Emily Riley of The Thief Fine Wine & Beer

Thanks to the wine industry, the streets of small-town Walla Walla are now full of tourists rather than tumbleweeds. Local wines flow from tasting rooms in town and in every direction out in the surrounding vine-covered countryside. What has been harder to find is a nice wine from outside the Washington area, until about a year ago. In spring 2018, Emily Riley and partners opened what everyone has been saying Walla Walla needed—a fine wine and beer shop specializing in wines and beers from around the world. The Thief Fine Wine and Beer now occupies a two-story, 4,000 sq ft corner space in the heart of downtown Walla Walla. It’s open 7 days a week until 9:00 or 10:00 p.m., and you can bring food in to enjoy with glass pours or a bottle from the shelves.

Whether you want to sit at a bar or around a table in a living-room setting, The Thief is a comfortable space for tasting, learning and socializing. Glass pours of familiar and hard-to-find wines change regularly, and themed tastings occur every Thursday night for $10 or less. Wine bottles for purchase are organized by region and varietal, and you will find wines from all the famous regions and many lesser known ones as well. For example, if you are in search of a vin de paille (straw wine) or vin jaune from the Jura region of France, you will find both at The Thief. You will see uncommon varietals such as Centesimino, Zweigelt, Malvasia and Garganega. And if you want to experience some prized bottles, ask about what’s housed behind the bar. Travel the world of wine at The Thief in Walla Walla, and in this interview with co-owner Emily Riley.

Listen to the Interview: