Hood River wineries produce excellent wine
This blog post covers the best wineries in Hood River, Oregon.
Most people associate Hood River with windsurfing. Some say it’s the windsurfing capital of the world. The wine is world class too. Here are my four favorite Hood River wineries that produce organic and biodynamic wine.
The Columbia Gorge is a place of extremes. Extreme climate, extreme scenery, and extreme soil. Different microclimates allow different grape varieties to thrive.
Typical varieties like Pinot Gris, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Sauvignon Blanc grow well. But Hood River wineries also work with Spanish varieties such as Mencia and Godello or French varieties such as Petit Manseng and Trousseau. Oregon wine country is known for its Pinot Noir, but the Columbia Gorge AVA produces wine that is much more diverse.
The soil is also special. Rich volcanic soil from Mount Hood makes the Hood River Valley ideal for many kinds of fruit besides grapes. Local growers produce award-winning apples, pears, and cherries. The scenic Fruit Loop drive meanders past many fruit stands and farms, some of which boast gorgeous Mt Hood views.
Willamette Valley wineries receive most of the praise and attention paid to the Oregon wine industry. Everyone’s aware of award-winning wines from the Willamette Valley AVA. But the Columbia Gorge AVA has incredible award-winning wineries that are not to be missed.
These Hood River wineries produce the best organic and biodynamic wine
Analemma Wines (Mosier, Oregon)
Analemma Wines makes fantastic wine and I don’t say that lightly. Co-founders Kris Fade and Steven Thompson create wines that are clean, clear expressions of their land and their grapes.
In my opinion, their biodynamic wines taste natural enough for the natural wine lovers and classic enough for the conventional wine drinkers. Win win.
Their wine is consistently excellent year over year. Meticulous farming methods are a big factor. Steven and Kris understand that everything is interconnected and they work to ensure that everything on their land is healthy. Analemma received Biodynamic certification from Demeter in 2017 and released their first Biodynamic Wines several years later.
The climate they experience in their Mosier, Oregon vineyards is similar to that of Galicia in northwestern Spain. As a result, they work with mostly Spanish grape varieties.
Their beautiful property in Mosier, Oregon features an indoor tasting room, an outdoor patio, picnic tables near a small lavender field, and picnic tables situated among cherry trees. When the cherry blossoms bloom above the picnic tables, it’s the perfect place to while away the afternoon with a bottle of wine.
Analemma Wines offers vineyard tours of their property in Mosier, Oregon. We signed up for the “Exploratory Field Tasting,” which included a long leisurely stroll through the vineyards and periodic stops to sample wine. The tour guide was knowledgeable, the vineyards were beautiful, and the wine was delicious. What more could you want?
Please be aware that this is not a dog-friendly patio due to their Demeter certification. According to their website “reservations are required for all visits excluding Coterie Clubhouse Hours.”
Syncline Winery (Lyle, Washington)
Owners Poppie and James Mantone built Syncline Winery on the Washington side of the Columbia Gorge AVA.
This family-owned winery has implemented “Biodynamic practices and organic farming” with their estate vineyards. But they also source fruit from nonorganic vineyards in the Horse Heaven Hills, Red Mountain, and the Yakima Valley.
For me, the main draw of Syncline Winery is the gorgeous garden. Flower beds and pebbled paths wind through clusters of picnic tables, chairs, and fire pits.
Most wineries boast an outdoor patio. But how many wineries can say they have a large beautifully designed garden? Their garden is one of the most fantastic locations in the Columbia Gorge to taste wine, especially if you prefer your wine flights al fresco.
I’d recommend a leisurely afternoon spent sipping Syncline’s biodynamic wines in their garden and then, once you’re hungry, head to Henni’s Kitchen and Bar for dinner. Henni’s is a short drive from Syncline.
According to the Syncline Winery website the tasting policy is “Walk-ins welcome. Reservations encouraged.”
Hiyu Wine Farm (Hood River, Oregon)
Hiyu Wine Farm is not like most Hood River wineries. Their wine skews more experimental and their wine farm is a jumble of vines and animals. It looks different from most manicured vineyard rows in the Columbia River Gorge.
Hiyu is not only a wine farm, it’s also a “wild” farm where “cows, chickens, and pigs graze among vines.” Hiyu Wine Farm offers the “Tavern Tasting,” which is a tasting experience of wine paired with small plates.
The food ranged from freshly baked focaccia to cured meat made from their own pigs. A pig napped in a vineyard row just outside the window. The full circle nature of this setting was not lost on me.
Interestingly enough, Hiyu possesses neither organic nor biodynamic certification. But, as their distributor Jenny & François Selections explains, “the reality is that their farming methods go way beyond the requirements, with 85% fewer sprays used than a typical organic or biodynamic vineyard.”
This beautiful Hood River valley winery produces some of the best wines we tasted near Hood River. Which makes perfect sense because sommelier turned winemaker Nate Ready is considered one of the best natural winemakers in the United States.
You must make a reservation in advance.
Buona Notte Wines (Cascade Locks, Washington)
If you love natural wine, check out Buona Notte Wines.
Winemaker Graham Markel worked for Nate Ready of Hiyu Wine Farm and their winemaking styles are in the same vein. He also worked under Antica Terra’s Maggie Harrison for seven years.
Markel has received praise for his take on Italian varieties such as Sangiovese. If you favor orange and white wine you’ll enjoy the “Panna Cotta.” He makes his own wine exclusively from organically farmed grapes.
If you’re looking for a lush lawn or decorated patio you won’t find it here. Our tasting took place beside barrels in a rented production space. But there was delicious cheese (Cascadia Creamery’s Cloud Cap) and delicious wine. And, out of all the Hood River wineries we visited, Buona Notte was the only winery where the winemaker led the tasting himself.
This is great wine at a great price point. The tasting fee was also very reasonable. I absolutely think the price of his wine will increase in the future so enjoy it while you can.
You can find Buona Notte wines in Hood River at stores like Treebird Market or you can email the winemaker directly to schedule a tasting. Walk-ins are not welcome so you must make a reservation.
P.S. Buona Notte recently opened a small tasting room in Portland, Oregon. The space is called Buona Notte Appartamento because it’s “somewhere between a wine bar and an Italian apartment.” They serve their own wines alongside small food items.
Extra information about the Hood River area
How to access Hood River, Oregon
Hood River is a short drive from Portland, Oregon. If you’re from out of state, you could fly into Portland International Airport (PDX), rent a car, and then drive one hour from Portland to Hood River. If you prefer to not rent a car, then you can take the Columbia Gorge Express bus from Portland to Hood River. However, I highly recommend you rent a car because driving is the easiest mode of transportation between Hood River wineries. Cars are also necessary to access the beautiful Hood River valley, the Fruit Loop, and trailheads. Unless you’re a cycling fanatic in which case, bike on.
When to visit Hood River wineries
Hood River is a wonderful destination any time of year. Since you’re here for wine, I’d recommend sticking to spring, autumn, or summer. Some say late spring is the best time to visit Hood River. Temperatures are perfect and blossoming fruit trees are beautiful. Summer is nice if you plan to enjoy the river in between wine tasting visits. Autumn is a great time to visit. The trees are gorgeous and golden and harvest brings palpable energy.
What is the Columbia Gorge AVA?
The Columbia Gorge AVA includes counties in both Oregon and Washington. The region begins in Hood River, Oregon and Underwood, Washington in the west and extends east up through Lyle, Washington and Rowena, Oregon.
Food related activities near Hood River
Although wine is the highlight of Hood River’s food scene, one cannot survive on wine alone. Here are some other food related activities to enjoy while you’re in town.
Hood River Fruit Loop
The Hood River Fruit Loop is a self-guided driving tour that highlights fruit related businesses. Over two dozen fruit stands, wineries, and cideries participate in this scenic 35-mile circuit through the Hood River Valley. Driving the Fruit Loop is one of the best ways to enjoy all of the wonderful fruit that thrives in the beautiful Hood River Valley.
Hood River Valley Harvest Fest
With October comes the annual Hood River Valley Harvest Fest. This multi-day celebration of local food features the valley’s best farms and orchards. Of course there’s live music to enjoy while you eat your way through the festival.
Hood River restaurants
Downtown Hood River is full of cute places to grab a bite. Some of the biggest crowd pleasers are Broder Øst for Scandinavian style breakfast, Mugen Noodle for ramen, Grasslands Barbecue for smoked meat, and Solstice Wood Fire Pizza for wood-fired pizzas.
Hood River lavender fields
Lavender is edible so yes, this counts! The beautiful Hood River Valley boasts several lavender fields including Hope Ranch Lavender Farm, Lavender Valley Farms, and Hood River Lavender Farm.
Similar wine regions to explore
Oregon wine destinations to visit
If you’re interested in Oregon wine country check out our list of the best Willamette Valley wineries. The Willamette Valley is arguably the most famous wine growing region in Oregon State. Here’s proof: in 2023 Time magazine named Willamette “the next Napa.” Our blog post covers Willamette Valley wineries that are worth a second look.
Washington State wine towns worth a trip
The most famous wine growing region in Washington State is the Walla Walla Valley. The area has gently rolling hills, golden wheat fields, and wonderful wineries. We’ve compiled a list of the best Walla Walla wineries with lodging to help you plan a trip.
Prosser is a 1 hour 20 minute drive from Walla Walla. Prosser has a Vintners Village, which is a collection of 11 tasting rooms. You can easily walk from one tasting room to the next, which makes it easy (and safe!) to try multiple wineries. Our blog post covers Prosser wineries that range from small family-owned wineries to large wineries with recognizable names.
If you’re looking for walkable tasting rooms then Spokane is for you. The city’s historic downtown area is home to multiple tasting rooms. Our blog post covers over a dozen Spokane, Washington wineries that are located both downtown and just outside the city center.
