Wineries of the Columbia Gorge

The Columbia Gorge, situated between Washington and Oregon, runs from the misty mountains near the Pacific coast to the arid land east of the Cascade Mountains. Here, waterfalls tumble from side gorges and surge towards the mighty Columbia River, an important cultural and natural aspect of the region.

One of the best parts of traveling to the gorge is seeking out its wineries and breweries along the way. You can easily plan a day of hiking capped off by wine tasting or sipping a pint at a nearby brewery. Several wineries have excellent views to complement your tasting experience.

The gorge boasts some 30 varieties of grapes grown in a relatively small area: The American Viticultural Area (AVA) of the gorge covers just 40 miles.

For the best wineries (with grapes often grown near the gorge), visit the Wines Northwest website, which lists the wineries on the Oregon and Washington side of the gorge. They also list several driving services so you can visit multiple wineries without having to worry about staying sober. Another great resource is the Columbia Gorge Winegrowers website.

Among the best to visit are Cathedral Ridge Winery in Hood River, Ore.; Maryhill Winery in Goldendale, Wash.; and Syncline Winery in Lyle, Wash..