Sleight of Hand Cellars was founded in 2007 by Trey Busch and Jerry and Sandy Solomon, with one stated goal: make world class wines while having the most fun that is legally possible. A love of music runs through everything, from the record collection in the tasting rooms to the names on the labels.
The winery outgrew its 900 square foot storefront in downtown Walla Walla and moved in 2011 to a ten acre property on JB George Road on the south side of the valley. Keith Johnson joined the same year as production winemaker. Seattle Magazine named them one of the "Next Cult Wineries" of Washington.
Their wines have landed on Wine Spectator's Top 100 twice, with the 2015 Levitation and the 2016 Archimage, and the 2021 Off He Goes Syrah made Wine Enthusiast's Top 100 Cellar Selections of 2024. Fruit comes from estate blocks at Blue Mountain and Red Mountain alongside long-standing contracts at WeatherEye, Stoney Vine, Les Collines and French Creek.
Wines
A tasting room Sleight of Hand Cellars can open from the cellar.
Vesper is live video and a checkout in the same window. Independent wineries broadcast from where the wine is actually made, talk through what is in the glass, and sell it direct without you leaving the stream. Most bottles worth knowing about never reach a shelf near you. This is how you meet them, and the people who made them, anyway.
- 1Follow, and get the call
Following Sleight of Hand Cellars means a notification the moment they switch the camera on. Tastings are announced here, not buried in an email list.
- 2Watch and ask
The winemaker pours what is in front of them and talks through it. Chat is open, so the thing you actually wanted to know gets answered on camera.
- 3Buy direct, mid-pour
The wines being poured are purchasable on the spot. Sleight of Hand Cellars is the seller of record and ships the order themselves. Vesper only earns a commission when a bottle sells.
Frequently asked
What is Vesper?
Vesper is a live tasting room for independent wineries. Wineries broadcast live video from the cellar or the vineyard, talk through what they are pouring, take questions in chat, and sell those wines direct in the same window. Sleight of Hand Cellars is the seller of record and ships orders itself. Vesper takes a commission only when a bottle sells.
Where is Sleight of Hand Cellars located?
Sleight of Hand Cellars is based in Walla Walla, WA.
What wines does Sleight of Hand Cellars make?
Sleight of Hand Cellars produces Syrah, Grenache, Bordeaux Blend, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Riesling, with vintages spanning 2023–2024.
Can I buy Sleight of Hand Cellars wine online?
Yes. You can buy Sleight of Hand Cellars's wines directly on Vesper, ranging from $22.00 to $125.00. The winery ships your order directly.
Does Sleight of Hand Cellars host live tastings?
Sleight of Hand Cellars can host live tastings on Vesper where you watch the winemaker pour and buy featured wines as they're presented.
Do I need a ticket or a reservation to join a tasting?
No. Live tastings on Vesper are free to watch and open to anyone. Follow Sleight of Hand Cellars and you are notified when they go on camera. You only pay if you decide to buy a wine.
Who ships my order, and who am I buying from?
Sleight of Hand Cellars. On Vesper the winery is the merchant of record: it sets the price, takes the order, and ships the wine directly to you. Vesper handles the video, the checkout, and the payment, and earns a commission on the sale.
Be in the room when Sleight of Hand Cellars pours
Following puts you on the list for their next live tasting. Watch from wherever you are, ask the winemaker anything while the bottle is open, and buy direct from the winery in the same window.