Wine-tasting is a popular pastime around Oregon, where nearly 1,000 vintners produce some of the world’s most acclaimed pinot noir, pinot gris, chardonnay, syrah, and other exciting wines.
And while Central Oregon vintners enjoy a shorter growing season than their counterparts on the wetter, west side of the Cascade Range, several industrious growers have earned raves for their award-winning wines—usually with grapes suited to the region’s dry climate. And in recent years, tasting rooms have opened across Central Oregon to spotlight local wineries, as well as producers from the Willamette Valley and other wine-growing regions around the world.
So as you make plans to visit soon, here’s a round-up of popular tasting rooms pouring some of the best wines in Central Oregon.
Favorite Wine Tasting Spots in Bend
Befitting its status as the biggest, trendiest city in Central Oregon, Bend offers a little of everything for wine fans of all stripes—including stalwarts from around the globe, outposts from Oregon wineries, and locally crafted wines. Here’s a rundown of where to go wine tasting in Bend, Oregon. (And when you’re feeling peckish, learn about where to wine and dine in Bend.)
Portello Winecafe
Enjoy a sampling of wines from around the world at Portello Winecafe on Bend’s relaxed westside. Here, the European-inspired wine bar pours a selection of international favorites; the rotating menu may include a mix of reds, white wines, sparkling pours, dessert wines, and more from the likes of Australia, Argentina, Chile, and Portugal; of course, popular producers from the Pacific Northwest are accounted for, as well.
The ambiance at Portello is enhanced by a food menu brimming with fresh, light bites; and a comfortable patio that fills quickly on sunny days.
Box Factory Wineries and Tasting Rooms
The Box Factory opened as an industrial hub in 1916, sandwiched between downtown and the modern-day Old Mill District. The factory shuttered decades ago but has been reinvented in recent years as a shopping center that hosts, among other stops, a trio of wineries—making the Box Factory ground zero for good wine in Bend.
The sip stops include the Walla Walla-based Bledsoe Family Winery (whose wines are produced by former NFL star and Bend resident Drew Bledsoe), Stoller Wine Bar (pouring selections from five Willamette Valley-based brands), and Bend Wine Bar & Winery Tasting Room (which produces small-batch wines from vineyards throughout Oregon and Washington).
Just across from the Box Factory is another popular stop: Elixir Wine Group, known for its globe-trotting selection of acclaimed wines from beloved wine-growing countries, such as France, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Uruguay, Chile, and Argentina. Rounding out the menu is a lineup of locally produced wines crafted with grapes from throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Willamette Valley Wineries in Bend
Just across the Cascade Range, the Willamette Valley is home to more than 700 wineries—and is among the best-known wine regions in the world. Pinot noir and chardonnay are just some of the many varietals that grow in the Willamette Valley’s nutrient-rich volcanic soils and adapt to the region’s cool climate. If your travels don’t take you to that scenic slice of Oregon, however, you’ll find plenty of Willamette Valley wineries with tasting rooms in Bend.
In addition to the aforementioned Stoller Wine Bar, you’ll soon find Willamette Valley Vineyards (which pours sustainability crafted wines and regionally inspired light bites) and the chic Domaine Serene Wine Lounge Bend (which pours a variety of flights showcasing its diverse lineup of acclaimed wines).
Redmond Wineries and Wine Bars You Have to Try
Redmond sits within a short drive of two of Central Oregon’s largest wineries—and is itself home to a chic wine bar pouring tastes from some of the United States’ best vintners. Here’s where to get started with wine tasting in Redmond, Oregon.
Eqwine Wine Bar
In the heart of downtown Redmond, Eqwine Wine Bar offers pours from some of the West Coast’s top producers; the ever-changing lineup typically includes a mix of classic wines, selections from up-and-coming wineries, and local pours—with a nod toward balance for the adventurous wine fan.
Enjoy your wine in Eqwine’s cozy bistro or on the somewhat shady patio, where live music occasionally soundtracks the fun. A variety of shareable plates are available for purchase if you get hungry.
Faith, Hope and Charity Vineyards
Faith, Hope and Charity Vineyards sits just a 25-minute drive northwest of Redmond (and a 15-minute drive west of Terrebonne), making it an easy—and sip-worthy—stop after a day of outdoor adventure.
The winery—among the largest and best-known in Central Oregon—takes its moniker from a regional nickname for the Three Sisters mountains, all of which are visible from its sun-kissed tasting room patio. There, oenophiles can enjoy wine crafted from grapes that are uncommon in Oregon—such as a citrus-tinged frontenac gris and a marquette that boasts notes of berry, licorice, and vanilla. More common offerings, sourced from vineyards throughout the Pacific Northwest, are also available—and include pinot noir, dolcetto, and cabernet sauvignon.
Maragas Winery
Maragas Winery sits along Highway 97, just 15 minutes north of Redmond, and that easy accessibility is just one of many reasons it’s become a popular stop for fans of good wine in recent years.
Maragas opened in 1999 as the latest step in a long lineage of family winemakers that dates back generations. The winery’s old-world techniques are on display in its lineup of European-inspired wines—including a full-bodied malbec, bright chardonnay, and a variety of elegant blends. Maragas prides itself on using organic and sustainability-minded practices for producing unfiltered wines where the fruit’s flavor really shines through. The wines never taste better than on a sunny afternoon at the Maragas tasting room, where views of the Cascade peaks and Smith Rock State Park abound.
Spring and Summer Wine Tasting Options in Sisters
Sisters might be synonymous with the Old West, but its pours occasionally reflect an Old World sensibility. Here’s where to enjoy a glass of good wine around town.
The Open Door Wine Bar
Just off the main drag in downtown Sisters, The Open Door Wine Bar perfectly balances a cozy, welcoming atmosphere with an ever-changing lineup of beloved wines from Central Oregon and around the world. The wines pair well with (scratch-made) European-inspired dishes (such as flatbreads, pasta, and lasagna), shareable plates, and light bites. Enjoy it all in The Open Door’s retro-inspired café—or on its charming patio, lit by string lights and heated by cozy fire pits.
Excited to see where else you can imbibe around town? Check out our beer and wine guide to Sisters, Oregon.
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