Mansion Creek Cellars

Julia Russell of Mansion Creek Cellars

Mansion Creek Cellars has been voted one of the most entertaining tasting rooms in Walla Walla, especially when owner Julia Russell is pouring.  She is known affectionately as “Mama Julia,” and can be counted on to dance flamenco for visitors when the music is right.  Mama Julia is originally from the Galicia region of Spain, and grew up around a cellar full of fine wines from Spain, France and Germany.  She came to the U.S. in the 1970s to do an internship in nursing, and opened Mansion Creek Cellars in 2007.

Julia and her husband Roger live in the beautiful Waldheim Mansion from which the winery takes its name, but the tasting room is in the Marcus Whitman Hotel in downtown Walla Walla.  Mansion Creek specializes in Spanish and Portuguese style wines, as well as unique blends designed by Julia to be soft and full of flavor.  Mama Julia is known for her outstanding palate and blending abilities, as well as her knack for pairing wines with food.  She does the cooking for her wine club’s legendary parties in the mansion, and talks of wine and food pairings in this interview guaranteed to make your mouth water.

Listen to the Interview: