(WALLA WALLA, Wash.) — Further solidifying its place in the upper echelon of wine destinations worldwide, Walla Walla has been named Best Wine Town in the Sunset Magazine 2018 Travel Awards. The results were recently posted to the Sunset.com website and can be viewed HERE, and will appear in the August issue of Sunset Magazine. Walla Walla was previously a runner-up in the Best Food Town category of the Sunset Travel Awards in 2015 and 2016.

“Nothing epitomizes the romance of and the relationship between wine, food, and travel in the West quite like Sunset Magazine does. To be recognized by their editors as the Best Wine Town for 2018 is a tremendous honor, particularly considering the popularity and reputation of other towns that qualify in the category. This award is one to be shared and celebrated by the very people — from the wineries, winemakers, and growers, to the restaurateurs, retailers, and residents — who make Walla Walla such a vibrant community and who truly made it possible.”

Entries were judged by Sunset’s editorial staff based on the following criteria: relevance to Sunset audience (50 percent); newsworthiness (20 percent); uniqueness (20 percent); aesthetic appeal (5 percent); and convenience and feasibility (5 percent). Visit Walla Walla’s entry focused on new and notable wineries, lodging properties, and restaurants, as well as the town’s overall vibe that blends “small-town charm with a contemporary feel — described as ‘rural-chic Americana’ — to offer a truly unique wine, culinary, cultural, and outdoor experience.”

Sunset’s editors praised Walla Walla’s wineries, wines, restaurants, and amenities, noting, “Widely known for its wheat and sweet onions, Walla Walla is also gaining recognition for its 120 wineries and tasting rooms, many of which occupy restored early-20th-century buildings. Show up at Saffron Mediterranean Kitchen on any night of the week, and you may find it filled with young winemakers ­behind some of the best Cabernets and Syrahs in the country. Chefs have followed the grapes, and the combination has energized this once-­sleepy community. The introduction of nearby Eritage Resort — a 10-room refuge slated to open this summer, with lakeside villas to come — is bound to seal the deal.”

For more information on planning a trip, go to visitwallawalla.com.

About Walla Walla:

As the unofficial capital of Washington wine country, Walla Walla is home to more than 120 wineries, a nationally recognized culinary scene, access to an abundance of outdoor recreation, and an arts & entertainment scene that rivals cities many times its size. This community of just over 30,000 residents is known for many things, including its friendliness and hospitality, the quality of its wine, and of course the famous Walla Walla Sweet Onion. An easy and scenic four-hour drive from Seattle, Portland, or Boise, Walla Walla can also be accessed via Alaska Airlines daily non-stop flights from Seattle. For more information and to begin planning a trip to Walla Walla, visit www.visitwallawalla.com.