The Pacific Northwest is famous for its abundance of wineries and vineyards. The beloved Hood River is no exception, providing a little-known haven for winemakers and drinkers. Many of Oregon’s premier wineries are located within the city’s limits. And since it’s just a hop, skip, and jump away from the hustle and bustle of Portland, this makes Hood River the perfect place to get away from the busy city life and enjoy the seclusion it offers while also enjoying a nice glass of wine. So, if you want to enjoy the quiet beauty of the Pacific Northwest and go wine tasting at the same time, these fantastic local wineries in Hood River have got you covered!
Cathedral Ridge Winery
4200 Post Canyon Dr.
541.386.2882
Named after the beautiful Mt. Hood’s Cathedral Ridge is Cathedral Ridge Winery on Post Canyon Drive. This award-winning winery handcrafts over 26 different delicious wines each year from 13 premier local vineyards to bring its patrons a taste of the stunning diversity of the Columbia Gorge Region. They grow everything from Pinot Noir to Zinfandel to Chardonnay and Cabernet, all within a 40-mile range, meaning that you truly are getting a taste that can only be found locally.
A wide variety of tasting options are also available, including standard wine tasting, reserve wine tasting, or a barrel tasting immersion. So whether you just want to enjoy a wine tasting for the first time, or if you’re a practiced connoisseur looking to try some new flavors, Cathedral Ridge Winery has got you covered.
Marchesi Vineyards and Winery
3955 Belmont Dr.
541.386.1800
A taste of Italy truly comes through the sophisticated wines created at Marchesi Vineyards and Winery in the Hood River community. Owner Franco Marchesi’s passion for wine began in his hometown of Borgosessia, Piemonte, Italy. As a child, he often wondered what it would be like to be a winemaker like his grandfather Achille. When he was 22, he moved to the states to work for a luxury cruise line based in San Francisco. Eventually, he found a career in the world of wine just a decade later as he became the wine buyer for a leading San Francisco Italian restaurant.
After 20 years in the wine business under his belt, he relocated to beautiful Oregon’s Columbia Gorge region as the latitude reminded him of his boyhood home in Italy. It was then that Franco began planting his favorite Northern Italian grapes on an abandoned apple orchard in Hood River that he purchased and revitalized. Since that time, he has been bringing a taste of Italy to the Hood River community in the form of fabulous wines.
GorgeOn Wines
111 2nd St., #300
541.716.1091
GorgeOn Wines, once known as Mylan Wines, is a small tasting room in the heart of downtown Hood River. While their primary focus is to show off the beautiful wine they create from vineyards here in the Columbia Gorge, they also feature exquisite wines from all over the world.
Wine tasting at GorgeOn is an unparalleled experience due to the expansive menu. The wine list changes weekly, so patrons can always have a taste of something different whenever they stop in for a sip. And what a delicious sip it will be as each wine on the menu is 100% naturally made. The wines are made with gentle and reserved intervention, allowing each glass to reveal layers of complex beauty with every taste.
The Pines 1852
415 Oak St.
541.993.8301
One of the oldest vineyards in the northwest is found at The Pines 1852. The vineyard’s Old Vine Zinfandel was first planted in The Dalles by an Italian stone mason Louis Comini in the late 1800s. He then made his home in Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge, bringing with him grape vines from his homeland of Genoa, Italy. Over a century later, now owner Lonnie Wright began reviving the century-old vine zinfandel in 1982. In 1986, he came into a business venture with local home-winemaker Peter Rosback after he sold some of his grapes to him to use in his basement wine operation.
Over the years, their business relationship grew, and in 2001, Wright approached Rosback to be the permanent winemaker of his new label as he finally decided it was time to make delicious wine from the delightful grapes the vineyard produced. After a handshake agreement, The Pines 1852 was born. Since then, the century-old vineyard has provided members of the Hood River community a fantastic taste of boutique wines.
Mt. Hood Winery
2882 Van Horn Dr.
541.386.8333
Farming since 1909, the Bickford family has been growing tree fruit in the Hood River Valley for over 100 years. However, it was only recently, in 2000, that Steve Bickford started to dabble in the wine business and grow the grapes for it. In 2007, a former classmate of his, Rich Cushman, returned to Hood River after becoming an award-winning winemaker. Bickford enlisted his help to create a delicate brand of wine after they had just transitioned to a 10,000-square-foot winery facility.
From there, the rest is history as Steve, his brother Don, and sister-in-law Libby got to work, bringing the new Mt. Hood Winery quickly forward in the world of champion wines. So much so that in 2016 the winery was named the 2016 Oregon Winery of the Year by Wine Press Northwest. Today, Mt. Hood Winery continues to produce award-winning wines cultivated by the expert farmers of the Bickford family, who have been growing fruit on the volcanic soils of the Mt. Hood area for generations, and are expert winemakers.
Of course, these aren’t the only wineries in the lovely Hood River community. The fertile soil and quietness of the area have made the area a perfect spot to enjoy wine in the Pacific Northwest. Other wineries, such as Wy’East Vineyards, Hiyu Wine Farm, Phelps Creek Vineyards, and The Gorge White House, also call scenic Hood River home, each offering its patrons a beautiful, quiet place to enjoy some great tasting wine!
