't expect much, but the facility was beautiful, the wines were pretty good, and the food was awesome. We sat on the back porch where there is a fire pit and comfortable seating.
I would have given the place fives stars but for the service. Our waitress seemed to be a little flustered by the fact that we initially didn't know what we wanted to order. She then disappeared and was replaced by another waitress, without explanation. The bartender/sommelier came out, and made a recommendation, which we ordered without looking at the menu. Then we realized he had recommended a very expensive bottle (of course). We also realized they had flights and decided we would enjoy that more. So we informed him when he came back with glasses. He actually made a pouty face, looked down at the ground, and made this little "aw" sound like a five year old would when they don't get what they want. I'm not sure if he was trying to make us feel bad but it was pathetic and totally unprofessional. What a baby. Customers change their mind all the time and, it's not like we were being cheap. We ended up spending just as much as we would have if we had gone along with his recommendation. Maybe his personal tip suffered but that's the business; life is too short for crap like that.
We enjoyed ourselves, but unfortunately it was in spite of and not because of the service. -
Review from Karee D.
Pasco, WA
6/2/2009
On a Sat nite for Mom's Day, my daughter, her friend & I took my Mother here. What a special nite! Live music on the front patio, we sat in the back under the shade of a vine covered pergola w/ the music in the background it was perfect! As we sat drinking & eatting an assortment of delicious wines & appetizers enjoying the sites & smells, bunnies ran by & a Kestral landed & sat for a long time in the tree right behind my daughters head. It truly couldn't get any better! 5 stars all the way!
-
Review from Lisa F.
Los Angeles, CA
8/11/2010
Drove over from Seattle for the weekend. We could have spent both nights hanging out here. Live band out front was a bit loud and found out later there is more dining in the back/side of the building. The cheese/meat and dessert plates were amazing. Get their Chardonnay-Voignier. So delish on a hot summer night. Our server was a sweetheart and although he was busy, tried his best to be sure we were not sitting there ignored. I loved it! Great place for people watching (VERY eclectic crowd) and kicking back with a smile on your face
-
Review from Rassamee H.
Oakland, CA
8/31/2008
Decent winery just outside of Kennewick. We went on Friday and there was a live jazz trio playing. We sat outside on the front patio as the sun was setting. My girlfriend got a glass of Preface Merlot. My husband had a taster of the Subplot 22 and the Cabernet-Sauvignon. I had a taster of the Jocat and the Merlot. Of all the wines we tasted, Jocat was by far the best and is a mixture of Reisling and Muscat wine. Delish! We also had a 3 cheese plate of Smokey Blue, Cranberry-Walnut goat cheese, and a very soft Camembert-like cheese. The plate was also beautifully arranged and included fresh plum, grapes, and apple, as well as dried cherries and apricots. They also serve Salumi meats so we tried the aged prosciutto and a cardamom and pepper salami. The salami was by far the better meat. Our server was quite attentive despite having to care for a large party on the back porch. We ended up going inside after our wines and hanging out on some comfy couches in the back room. They definitely have lots of comfy nooks and crannies for you and your friends to hang out in: couches, comfy oversized chairs, barstools, etc. We ended the night with the chocolate fondue, but sadly they were out of bananas and because of a problem with their refrigerator the strawberries came out frozen. All in all it was a good visit and I would recommend it, just maybe not the chocolate fondue.
