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New winery region discovered in Oregon
Everywhere you look these days there seem to be new wineries popping up. Washington County, located just west of Portland, Oregon is the latest region to register a big hit on the wine radar.
The secret of Washington County lies in the soil, rich red clay, combined with just the right amount of sunlight and rain.
Easily the best way to enjoy this new wine region is by following the Vineyard and Valley Scenic Tour Route, a 50-mile drive or cycle tour that showcases much of the county’s agricultural bounty, including many of the county’s 21 wineries, farms, pioneer and historic sites, wildlife refuges and scenic viewpoints.
The vineyard route twists and turns through tiny hamlets that all seem to have names written on the map—Roy, Greenville, Kansas City and Hillside—but very few people are actually driving on the roads. A map is a vital necessity. The scenic tour is well-signed but there are no paved shoulders or designated bike paths yet. There are also, surprisingly, very few hotels or inns. Despite its beauty and obvious potential for tourism, the region remains largely undiscovered.
Perhaps the finest accommodations are McMinamin’s Grand Lodge in the college town of Forest Grove, a very funky hotel that was once a retirement home. The lodge boasts free nightly movies for the kids, a huge hot tub for the grownups, vast lawns on which to ramble and several dining options; but offbeat it certainly is.
Here, among lovely rolling hills, the county’s best wineries are found. Perhaps the most picturesque is the David Hill Winery perched high on a hill, where winemaker Jason Bull opens his doors to visitors daily.
On the southern edge of Forest Grove visitors should make a point of touring Sake One, the premiere sake brewery in North America, where tastings will change your mind entirely about this sacred brew.
From Forest Grove the scenic drive heads east towards Sherwood, a long straight stretch of rolling hills and more tiny villages that register as blips as you drive by. Old town Sherwood is your destination and worth exploring for its pubs and shops, but now you are back in the grip of civilization and wishing you weren’t.
Washington County is truly a gem in the making, and it won’t be long before it is “discovered.” Best to visit now before that happens.
- Photos & text by Michael McCarthy©
