Columbia Gorge Winery Profiles
The Columbia Gorge AVA straddles the famous river of the same name and includes vineyards in both Washington and Oregon. Diverse microclimates make this fertile ground for a wide range of grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio, Barbera, Riesling, Syrah, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Cascade Cliffs Vineyard & Winery
Klickitat Canyon Winery
Marchesi Vineyards
Memaloose Winery
Phelps Creek Vineyards
Wy'East Vineyards
Columbia Gorge Harvest
Cascade Cliffs Vineyard & Winery
An old winemaking proverb states, "All great grapes see the river." You'll find out why in our video profile of Cascade Cliffs Vineyard & Winery. Located in Wishram, Washington, this vineyard's proximity to the Columbia River makes it ideal for growing Italian grape varietals from Piedmont such as Nebbiolo, Barbera, and Dolcetto. Owner/winemaker Bob Lorkowski also talks about his success with Symphony, an aromatic, food-friendly white wine, while introducing us to his stunning vineyard in the Columbia Gorge.
Klickitat Canyon Winery
Meet Robin Dobson, grower and winemaker at Klickitat Canyon Winery in the Columbia Gorge. Robin is also an ecologist for the U.S. Forest Service with a Ph.D in plant pathology. His goal is to reconnect the vineyard to the ecosystem, so he encourages the natural plant life to take up residence between his vineyard rows. Learn about the geologic history of the Columbia Gorge, and the organic practices of this family-run winery that produces Syrah, White Grenache, Viognier, Marsanne, and Chardonnay.
Marchesi Vineyards
Franco Marchesi has seen a lot of the world. From his early days as a sommelier on a cruise ship to importing Italian wines, he has now built a small winery in Hood River, Oregon. With a focus on making Barbera, Dolcetto, and Pinot Grigio, Franco explains the importance of enjoying wine as food. We'll visit the vineyard and hear how the growing conditions and geology of Hood River remind him of his origins in Piedmont, Italy.
Memaloose Winery
Learn why the Columbia Gorge is such a rich area for growing a wide variety of grapes. Rob McCormick provides some insight into rainfall patterns and the dramatic climatic differences you'll find as you move east through the gorge. You'll get a firsthand view of the wild winds and dramatic setting of this vineyard, and learn about pioneering in a young AVA as you hear about their minimalist approach to winemaking where vintage and site are primary.
Phelps Creeks Vineyards
Bob Morus had a dream to one day own a small vineyard. When he came out to Hood River, Oregon from Chicago, he was taken by the beauty of the area and the promise of being able to grow world-class Pinot Noir. You'll learn about the evolution of his vineyard that was nurtured along with the help of some of Oregon's best growers and winemakers. Bob discusses the importance of low crop levels and how his two winemakers create distinct styles of Pinot Noir from the same vineyards.
Wy'East Vineyards
Dick and Christie Reed uprooted their life in Chicago to move to Hood River, Oregon. They now tend 28 acres of premium wine grapes including one of the highest elevation Pinot Noir sites in Oregon. Each plant is touched at least 7-8 times and crop levels are low to keep the quality of these grapes high. You'll get a firsthand tour of this incredible vineyard in the Columbia Gorge where the influence of the Cascade Range is apparent with rich volcanic soils and stunning views of Mt. Hood.
Columbia Gorge Harvest
Cascade Cliffs in Wishram, Washington is the beautiful location for this harvest. You'll see how these grapes are picked, taken into the winery, and carefully processed as begin their journey to becoming fine wines.