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Discovering the Hidden Gem of the Columbia River Gorge Wine Region

Writer's picture: Jeremy BrownJeremy Brown

Updated: Oct 15, 2024


Vineyard
Overlooking Vineyard Columbia River

The Willamette Valley, with its neatly arranged vineyards and long-established reputation, is Oregon’s proud and polished flagship, its wineries like sentinels standing tall from Portland to Eugene. It draws the throngs, people seeking its famed Pinot Noirs, all of them enamored by the valley’s pastoral charm and predictability. But to the east, just beyond the city’s grip, lies a different road—a path less traveled, and one that winds its way into a secret Oregon yet to be fully discovered: the Columbia River Gorge.


This place is not off the beaten path as you would think, but it feels that way, it soft beckons to you with an adventurous spirit, to explore it, breath it, The Gorge spans the border of the Washington and Oregon and rushing pulse of Columbia River carved through its face. Vineyards nestled among towering cliffs and lush forest of Pacific Northwest. Inviting travelers to discover what is beyond cliff faces.


Tasting Room
AniChe Cellars

The region’s climate is as varied as its landscapes—a cool maritime influence mingles with elevations that rise and fall, the air turning brisk as you ascend, warm as you dip into the valleys. Grapes grow here in unexpected ways, defying convention. You’ll stumble upon crisp Rieslings and Albariños, refreshing like a cool breeze off the river, then find yourself sipping bold Syrahs and sun-soaked Tempranillos that seem to have absorbed the very essence of the rugged hills they grow upon.


Wineries here are no mere tourist attractions—they are the workshop of pioneers, where vintners balance on the edge of tradition and innovation. The wines are small-batch, each one a reflection of the soil and seasons, as well as the winemakers’ deep desire to create something uniquely theirs. You won’t find conveyor belts or glossy tastings designed for the masses. Instead, you’ll meet the craftsmen and women themselves, eyes alight as they share a pour, eager to tell the tale behind every sip.


Vineyard
Vineyard Looking East

The journey to the Gorge is, quite literally, a matter of an hour’s drive east from Portland, yet it feels like entering another world. Towns like Hood River and White Salmon, perched on either side of the river, are perfect waypoints. Hood River, with its laid-back energy, offers tasting rooms and vineyards with views of Mount Hood towering in the distance. Across the water, White Salmon is quieter, a place where the pace slows, and you find yourself lingering over a glass, watching the sun play on the cliffs.


There are must-visit spots like McMenamins Edgefield and AniChe Cellars, where the commitment to creativity and quality is palpable. But the real treasure of the Gorge is in the unexpected—a small vineyard down a winding road, an impromptu barrel tasting where the winemaker’s hands are still stained with the day’s work, a harvest festival where the air is thick with the scent of freshly picked grapes and fermenting wine.


Columbia River
Look out up the Gorge

The Columbia River Gorge doesn’t unfold its secrets all at once. It’s a place that reveals itself to those who are willing to slow down and listen, to take the side roads, and to savor the journey. It’s for the wanderer in search of something real, something undiscovered.


If you’re the kind who measures distance in experience rather than miles, pack your bag lightly, leave the guidebook behind, and head east. Let the Gorge reveal itself, one glass, one story at a time.



Places to Taste.


Hiyu Wine Farm

3890 Acree Dr, Hood River, OR


Idiots Grace

8450 US-30, Mosier, OR


Hawkins Cellars

10401 Cook-Underwood Rd.


Syncline Winery

111 Balch Rd Lyle, WA


Phelps Creek

301 Country Club Rd Hood River, OR


Cor Cellars

151 Old Hwy 8 Lyle, WA

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