Mike Martin, Owner
Read Bio
Originally from New York City, Mike Martin was lured to Seattle in 1992 by a job offer. After a safe, conventional career as a technology executive, Mike took a risk and followed his curiosity over the mountains to Walla Walla, where he’d fallen in love with the little Western town with world-famous wines. That’s when the adventure started. He founded The Walls Vineyard in 2014. In 2015, he bought the then-vacant Pastime Cafe and reimagined it as Passatempo Taverna, which opened in 2016. A deepening love affair with The Rocks District led to the addition of Rockgarden Estate Vineyard and Petros Estate Vineyard in 2020, as well as the launch of PÁŠXA Wines. Mike still lives in the downtown condo he originally bought in 2010 and walks to the winery or restaurant every day.
Sally Johnson Blum, Executive Winemaker
Read Bio
Originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, Sally Johnson Blum is an award-winning winemaker with experience on three continents. After a university study abroad program in France, Sally switched her studies from biotechnology to enology, earning a master’s degree from U.C. Davis. She has been the head winemaker at Pride Mountain Vineyards since 2007, earning the brand numerous awards including two 100-point scores from Robert Parker and three spots on the Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines list.
Ben Kaehler, General Manager
Read Bio
While most of his peers were drinking cheap beer or tequila shots, a part-time college gig at a high-end bottle shop introduced Ben Kaehler to Northwest wines early. He followed that love of Oregon pinot noir to a series of roles in distribution, import/export, and experiential wine retail before returning to run the family business, a chain of high-end leather goods stores in the Chicagoland Area. He loved the creativity and challenge, but it turns out you can’t drink a briefcase, no matter how beautifully made. Missing the magic of wine, Ben moved his family to Oregon to take a General Manager role at Lemelson Vineyards in the Willamette Valley, then started to wonder what the view might look like on the dry side. He joined The Walls in 2023.
Peter Urian, Associate Winemaker
Read Bio
New Jersey raised but with Washington in his heart, Peter delved into the world of wine at Cornell University, in the prestigious Viticulture & Enology program. His winemaking journey spans New York, California, Austria, and now Washington State’s scenic landscapes and dramatic wines. In 2016, Peter began his Walla Walla wine industry career at The Walls as a Lab Tech, quickly advancing to Assistant Winemaker. Seeking to enhance his skills, he honed his craft at Devona Winery with John Abbott before rejoining The Walls in April 2024 as Associate Winemaker.
Danielle Knott, Direct to Consumer Manager
Read Bio
Originally from Portland, Oregon, Danielle spent time in New York City working at Michelin-starred restaurants by night, then managing rooftop farms and beekeeping during the day. She brings that unique understanding of wine, food, and the special relationship between them to her work at The Walls.
Serafin Saldana, Vineyard Manager
Read Bio
Serafin Saldana has been farming grapes in the Rocks District since 2009, giving him a remarkable depth of understanding about this unique environment.
Brandon Lervold, CWE, National Sales & Trade Manager
Read Bio
A Pacific Northwest native, Brandon fell in love with wine at 21 and hasn’t looked back since! His professional journey has taken him up and down the west coast over the past 20 years. From serving as a multi-outlet Beverage Director and Sommelier Instructor to working as an Import Wine Specialist for a distributor, Brandon has always been driven by a passion for helping people discover the most delicious thing possible, and he’ll happily offer a few suggestions on what that might be.
Todd Shannon, Wine Sales & Operations Lead
Read Bio
When Todd traded Manhattan for Walla Walla in the spring of 2025, he brought more than a decade of wine retail and beverage leadership experience with him. As the longtime steward of a beloved West Village wine shop, he developed a deep knowledge of the world’s great wine regions while building a loyal community of regulars. These days, Todd loves helping our guests place Walla Walla in the broader world of wine. He brings equal parts curiosity, generosity, and enthusiasm to every conversation and experience, whether he’s leading a tasting, mentoring our hospitality team, or making sure the bottle you fell in love with arrives safely at your doorstep. When he’s not at the winery, you’ll find him snowboarding, traveling for a Phish show, or making lifelong friends at Karaoke Palace.
Jade Porubek, Assistant Winemaker
Read Bio
Raised in the small farming town of St. John, Washington, Jade found her love for everything outdoors at an early age. She went on to study biochemisty at Western Washington University, and discovered a passion for wine. Working in the wine industry was a natural choice, as it combined her two passions: chemistry and agriculture. In 2019, she began her wine career as at Walla Walla Vintners, and joined The Walls team in the early spring of 2025.
When Jade is not in the winery, you can find her gardening, fishing, and spending time with her two cats, Batsquatch and Rogue.
KV Thostesen, Hospitality Manager
Read Bio
Andrea Muñoz, Hospitality & Creative Marketing Associate
Read Bio
When she isn’t crafting delightful coffee experiences as a barista, Andrea is creating memorable experiences for our guests at The Walls. Currently nearing the completion of her marketing degree, she joins us with a fresh perspective and a wealth of knowledge, infusing creativity and style into everything she does at The Walls.
We are fortunate that Andrea also enjoys sharing her wine knowledge with our Spanish speaking guests, and hosts bilingual tastings!
