The award-winning Mt. Hood Winery received its biggest award yet, named “Oregon Winery of the Year” for 2016 by Wine Press Northwest. In operation for 14 years, the winery’s location on a century-old family farm just south of Hood River, Oregon, combined with the wisdom of a multi-generational farming family has undeniably contributed to the winery’s success.

Wine Press Northwest, a regional wine magazine, informed Mt. Hood Winery that its Winery of the Year honor was based on both the winery’s recent and long-term achievements. “Mt. Hood Winery has a legacy of farming and family-living in the Columbia Gorge, plus a more recent history of producing great wines,” explained Linda Barber, general manager for the winery. “Our recent success at competitions was a big factor in earning this designation.”

Last fall’s Wine Press Northwest Platinum Judging, where “the Best of the Best” regional wines are determined, earned the Mt. Hood Winery a double platinum for its 2014 Estate Dry Riesling, the highest ranking Riesling at the event.

The fourth annual Cascadia Wine Competition held in March at the historic Columbia Gorge Hotel in Hood River, Oregon, confirmed the quality of recent vintages. This year, Mt. Hood Winery submitted eight entries and brought home eight awards: 2014 Estate Pinot Noir – Cole Danehower Award for Best Oregon Wine / Double Gold Medal; 2013 Tempranillo – Gold Medal and Best of Class; 2013 Syrah – Double Gold Medal; 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon – Gold Medal; 2015 Estate Pinot Gris – Silver Medal; 2014 Estate Chardonnay – Silver Medal; Summit Red – Silver Medal; and 2013 Merlot – Bronze Medal.

Although the wine grower has been honored with many awards since its inception, these latest are more impressive considering Mt. Hood Winery produces just 3,000 cases per year. “There are many wine competitions throughout the U.S.,” Barber explains. “Due to our small production and limited distribution we enter the few which focus on Northwest wines, judged by some of the top wine professionals on the West Coast. “

Established in 2002, Mt. Hood Winery includes 25 acres of estate vineyards, plus an expansive tasting room, wine production and bottling facility, and cold storage building in the scenic Hood River Valley.

Owned by brothers Steve and Don Bickford and their families, Mt. Hood Winery’s local story is steeped in Hood River Valley’s history. In 1909, the Bickfords’ great-grandparents purchased 20 acres of orchard near the Pine Grove “store block,” along with the local grocery store, which they ran until 1955.

The family continued to acquire surrounding land over the decades, creating the 160-acre Bickford Farms that exists today. Three-quarters of the acres are planted in pears (anjou, bartlett and bosc), and the 25 acres of wine grapes now outnumber apple acres more than two-to-one. Five generations of Bickfords have nurtured the land on the Century Farm, with a sixth generation onsite.

“Steve and Don saw the potential of the Columbia Gorge AVA as a world-class grape growing area, based on their experience farming in a world-class fruit-growing region,” expresses John Stehlik, cellar master and son-in-law of Steve Bickford.

The Bickfords planted five acres of Pinot Noir and one acre of Pinot Gris in 2000. “When our vines started producing fruit we decided to try making wine rather than sell the fruit,” Steve Bickford remembers. They networked, researched, then filled a 10,000 square foot fruit packing facility with winemaking equipment. A winery was born.

Since that time, the Bickfords have added more Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir, plus Riesling, Chardonnay and Gewürztraminer. About 70% of their wine comes from estate grapes that thrive in cooler climates, while the balance of warmer climate fruit is purchased from small family-owned vineyards, mostly within a 20 mile radius.

In 2007, the Bickfords reconnected with Rich Cushman, a Hood River native with decades of winemaking experience, now Mt. Hood Winery’s chief winemaker.

Steve, more the practical farmer than romantic winemaker, credits the rich, water-retaining soil and his hard-working crew. Although wine grapes are “quite a bit different than pears,” generations of farming know-how, plus ownership of critical farm equipment eased the transition into wine grapes. As it’s turned out, grape growing is complementary to seasonal pear operations. “Grapes are a late crop on a different schedule. They balance our work and stretch out the season to offer more gainful employment,” Steve relays.

The Bickfords’ experience in fruit farming has evolved the legacy farm into a grower of exceptional wine grapes. This year’s Oregon Winery of the Year honor is an achievement and testament for Mt. Hood Winery.

To learn more about Mt. Hood Winery, visit mthoodwinery.com, or phone 541-386-8333 to book a tasting reservation. Mt. Hood Winery is located at 2882 Van Horn Drive, Hood River, OR, a few miles south of Hood River on State Highway 35. Tasting Room hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. March through November.

They want an inviting tasting room, surrounded by vineyards and oak barrels.
They want an outside patio, where they can enjoy a picnic
and a bottle of Oregon’s famous pinot noir, or perhaps one of the white wines produced in the Willamette Valley.
And they want a setting with a killer view.
Well, maybe not killer, since not everyone believes wine is worth dying for. The view must be sublime, inspiring, majestic, outstanding or outrageous. (The strength of the adjective grows with the amount of wine consumed.) Here we present 10 wineries that fill the bill, all within a day’s reach of the Portland area. They aren’t the only cellars and vineyards in Oregon with great views and ambiance, just 10 we’ve been fortunate to visit recently.
And yes, we will be looking for more. Oh the view!

Mt. Hood:
Named for Oregon’s iconic feature, this Hood River County winery better have nice views of Oregon’s highest peak. And it does. The 2-year-old tasting room, designed with massive wood beams and floor-to-ceiling windows, was built to showcase the best face of the mountain, its snowy north side. When you walk to the other side of the outdoor patio, you get a good look at Mount Adams, too. The watercolor paintings, for sale on the walls, are by Elizabeth Anderson, whom you just may meet working in the tasting room.

Árdíri:
This winery outside Cornelius in Washington County, on the north side of Chehalem Mountain, has a perfect horseshoe bowl setting. Tree-covered slopes form the horseshoe’s sides to the north and south, a grassy hill connects them on the west. That leaves a wide opening pointed east, across acres of vines and, in the distance, a postcard view of snow-capped Mount Hood. The tasting room was designed for an outdoor experience, with twin window-filled garage doors that roll up to connect the outside with the indoor bar. Sit outside in the open or under cover. If a chill is in the air, snuggle up to three permanent gas fire pits or the fireplace.

Sokol Blosser:
Home to one of Oregon’s longest established tasting rooms (dating to 1977), this winery in Yamhill County draws a steady stream of visitors with its convenient location just a half mile off Oregon 99W west of Dundee. Situated on the lower part of the Dundee Hills, it lacks a hilltop view enjoyed by others on this list, but it overcomes that with what you see looking uphill: acres and acres of cultivated vines. One of the tasting room’s windows was specifically located to frame Mount Hood, though views of the mountain could be better from the deck. But that would mean sacrificing the beautiful oaks and maples that provide welcome shade on a summer day.

Domaine Serene:
The winery’s Tuscan-style chateau that serves as a tasting and hospitality room has a hilltop setting on the west side of the Red Hills of Dundee in Yamhill County. The outdoor patio and landscaped grounds have commanding views of distant wine country: Yamhill-Carlton to the west and the Eola-Amity Hills to the south. Observant viewers can spot the Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum in McMinnville. This is one of Oregon’s big event wineries, so call ahead to make sure it’s OK to bring a picnic.

Anne Amie:
The magic of this setting is revealed as you drive the winery’s approach road, which steepens just enough near the top of a small hill, north of Lafayette in Yamhill County, to offers a bucolic view to the west. There’s nothing especially remarkable in the landscape, no snow-capped volcanoes or distant cities, but the pastoral setting is the ultimate in relaxation. Cattle graze on one side of the road, vines grow on the other. Planters hold colorful flowers next to the outdoor tables on the veranda, while original oil paintings by local artist Michael Orwick decorate the spacious and comfortable tasting room.

Penner-Ash:
This is another Yamhill County winery whose location far surpasses expectations when you spot its name on the blue highway sign down in the valley. Perched just below the crest of a hill on the west edge of the Yamhill-Carlton wine area, the winery’s near view takes in the Ribbon Ridge wine area. The distant view includes the upper slopes of Mount Hood and Mount Jefferson. Built in 2005 as an upscale event center, the elegant wood and glass building has ample indoor space as well as a slate-tiled outdoor terrace situated expressly for taking in the view. The solid-wood outdoor furniture lends the air that it’s quite acceptable to linger.

WillaKenzie:
The winery’s new tasting room opened early this year, a few steps north of the previous one. An outdoor terrace with plenty of seating takes up the space between. Umbrellas provide shade. Should you need a sturdier roof while sitting outdoors, head for the covered terrace that hangs off the north side of the new tasting room. This is another Yamhill County scene that is much prettier than it should be: no volcanoes, just vineyards, pastures and forests, all very serene.

Bethel Heights:
The Eola Hills northwest of Salem in Polk County are the legacy of a 10-mile long volcanic uplift, with a high point near 800 feet on their north and south ends. Between lies Bethel Heights’ tasting room at 620 feet. The rolling, tree-covered terrain to either side accentuates the view of the valley in between. Looking across 70 acres of estate vineyards, you see a slice of the Salem-Keizer metro area in the middle distance and white-capped Mount Jefferson far away in the Cascades. The winery is a bit out of the way, but the view makes visitors linger at the picnic tables on the wooden deck just outside the tasting room.

Cubanisimo:
The tasting room’s outdoor seating, at the top of West Salem’s Eola Hills in Polk County, could be situated with a better view. But just a short walk toward the vineyard brings you to an opening to the east. The setting takes in a small piece of Salem and a big slice of the Cascades, including Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson and Three Fingered Jack.
Another interesting view at the winery is of the Cuban flag flapping in the wind on the big flagpole, just below Old Glory. The owner and estate resident is proud of his Cuban heritage and carries an old Havana theme into the tasting room. A palm tree looks satisfied living on the outdoor patio.

Willamette Valley:
This is probably the most visible winery in Oregon, situated just east of Interstate 5, a few miles south of Salem in Marion County. The view of the middle Willamette Valley from the tasting room, the outside deck and the 65-foot-high lookout tower shows that Oregon’s promised land is anything but a flat valley. Hills are everywhere, including some big ones. That’s 4,097-foot Marys Peak on the southwest horizon.