Oregon’s Seventh Wonder and Some Wineries

As mentioned in previous posts, Oregon has seven wonders, six of which I have already covered. Click here if you’re interested in seeing the posts. The Wallowa Mountains, sometimes referred to as the ‘Alps of Oregon’ are the seventh wonder.

Located in the far eastern part of the state. We visited this area several decades ago, and thoroughly enjoyed the majestic beauty; however, I cannot find my old snapshots from there, except for this one.

Friends and travel buddies, Tim and Lisa, were there a few years ago and provided the two photos below.

It may be a while before we visit again, so this one will be on the back burner for a while longer. So today I’m sharing a little about the Oregon wine industry which includes close to 725 wineries and 18 American Viticultural Areas (AVAs). Due to our cooler climate, Pinot Noir grapes grow especially well here and is Oregon’s premiere wine.

Interestingly, the first vines were brought to Oregon by the settlers in the 1840s. However, due to the Prohibition Era (1920 – 1933) the industry was close to gone by the 1960s. Since then the industry has grown to a billion dollar industry which provides thousands of jobs and draws thousands of tourists to the state, even though Oregon makes only 1% of the wine produced in the US. With that in mind; let’s visit some wineries!

Jachter Family Wines located in the hills near Newberg make a nice variety of wines including a sparkling wine, Chardonnay and Rosé in addition to Pinot Noir. What we like most about this winery is that it is a small, independent winery committed to sustainability and organic practices. Their Pinot Noir and Chardonnay were voted best in Oregon by Wine Spectator Magazine in the September 2025 issue.

We were wine club members here for a while and attended a release party that paired some delicious nibbles with each wine.

Also located in the hills near Newberg is Raptor Ridge Winery, also a small independent winery located in the Chehalem Mountains AVA. In addition to the quintessential Pinot Noir, they make two sparkling wines, a Brut Rosé and Cuvée Blanc de Noirs, five whites including Grüner Veltliner and Auxerrois and eleven varieties of reds. It is located in a beautiful setting which adds to the tasting experience.

Wy’East Winery located in Hood River is another small, family run winery that offers a good variety of affordable wines. Wine maker Peter Cushman is a third generation winemaker from the Newberg area. He uses only American and French oak barrels, rather than oak additives. Wy’East is the Native American name for Mt. Hood.

A few others include Torii Mor, Sokol Blosser and Argyle wineries. The wine maker at Torii Mor is from France, and the wines are of the Burgundy style. Sokol Blosser also makes a wide variety of wines. On our flight to Japan a few years ago, one of the featured wines was Sokol Blosser’s Evolution, a delicious, light, fruity white blend. Argyle specializes in sparkling wines; we served their Knudsen Vineyard Brut at our daughter’s wedding.

Wineries make nice locations for engagement photos. 😊

Many of the wineries in Oregon require reservations for tastings, so be sure to call before visiting. Tastings run between $10 and $30. Often the price of one tasting will be waved if you purchase a bottle. Always have a designated driver or better yet, book a wine tasting tour through Travel Oregon.

So, it’s a start at least, we have a few more to visit! Have you tried any Oregon wines? As always, I would love to hear from you so leave a message if you’d like.

Cheers!

Tricia