Step inside Panther Creek's tasting room and the first glance seems stark, but the second leaves a very strong less is more impression. The color scheme cleverly follows their label's black and red, with some grey thrown in for contrast. The impeccable lighting design gives a sleek, sensual...
In broad brush strokes, Domaine Trouvere, located in Oregon's Dundee Hills AVA, is a side project of Lange Estate. But more specifically, it's Wendy Lange's personal project. Not having met her, one might guess that her tastes run a bit more eclectic than just the (brilliant, fantastic) Pinot...
We were busted. After years of visiting Oregon wineries incognito, it was bound to happen. It was Don Lange who smiled and said, I notice you've been taking a lot of notes, and you're spitting. Are you a wine writer? Well, yes, I admitted, and then we all laughed. I assured him his staff had...
They're bigger than you thought, and a lot bigger than they look. Situated in a plain, reddish-brown building on the edge of Dundee on the way out of town, Dobbes Family Estate's tasting room is actually a powerhouse of production. They're one of the largest producers in the state, but you...
Often underrated, always understated and wonderfully accessible, Argyle is a great starting point for tasters who want to try Oregon wine. With a tasting room right in the middle of Dundee, on Highway 99, it's also a great starting point for a tour (or a good place to end one, for the same...
In the heart of the Dundee Hills sits one of the more charming tasting rooms a wine tourist might run across, in the form of the Maresh Red Barn. Driving up to the building is certainly like visiting a quintessential roadside attraction (read tourist trap) but we were greeted warmly by Ayla,...
One of the more interesting tasting flights is also one of the hardest to get to: Bella Vida Vineyard sits high atop a hill, overlooking the Dundee Hills. Signs at the bottom of the disconcertingly steep driveway say, Keep Tires on Concrete, which serves as an ominous start to a hair-raising...
One of the grand daddies of Oregon's wine industry, Erath has been around for over 40 years now. From the gravel road to the unpretentious wood structure, everything belies Erath's size, market share and impact. Although spacious, the dark wood tasting room feels intimate, and even though...
It's always fun to taste wines from a new, up and coming wine maker, however humble the beginnings might be. Hawkins Cellars' tasting room resides in the middle of Dundee, offering the company's tiny production of a thousand cases. The wine is currently produced at the reputable Methven...
Modern elegance is a term that not only applies to Montinore Estate's gorgeous winery, but also to the wine that's produced there. Natural light spills through big windows into the capacious tasting room. High ceilings and light wood accent the airiness, but it still comes across as relaxed and...
Named for its location, David Hill Winery plays up one of the best views of the valley by sharing its history. The tasting room resides in a 150 year old house, filled with 100 year old pictures of grape vines. The next part of the tale is a tragedy: those vines were pulled up during Prohibition...
Stangeland probably isn't the smallest winery I've ever seen, but it's got to be close. Parking seems tricky at first but isn't hard after you figure it out (back into a space). We were waved in by the tasting room maven as he unlocked the doors, and he promptly set up our glasses, chatting...