salem-area wineries

A visit to the Mid-Valley is synonymous with a visit to wine country, and ours is the kind oenophiles dream about: intimate enough that you’ll likely meet the winemaker, welcoming to every palate and pocketbook, and extraordinary enough to be awarded the 2016 wine region of the year by Wine Enthusiast. Our wineries take pride in amplifying your tasting experience with rustic yet elegant spaces, a laid-back vibe and outstanding food.

Salem

Here’s a little-known fact: Oregon’s oldest winery is right in Salem, less than a mile from Bush’s Pasture Park and Deepwood Museum & Gardens. Honeywood Winery founders Ron Honeyman and John Wood established the operation as Columbia Distilleries in 1934 to take advantage of the bounty of local fruit to produce fruit brandies, cordials and liqueurs. With an expansive tasting room and gift shop, Honeywood keeps the same fresh flavors pouring today. In West Salem, Redhawk Vineyard & Winery offers expansive views of the mountains and valley — a little bit of countryside right within the city. They’re best known for their affordably priced pinot noirs, like their popular Grateful Red.

South Salem

Tranquil views abound at Ankeny Vineyard, a 22-acre estate that overlooks Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge from the breezy patio. Come hungry, as the wood-fired pizzas here are heavenly, showcasing veggies and herbs grown on-site. On the bank of the Willamette River, visitors to Croft Vineyards can savor a flight of six red or white wines paired with artisan snack boards featuring Willamette Valley cheeses, honeys and cherry chutney from their own orchard. The pioneering St. Innocent Winery is known for founder Mark Vlossak’s sparkling wines, thanks to his apprenticeship with Fred Arterberry, Jr., the first Oregonian to make sparkling wine. Sip your bubbly creek-side or in their bright, modern tasting room. For big groups, it’s hard to beat the massive tasting room and wraparound patio perched atop 60 acres of vines at Willamette Valley Vineyards, in nearby Turner. After your tasting, climb to the top of the 65-foot lookout tower to gaze out over the Coast Range.

East Of Salem

If an idyllic farm experience is calling, Pudding River

Wine Cellars sits on the bank of the Pudding River and is a short hop east. Their Willamette Valley pinot noir rose and stainless-steel-fermented chardonnay are multipleaward winners and ideal for sipping on a sunny day. In Sublimity, treat yourself to a glass or bottle of something wonderful after a day of adventuring. You can lounge on the hillside at Silver Falls Vineyard and sample the diverse varieties including muscat, rose, sparkling wines, port and dessert wines. Hanson Vineyards is a familyowned winery that exclusively produces estate-grown wines. Hanson may be small, but they grow 11 different varieties of grapes. The gamay noir is bright and juicy with tart fruit, and the Cascadia red blend is broad-shouldered. The tasting room is open weekends from March 1 through the end of December. Bring a picnic on sunny days and enjoy the pet-friendly patio and good vibes.

TIP Wine tasting in the Willamette Valley is busiest between May and November, bookended by Memorial Day and Thanksgiving weekends. December kicks off cellar season in the valley — an incredible time to visit without the crowds. Make sure to appoint a designated driver or find a guided tour, such as Salem’s Prestige Wine Tours.

Polk County

You can expect more than extraordinary pinot noir and chardonnay at Benedetto Vineyards in Dallas. You might also be greeted by one of the friendly vineyard owners and invited on an educational stroll through the 14-yearold vines. Flights and light bites are offered in their modern tasting room and include five of the vineyard’s most current releases. Failla Wines, a project started in 1998 by winemaker Ehren Jordan, has been making wines in the Willamette Valley since 2015. Visit the warm and cozy tasting room on Zena Road and enjoy a flight of five Oregon releases — or try a comparative tasting of Failla’s Oregon and California wines. Tastings are by reservation only. Music lovers can grab a glass of sparkling pinot rose and enjoy a live show at Kathken Vineyards’ summer concert series. Check their website for events and information about their upcoming tasting room. Lingua Franca Estate Vineyard is committed to winemaking practices that respect the environment. Make an online reservation and take a tasting journey through the critically acclaimed pinot noirs and chardonnays, and learn the stories that inspired Larry, Master Sommelier, to plant the 66-acre vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills.

North Of Salem

The estate at Brooks Wine in Amity, a certified B-Corp business, is known for its award-winning riesling and pinot noir. Book a reservation on the deck or patio for some outdoor games. A short drive west of Brooks, Coelho Winery welcomes families and pets to its outdoor space, which includes a fire pit for cool afternoons. The third-generation winemakers produce single-estate pinot noir, pinot gris and chardonnay from their own fruit, and the tasting room is housed in the historic Amity Hardware Store. Don’t let the rustic red-barn exterior of the Aurora Colony Vineyards tasting room fool you. Step inside and you’ll find an elevated atmosphere that entices you to enjoy small-batch reds and whites and chef-prepared dishes that complement the estate wines. Try the goat cheese and Champagne jelly plate with a bottle of white and the grilled German sausage sampler with red. Advance reservations are recommended.