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A vintage bunch
New winery guide
includes four within a few
hours of Portland
August 15,
2007
By Margaret Herrington for
The Columbian
Christina Melander,
author of the
new “Pacific
Northwest: The
Ultimate Winery
Guide,” makes
official what
many area
residents already
know: There’s
a lot of good
wine being produced
around here.
The Columbia River Gorge and
Oregon’s Willamette
Valley are ideal for wine
growing. Climate, altitude,
slope, rainfall and soil are
all contributing physical
elements. But Northwest traditions
of dedication, determination
and adaptation have made it
happen.
Melander’s book includes
four wineries within a two-hour
drive of Portland, making
them great destinations for
day trips. A chance to educate
your palate is only a short,
scenic drive away.
Carlton Winemakers
Studio
 Where:
801 N. Scott St.,
Carlton, Ore., 97111.
Information:
503-852-6100 or www.winemakersstudio.com.
Drive time:
About an hour.
Carlton Winemakers Studio
lies 12 miles west of Newberg.
Ten independent winemakers
share such resources as equipment,
marketing and a tasting room.
Tastings rotate weekly allowing
participating makers to showcase
their wares and giving visitors
a broader introduction to
Yamhill County vintners. Weekly
flights always include three
mixed whites, three pinot
noirs and three mixed reds.
A collaborative model for
the future, Carlton Winemakers
Studio allows small but fine
vintners to bring their efforts
to the market, further enhancing
the rich range of regional
choices.
Wineries generally welcome
visitors who want to learn
about wine and offer a number
of tastes at no charge. Purchasing
wine is optional but a good
souvenir of your trip.
Maryhill
Winery
Where:
9774 Highway
14, Goldendale,
98620.
Information:
877-627-9445 or
www.maryhillwinery.com.
Drive time:
Two hours.
Maryhill Winery,
about 100 miles
east of Vancouver
and near Goldendale,
is perched high
above the Columbia
River and shares
bluff frontage
with historic
Maryhill Museum.
Revealing the
possibilities
of the rich soil
in this region,
Maryhill produces
a wide range of
grapes, varietals
(wines made primarily
from a specific
grape variety)
and blends.
In addition to
these many tasting
options, the elegant
Maryhill Winery
offers concerts
in a large open-air
amphitheater and
a vine-covered
patio with wide
views of the river.
Take a short side
trip to view petroglyphs,
a replica of Stonehenge
or colorful windsurfers
on the Columbia
River.
Wind River Cellars
 Where:
196 Spring Creek Road, Husum,
98623.
Information:
509-493-2324 or www.windrivercellars.com.
Drive time:
About 1½ hours.
“The Best Places to
Kiss in the Northwest: A
Romantic Travel Guide” rates
Wind River Cellars as a “most-kissable
place.”
Here, you’ll
find Port of Celilo
and the Lemberger,
a full-bodied
red with a pithy,
spicy and cherry-like
character, traditionally
found in small
production in
Germany and Austria.
This winery has
a high fun factor.
Special events
such as Pet Portrait
Day, Fungi with
the Fun Guy, and
a running with
the bulls event
are cast against
a heart-stopping
view of Mount
Hood.
You can also enjoy
an intimate picnic
on the premises
or arrange in
advance for a
catered lunch
or dinner (for
groups of eight
or more).
Adelsheim Vineyard
 Where:
16800 N.E. Calkins Lane,
Newberg, Ore., 97132.
Information:
503-538-3652 or
www.adelsheimvineyard.com.
Drive time:
About an hour.
If the lush green
landscape of Oregon’s
Willamette Valley
draws you, Adelsheim
Vineyard in Yamhill
County near Newberg
offers a pinot
powerhouse. David
and Ginny Adelsheim,
early growers
who saw grapevines
in hilly areas
where none had
been envisioned
before, broke
ground in 1971.
Oregon’s
pinot viticulture
has been affirmed
over the years,
and Adelsheim
Vineyard is replete
with pinot wonders.
A gravity-feed
fermentation room
for gentler grape
processing contributes
to Adelsheim’s
distinction. In
the tasting room
you can sample
pinots (from noir
to gris to blanc
to auxerrois)
by masters of
the form. |
