Our Schoolhouse

The cornerstone of our winery and the inspiration behind our classic label, our historic Frenchtown Schoolhouse began as a log-cabin school built in 1870 along the Walla Walla River. Rebuilt in 1915 and renamed Lowden School, this stalwart structure endured for over a century to become the beloved icon it is today.

The name “L’Ecole № 41,” French for “the school” in district 41, honors the French-Canadian settlers who pioneered viticulture in the Walla Walla Valley in the 1800s. By the 1860s, vineyards, nurseries and winemaking were integral to the valley’s growing economy. One hundred years would pass before the seeds of contemporary winemaking took root in the Walla Walla Valley, and this schoolhouse stands among those modern trailblazers as one of the earliest symbols of their efforts.

Our tasting room occupies one of the original classrooms, preserving historical details like chalkboards, light fixtures, fir floors, and moldings. In the cellar, a children’s water fountain and a restored hand-painted mural, originally created by schoolchildren for a Christmas pageant, reflect the warmth and charm of the space.

The painting featured on our current label is based on a 1915 photograph of the Schoolhouse when it was newly built. It embodies the heart of L’Ecole № 41: a window into our past, a mirror of our present, and a looking glass into the future as we continue to produce distinctive, ultra-premium wines.