[5] The area was recognized on March 7, 1984 by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted by Mr. Richard L Small, President of the Walla Walla Valley Winegrowers Association, for the establishment of a viticultural area in southeast Washington and northeast Oregon, east of Lake Wallula, to be known as "Walls Walls Valley."

While generally cooler than the surrounding Columbia Valley AVA, temperatures in the winter time can drop to −20 °F (−29 °C).

French fur trappers settled in a small town outside the city known as Frenchtown near Lowden and began planting grapes.

That same year a severe frost devastated the area's grapevines and caused a lot of the earlier grape growers to abandon their crops.

[6] The dawning of Prohibition in the United States in the early 20th century finished off the remaining aspect of the area as a wine region.

The winery gradually expanded and achieved worldwide recognition as it became one of Washington's most sought-after cult wines.