Columbia Gorge Wineries

Unique Region With Washington and Oregon Wineries

Columbia Gorge wineries sit in one of the most beautiful regions on the west coast. Wineries line the banks of the Columbia Gorge River. Oregon is home to about half of the wineries and the other half are north of the river in Washington State.

On this page, you will discover more information about this breathtaking region, its wineries and red wines. You will also learn more about the Columbia Gorge weather, when to visit, annual Columbia Gorge wine events and itineraries for some self guided wine tours.

About thirty wineries cover the Columbia Gorge area. It stretches 40 miles from east to west. Most Columbia Gorge wineries are small, family owned businesses.

Even though the region is small, the weather here is unique. Wineries on the western side grow their grapes in cooler temperatures. On the eastern side, producers can grow warmer weather wines.

---

History of the Columbia Gorge Wine Region

As with many of the other Oregon and Washington wine regions, individuals have been planting and harvesting their own wine grapes here for over a hundred years. The Jewitt family came to this area in the 1880s. They founded the town of White Salmon, Washington. Shortly after they settled, they began to plant grapes. Some of their original vines are still alive in this region.

Other wine makers didn't discover the region until the 1970s. At this time, others began to understand this region's potential to grow grapes and produce wine. Excitement about the region continued and it expanded rapidly over the next couple of decades.

The Columbia Gorge received their official AVA -- American Viticulture Area -- designation in 2004.

---

Columbia Gorge Red Wines

Today, many of the Columbia Gorge wineries focus their red wine growing efforts on Pinot Noir wine and Syrah wine. You'll find most of the Pinot Noir in the cooler, wetter western part. Syrah wine is mostly grown in the warmer, drier eastern part.

However, most wineries produce a large variety of wines. For example, Maryhill Winery, on the far eastern end of the region, produces 27 different wines from 18 different varietals!

In addition to Syrah, wineries on the eastern side grow everything from Barbera to Zinfandel. Some of the other reds here are Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Merlot and Sangiovese.

On the western side, Pinot Noir is one of the main reds. However, you will also find international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Malbec, Tempranillo and Zinfandel are other red wines produced by Columbia Gorge wineries on this side of the region.

---

Wineries With Open Tasting Hours

The majority of the wineries in the region have tasting hours open to the public. Since many are family owned Columbia Gorge wineries, most are open only a few days a week or during certain times of the year.

The map below shows all the wineries with open tasting hours. Click on the map to find the address for each winery and the hours they are open for tasting.

View All About Red Wine: Open Tasting
Rooms in Columbia Gorge Wine Region in a larger map

---

Columbia Gorge Wine Tours

The best way to experience Columbia Gorge wineries is by visiting them. Here are a couple of suggested itineraries for your trip:

Eastern Columbia Gorge Winery Tour

Maryhill Winery: Start your day at 10am at Maryhill Winery -- on the far eastern side of the region. This beautiful winery sits right on the river and has a huge selection of wines.

Cascade Cliffs Vineyard & Winery: Head west for your next stop at Cascade Cliffs. This is another winery right on the river. They focus mainly on reds so you can sip away at some Barbera, Syrah, or Cabernet Sauvignon.

Jacob Williams Winery: Your third stop of the day is at Jacob Williams Winery. Here you can taste some wines. Before you leave for the day -- pick up some lunch and enjoy it on the huge patio at this winery. You will enjoy both their wines and the scenery.

Historic Sunshine Mill: Your final stop of the day is the tasting room for two wineries: Copa Di Vino and Quenett Winery. These two Columbia Gorge wineries worked together to transform an historic flour mill into a fun tasting room. They also serve some appetizers, so you can grab a little snack to round out your day.

---

Western Side Winery Tour

Cathedral Ridge Winery: On the western side, start your day at Cathedral Ridge Winery. They open their tasting room doors at 11am. Cathedral Ridge won Oregon Winery of the Year in 2007 by Wine Press Northwest. Sip some of their reds including their award winning Syrah, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and more.

Mt. Hood Winery: The second stop of the day is at Mt. Hood Winery. You'll get amazing views of the mountains and vineyards in their new tasting room. Try their Pinot Noir, Syrah and Tempranillo wines.

Wy'East Vineyards: You can taste a few different Pinot Noir wines at Wy'East Vineyards. You can also sip on some Syrah, white wines or their popular sweet wine made from Pinot Noir grapes. Bring along your lunch and enjoy it here in their large picnic area.

Springhouse Cellar: The final two stops of the day take you into the town of Hood River. Springhouse Cellar's wine tasting room is in the old downtown cannery. Try some of their Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon or white wines.

Naked Winery: Your next stop is just a few blocks away at the Naked Winery. Here you'll find a relaxed and fun wine tasting experience. They are open until 7pm most nights. A few nights a week, they also have live music and are open until 10pm. Either way you will have a fun time at Naked Winery.

---

Columbia Gorge Weather: When to Visit

When is the best time to visit the Columbia Gorge wineries? You will find the most wineries open April through October. Some wineries have limited hours in April and May, so check ahead before traveling during these months.

Harvest season starts in late August. It usually lasts until late October. This varies from year to year, but you will typically find some sort of harvest activities going on during these times.

This is a fun time to visit. You usually get to see a little more action going on at the wineries.

Some of the Columbia Gorge wineries are closed from December through February. You will want to check opening hours for wineries if you travel during these months.

Here is a quick chart that shows the Columbia Gorge weather highs and lows for each season:

Season	Average Highs	Average Lows
Spring	60 - 65	35 - 45
Summer	75 - 80	50 - 55
Fall	65- 70	35 - 45
Winter	40 - 50	low 30s

Due to its location, it does get cool at night. Bring along a jacket or something warm for these cool evening nights. Spring and fall have ideal temperatures. Summer is also beautiful -- although there are some days that get a little hot.

---

Columbia Gorge Wine Events and Other Activities

Columbia Gorge Wine Passport Weekend is the biggest annual event in the region. It is a great time to visit the region and learn more about their wines.

The event is held over three days from April 13 - 15, 2012. Each winery has specials during the event and it officially kicks off the 2012 wine season for the Columbia Gorge wineries.

In addition to visiting the Columbia Gorge wineries, there are some other great things to do in the region. Most of the year, hiking and biking are the most popular activities. There are several trails in the region and many people add these activities onto their trip.

---

Where to Stay During Your Visit

The best place to stay during your visit to the region is Hood River. It is a beautiful small town -- around 7,000 people -- and is the hub for visitors to this region.

Another option is to stay in Portland. It is about an hour drive from the western side of the region back to Portland. This is a good option if you are only visiting Columbia Gorge for one day.

---

Columbia Valley Wineries: Overlapping with Columbia Gorge is the larger Columbia Valley wine region. It is the largest region in the state of Washington. Eight other sub-regions sit inside Columbia Valley and you can find a wide variety of red wine here. Uncover the award winning wines from this region and more on its eight sub-regions.

Willamette Valley Oregon: If you are a Pinot Noir wine lover, then look for wines from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Wine makers here are creating some of the best Pinot Noir wines in the world right now. This large region is on the western side of Oregon and popular with wine lovers. Read on to learn more about the Willamette Valley Oregon wine region.

---

Learn more about these red wines grown at Columbia Gorge wineries.

Cabernet Franc Wine: This red wine type originated in France. Today, there are only a few wine regions in the world that use it to create single varietal wines -- one of those is Columbia Gorge. Step inside to the world of Cabernet Franc wine. Find out more about its common flavors, aromas and some of the best regions for this red wine.

Grenache Wine: What is the most grown red wine in the world? Did you say Cabernet Sauvignon? Nope -- it's Grenache! This red wine originated in Spain and, until recently, was primarily used as a blending wine. However, the fate of this wine is changing and many regions are now making mouth-watering Grenache wines. Learn more about this up and coming red wine.

Sangiovese Wine: Another wine that is not as well known by name is Sangiovese. This red is the heart of the famous Chianti wine in Italy. However, many other regions are now also producing amazing reds from this varietal. Read on to learn all about Sangiovese wine.

---