Meet Bryan Walters, Walla Walla Tasting Room Manager

In college at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Ill, Bryan Walters studied Political Science, intending to become a lawyer. After classes, he picked up shifts at a local pizza place and worked nights in a bar. Turns out he liked the customer service way more than the law, so as soon as school was over, he moved to Chicago and joined the hospitality industry where he spent the mid 90s opening new restaurants in the suburbs for large restaurant groups.

How did he get from the Windy City to the “Town So Nice They Named It Twice?”

Between restaurant work and the beverage industry, Bryan spent nearly two decades at Walgreens, opening stores and mentoring new managers for the company.

When Walgreens asked him to come to take on a project in Walla Walla, Washington, he laughed and then realized, “Wait, it’s a real place?” He had always thought it was an imaginary town in the Oregon Trail board game.

When the company flew Bryan and his wife Mandy out here to check out the town, “we fell in love with the rural location, the walkability of downtown, and the small-town vibes,” he says. “We loved the amazing restaurants and the plethora of wineries. Plus, there was free parking downtown!”

They quickly settled into their new community. Mandy, who was an experienced bartender, began working at Canvasback and recently moved to Mercer Wine Estates. When it was time to leave Walgreens, Bryan rejoined the hospitality industry as General Manager at Locus Cider and Brewing Co., opening locations in Walla Walla and Spokane. The company’s plans for major expansion were thwarted by the pandemic and Bryan started looking around for a place where he could be creative.

When word started getting around that Capital Call Vintners was going to open a tasting room in Walla Walla, friends encouraged him to apply and offered to make an introduction to Steve and Nikki.

“I really appreciate how collaborative the community is. Everyone is approachable,” he says, adding, “I felt at ease talking with Steve and Nikki. We had that Midwest connection.” 

Bryan and the Brueres share a philosophy on hospitality. They both believe in creating spaces that make guests feel happy, relaxed, and comfortable.

“You get a vibe when you walk in a place, a feeling,” Brian says. “People have to feel welcome and feel safe to ask anything.” He adds, “With wine, the more you know, the less you know. It’s an ongoing project of building knowledge.”

The new Capital Call Vintners tasting room is planned for a mid-August opening to be ready for fall releases. The team is planning a soft opening and industry nights to welcome the community in.

“What excites me most is fellowship people have with one another,” Bryan says. “People come from all over the world to Walla Walla. I get to represent Capital Call and the Walla Walla wine industry.”