A Legacy of Learning, A Love of Wine

When you want a Washington wine with both history and precision, L'Ecole No. 41 is a place to begin. Founded in 1983 in a restored 1915 schoolhouse, the Walla Walla winery has spent more than four decades proving that Washington wine can be expressive, age-worthy, and deeply connected to place. Its two estate vineyards, Ferguson and Seven Hills, bring different soils, elevations, and growing conditions into the glass, while the Clubb family has carried the winery forward across three generations.

At a glance: Founded in 1983. Walla Walla Valley. Historic 1915 schoolhouse. Ferguson and Seven Hills estate vineyards. Third-generation family ownership.

That balance between continuity and change is what makes L'Ecole especially compelling today. When we met Marcus Rafanelli at Celebrate Walla Walla, we recognized a subtle brightness and roundness in the wines we had tasted over the years. The difference was not a rejection of L'Ecole's identity. It felt more like a careful refinement of it: the same respect for place, with a new generation asking how that place can speak even more clearly.

The next evening, Melissa Clubb helped us understand the deeper story. L'Ecole is not simply preserving a legacy. It is using that legacy as a foundation for what comes next.

From Schoolhouse to Standard Bearer

Not every winery begins with a dream to make history. Some begin with a simple desire to do something meaningful. That was the case for Jean and Baker Ferguson, who transformed a weathered 1915 schoolhouse into what would become one of Walla Walla's iconic wineries, L'Ecole No. 41. Jean was a teacher with a sharp mind for chemistry and a growing curiosity about winemaking. Baker, a seasoned banker, brought financial foresight and steady conviction. What began as a retirement project quickly evolved into a project well beyond that.

Soon, Jean's son-in-law, Marty Clubb, left his engineering career to join the winery. First as an apprentice, then winemaker, and eventually managing owner, Marty elevated L'Ecole from beloved local winery to a respected name across the U.S. He also helped shape L'Ecole's vineyard identity with estate-driven winemaking around flagship vineyards of Seven Hills and Ferguson. He did so shoulder to shoulder with fellow pioneers Rick Small of Woodward Canyon and Gary Figgins of Leonetti, founders of Walla Walla's now-celebrated wine culture. Together, they fostered Walla Walla's early wine culture, a collaborative spirit that still defines the valley today.

In 1983, they released their first wines, a Merlot and a Semillon, marking the beginning of an era.

The Precision Era with Marcus Rafanelli

In 2018, Marcus Rafanelli stepped into the role of winemaker, becoming only the fourth in L'Ecole's history. But this was no ordinary hire, it was a homecoming. Years earlier, Marcus had walked into the same schoolhouse as an intern, fresh out of the Walla Walla Community College viticulture program.

Since then, he had traveled the world, from the Mosel to the Barossa, absorbing styles, refining technique, and discovering his voice. That voice, it turns out, is one of thoughtful restraint and deep precision. "When I walked into L'Ecole as an intern, it felt like stepping into history," Marcus told us. "Now, I feel a responsibility to honor what came before, and to help shape what's next." Today, Marcus's wines are purposeful and pure, from the estate blends of Perigee and Ferguson to the crystalline expression of Old Vines Chenin Blanc. And he's not alone. Working alongside Marty, Marcus embodies the continuity that has always defined L'Ecole.

In 2018, Marcus Rafanelli stepped into the role of winemaker, becoming only the fourth in L'Ecole's history.

What to Pour First from L'Ecole No. 41

If you are choosing your first L'Ecole wine, begin with the style of wine you already enjoy. For a structured Washington red, try the 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, made from L'Ecole's Ferguson and Seven Hills estate vineyards. For a Bordeaux-style blend, explore the 2023 Cabernet Franc Merlot Estate, which brings together the balance and structure associated with the winery's estate program. For the deeper Ferguson expression, the 2022 Ferguson offers a focused way to explore one of the estate vineyards central to L'Ecole's identity. For a white wine with freshness and texture, the 2024 Semillon Stillwater shows why L'Ecole's white wines deserve attention alongside its celebrated reds.

Check availability on Wine.com first, since it's often the fastest way to see current vintages and shipping options. Availability changes by vintage, so if a particular bottle isn't listed there, the winery's own shop is the reliable fallback.

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Where Legacy and Vision Intersect

The beautifully restored schoolhouse still stands proudly on Highway 12, a visual anchor in the Walla Walla Valley. But more than a landmark, it's a living symbol of what this winery stands for: education, evolution, and enduring values. L'Ecole's story is part of a larger Walla Walla tradition of small, pioneering wineries working together to define what the region could become. Our story about another Walla Walla winery shaped by loss, art, and the people who carried it forward follows another branch of that history.

What struck us during our visit wasn't only the wine. It was the way everyone spoke about legacy, with reverence, yes, but also with momentum. Marcus emphasized that he isn't there to simply maintain tradition, he's there to add to it. And that's what makes L'Ecole's story one we want to keep returning to. It's not frozen in time. It's moving forward, with purpose and precision.

Planning a Visit to L'Ecole No. 41

L'Ecole's historic schoolhouse is in Lowden, Washington, in the Walla Walla Valley. Visitors can taste current releases in the original schoolhouse, explore the Legacy Cellar, or book one of the winery's more immersive experiences. The winery's visitor page lists current tasting options, hours, reservations, and locations.

For readers planning a Walla Walla trip, L'Ecole is valuable not only because of the wines. It offers a tangible connection to the region's early history: a working winery housed in the same schoolhouse that helped establish Walla Walla as a serious wine destination.

Want to continue exploring Walla Walla's early wine story? Watch our video about the wineries that helped establish Washington Cabernet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Oy13bPBztg, which touches on Eric Dunham learning winemaking at L'Ecole under Marty Clubb.

Update: This story began with our conversations with Marcus Rafanelli and Melissa Clubb in 2025. Since then, L'Ecole No. 41 has expanded its leadership team, appointing David Rosenthal as Director of Winemaking while Marty Clubb continues as Owner and Managing Winemaker. The transition reinforces the central idea of this story: L'Ecole's next era is being built on a very substantial foundation. Read the winery's press release on the appointment.

L'Ecole's story is moving forward with purpose and precision.

"When I walked into L'Ecole as an intern, it felt like stepping into history. Now, I feel a responsibility to honor what came before, and to help shape what's next."

L'Ecole No. 41 is a useful place to begin if you want to understand why Walla Walla wines matter. Start with one of the estate wines, taste it with dinner, and then explore the people and vineyards behind the label. Visit the winery directly: https://www.lecole.com/.

The region's combination of history, place, and careful winemaking also comes through in the wider Walla Walla wine story: read about how a nearby hillside estate built its own sense of place.