Oregon is a world-class destination for oenophiles. Not only is it home to hundreds of wineries, they’re often right next door to incredible scenery and opportunities for outdoor adventure. Take Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory, just half an hour’s drive southeast from Portland. After a full day of hiking on Mt. Hood or rafting on the Clackamas River, it’s easy to pop in at one of the many small, independent and family-run wineries on the Mt. Hood Territory Wine Trail.
Visit European-Inspired Wineries Around Oregon City
In the historic town of Oregon City, wine lovers can try everything from New World wines made with Old World techniques to vinos grown and produced on sustainability-focused working farms.
At both Forest Edge Vineyard and King’s Raven Winery, traditional Burgundian winemaking practices come together with Oregon grapes for memorable bottles of pinot noir as well as chardonnay and riesling. The family behind King’s Raven has been working the land for over 75 years and can date their lineage to some of Oregon’s earliest European settlers in the 1800s. At Forest Edge, you can see permaculture farming in action and learn about how this ecologically conscious farming style is better for both the grapes and the environment.
With a stately timber-frame tasting room, visitors to Christopher Bridge Wines and its Satori Springs Estate Vineyard can sample a host of lesser-known varietals from across Europe like siegerrebe and grüner veltliner. Like other area wineries, Satori Springs started out as a family farm before becoming an estate winery in the early 2000s, with a focus on biodynamic and eco-conscious vine-growing practices.
For a different type of Old World wine experience, Villa Catalana Cellars’ lakeside Italian villa-style tasting room may make you think you’ve been transported to Europe. With lush gardens and an outdoor patio, visitors can sample pours of merlot and cabernet sauvignon alongside estate-grown pinot gris. St. Josef’s Winery, Whiskey Hill Winery & Postlewait’s Vineyards, Hanson Vineyards and Wooden Shoe Vineyards at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm are just 15 minutes to the southwest in Canby.
Taste Estate Wines Around West Linn
Located on the western bank of the Willamette River opposite Oregon City, the West Linn area also has plenty of wineries to try. One recent addition to the Wine Trail, twill cellars, takes a low-impact approach to its grape-growing and winemaking. Specializing in pinot noir, chardonnay and syrah, its colorful lineup showcases the versatility of these grapes for everything from orange wine to robust red blends. Choose between the sleek, minimalist indoor tasting room or the sunny outdoor patio with vineyard and forest views for your sipping setting. Or make a reservation for the shady patio or lawn at Campbell Lane Winery, which pours pinot gris, pinot noir and chardonnay.
If you’re looking for a winery with a view, Pete’s Mountain Vineyard & Winery delivers on both vistas and vino. Hugging the elevated slopes of Pete’s Mountain, the tasting room takes in wide, sweeping views of the hillside vineyards and surrounding countryside with Mt. Hood dominating the skyline. Visitors can sip pinot noir, sauvignon blanc and crushable rosé made from both estate and locally grown grapes on the sunny outdoor patio or in the cozy, rustic barn tasting room. A short distance away lies Tumwater Vineyard, where a grand barn overlooks acres of estate vines that produce vintages of chardonnay and pinot noir. About 30 minutes east, Terra Vina Wines grows pinot noir along with dolcetto and cabernet franc.
Get Rewards As You Sip
The Mt. Hood Territory Wine Trail Passport is a free mobile passport to over a dozen regional wineries. Here’s how it works:
- Passport holders get discounts at participating tasting rooms and can earn points for every location you visit.
- Points can be redeemed at the Wine Trail’s online market for fun prizes like locally made beeswax wrap for packing your next wine-country picnic.
- If you’re exploring with people who prefer hops to grapes, Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory has them covered as well. Add on the free Mt. Hood Territory Tap Trail passport, then plan your visits to over a dozen craft breweries, cideries and distilleries around the area. Users can combine points from both trails to use toward prizes.
- It’s a good idea to call wineries ahead of time to confirm hours and make a reservation.
