The high desert may not be the first place you think of for finding award-winning wines made from grapes grown right in Central Oregon. Granted, the notion of having a vineyard in its tricky climate seems like an uphill battle: challenging soil conditions, unique terrain, unpredictable weather, and a short growing season.
Yet, a few Central Oregon wineries have shown their “medal” by beating those odds–and winning. Other local wineries and winemakers have also made Bend, Oregon and the surrounding area their home by capitalizing on their family traditions and winemaking expertise to craft world-class wines locally.
Whether the wines you’ll find in Central Oregon originated from local or imported grapes, the results are worth savoring at the many venues and vineyards you can explore throughout the region. Here’s your guide to the top tasting rooms and wineries in Bend.
Wineries with Vineyards in Central Oregon
Several hardy high desert wineries pepper the Central Oregon region, their vineyards producing wines from special grape varietals bred to not only survive, but thrive in the climate’s conditions and create unique tasting profiles.
Living up to its translation in French, “good earth”, Terrebonne, Oregon, is the ‘stomping’ ground of two vineyards. Both located about 40 minutes north of Bend, these make a great day trip, or leisurely stopover as you drive north or south on Highway 97.
Faith Hope & Charity Vineyards
With the Three Sisters mountains (originally named “Faith”, “Hope” and “Charity”) towering in the distance, this scenic vineyard was a finalist for “Best Winery Venue” for weddings in Oregon Bride magazine’s Best of 2020 Readers’ Choice Awards.
However, the view is only part of this winery’s story. The owners of Faith Hope & Charity Vineyards have lovingly brought their fruit forward with a productive vineyard thanks to their overhead frost protection system. They’ve championed five estate-grown wines, which you can sample along with others made with grapes from other regional vineyards.
The vineyard offers signature wine tastings, a robust food menu, and weekend events. And, if you find some wines you just can’t live without, their wine club offers quarterly pick-ups complete with complimentary wine tastings and invites to exclusive events.
Maragas Winery
You can’t miss this Central Oregon winery right off Highway 97, about 5 minutes north of Terrebonne. Their 15-acre vineyard is home to 35 different vines, including blocks of European varietals and experimental ones to explore which grow best in its unique terroir.
Maragas Winery’s tasting barn offers mesmerizing views of Smith Rock State Park, seen from their patio and lawn. It pairs perfectly with their appetizer plates and cheese/charcuterie boards, prepared by their Greek-born chef.
Here, you will discover the perfect “blend”—deep traditions in Old World winemaking complemented by the agriculturally rich landscape of Central Oregon. Sip on award-winning dessert wines, like Tootise— a traditional Cretan style and method dessert wine. Or opt for the Estate Red, made with a blend of varietals sourced from their estate vineyard and barrel-aged for 48 months.
Best Places for Local Wine Tasting
You can find the best places to taste wine locally—without heading to Central Oregon and PNW wineries. With many wine tasting rooms and venues right here in Bend and Redmond, you won’t have to travel far.
Elixir
Located across the street from Bend’s Box Factory, Elixir Wine offers an elite global wine experience. Importing wines through intimate collaborations with winemaking families from countries around the world, you’ll find wines from places like Portugal, Spain, France, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Mexico, Spain, France, and Italy…and, now, Oregon.
Here, you can sample their Ermisch Cellars wine, made locally by owner Kirk Ermisch and his daughter at their boutique winery, right here in Bend, Oregon. Grab some food from The Podski food cart lot next door and sip your way through various wine regions!
Stoller Wine Bar Bend
Venture across the street to the Box Factory to find Stoller Wine Bar. Stoller brings its well-known, renowned wines from Oregon’s Willamette Valley to its Bend tasting room, located on the fringe of downtown Bend.
Enjoy glasses, flights and bottles from their family of wines: Stoller Family Estate, Chehalem, History, Chemistry, and Canned Oregon. Like any proper winery, they offer perfectly-paired flatbreads, cheese and charcuterie boards.
Bledsoe Family Wines
Yes, that Bledsoe. Former NFL Quarterback, Drew Bledsoe, who has familial ties in the Bend, Oregon area, was born and raised in the winemaking hot spot–Walla Walla, Washington. He started a vineyard there in 2007, and clearly, winning is in his blood: His first vintage made Wine Spectator’s Top 100 List.
At the Bledsoe Family Winery tasting room in the Box Factory, you can savor their wine flights or glasses a la carte while enjoying delicious food from the popular food cart lot just across the street: The Podski. Grab oysters from Mother Shuckers to pair with Bledsoe’s Healy Rosé or Elizabeth Chardonnay.
Evoke Winery
Just a few blocks to the south, Evoke Winery sits in Bend’s historic Old Mill District. This contemporary wine bar is a fun hang out spot to try its wines and enjoy its upbeat ambiance.
As one of its four locations in the Northwest, this playful company produces savory wines that always make for a great night (or day!) out with friends. The tasting room is family-friendly and pet-friendly, offering a variety of small plates like charcuterie and snacks for sharing.
Va Piano Vineyards
“When you go slowly, you go safely and you go far.” Inspired by an Italian proverb, Va Piano’s namesake reminds us all to savor the ‘slow life.’ Va Piano Vineyards brings its Walla Walla Valley wines to Central Oregon, focused on Cabernet, Syrah and red blends.
It’s an extension of the winery passion of Walla Walla-born owner Justin Wylie, whose family frequents Bend for vacations. Enjoy its river-front patio inside the Old Mill District, or cozy up inside the intimate tasting room while sipping ‘big reds’ and hand-selected Champagne and sparkling wines.
Beyond the Vine
Just outside of downtown Redmond, on the cusp of Centennial Park, Beyond the Vine offers a casual yet intimate wine tasting experience. Owner and operator, Lydia DeRoss, brings a plethora of knowledge—including a Level 3 WSET Award (Wine & Spirits Education Trust) and experience at bottle shops throughout Central Oregon.
Relax along BTV’s patio deck with a tasting from small-batch wineries and grazing boards. Inside, curl up with a pour from rotating wine options or their new reserve wines list. Of course, a visit to this Redmond wine bar wouldn’t be complete without one of their popular housemade desserts!
Portello Wine & Spirits
Portello has been a popular hangout in Northwest Crossing since 2006, just a few minutes from downtown Bend. With inviting, ample indoor and outdoor seating, this is a buzzing, friendly hub where you can relax while letting knowledgeable staff make recommendations from their rotating wine list.
Try a flight, or, pull a bottle from their wide selections of regional and global wines from their racks right on the floor. All this comes with their savory menu, including mix-and-match bruschetta plates, plus daily deals and specials.
Willamette Valley Vineyards
The newest addition to the downtown Bend wine scene, Willamette Valley Vineyards tasting room is a must-stop for Oregon wine enthusiasts. Pouring up a variety of wines from their flagship winery located in the Willamette Valley, just outside of Salem, Oregon, there is something for everyone. Sit back in one of their wine barrel booths and enjoy tasteful pairings with a robust food menu complimenting the Pacific Northwest flavors.
FERM & fare
Adjacent to Drake Park along downtown Bend’s Brooks Street Promenade, FERM & fare wine tasting shop treats tasters to an upscale feel while they sample wines from around the world. Focusing their flights on organic, biodynamic, and responsibly farmed wines, they complement them with a playful small bites menu.
Good Drop Wine Shoppe
Right in downtown Bend, this iconic Bend wine shop and tasting room combo continues to invite wine lovers to pause and enjoy the wealth of their expertise. With refined wines from around the world, it’s a great local spot to enjoy wine by the glass in their petite shop or on their patio.
The Wine Shop and Tasting Bar
In the heart of downtown Bend, The Wine Shop and Tasting Bar was voted one of the top ten wine bars in Oregon for good reason. Offering an array of refined wines from around the world, this is a great spot to sip, either in their warm, wood-hewn tasting room or outside on their patio while you enjoy their accompanying meat and cheese boards.
Flights Wine Bar
Choose your adventure at Flights Wine Bar with a variety of tasting experiences. Head to the ‘dark side’ with a flight of reds, ‘light side’ for sipping on whites, or a little bit of both with the ‘Wanderlust’ pours.
Explore “local-ish” tastings, or go for the elaborate Coravin flight—wines typically reserved only for by-the-bottle purchase, which can now be poured through a wine preservation technology. Stop by for fried chicken and Champagne on Thursdays or check out one of their weekly events ranging from Women in Wine to dinners with the winemakers from places like Dom Perignon.
Viaggio Wine Merchant
Whether you’re seeking an economic option for a glass of white wine from California’s North Coast or top tier pour from Burgundy, France, Viaggio Wine Merchant has the inventory—and wine knowledge—for a cushy wine tasting visit.
Situated in Bend’s evolving Westside Yard along Century Drive, Viaggio offers the best of both worlds. On one side of the merchant, guests can get snug at the bar or across the sofa while basking in an abundance of natural light. Or, check out the extensive wine shop adjacent to the tasting room for a diverse selection of bottles for purchase.
Wine Tours in Bend, Oregon
There are a few guided tours you can take to explore all of these great wineries and tasting rooms in Bend and Central Oregon.
Cycle Pub – Tuk Tuk Wine Tour
Curate your own custom wine tour—no pedaling required! Bend’s popular Cycle Pub, known for its novelty “big bikes” cruising around town for pub tours, now has a more leisurely drinking tour option. The Tuk Tuk, a three-wheeled vehicle popular in areas like Thailand, seats up to six people while its driver chauffeurs you and your group around to the wine bars of your choice!
Bend Brew Bus
Along with their beer and distillery tours, Wanderlust Tours’ Bend Brew Bus offers premier, full-service beverage tours in Bend. For 10 or more people, you can book a private, customized tour, where you can choose the best tour based on your tastes. Knowledgeable guides make time with winemakers to discuss the legs on their wine.
