Hood River, Oregon, is a charming town nestled in the Columbia River Gorge. It’s known for its abundance of magnificent hiking trails, beautiful natural scenery, microbrewery scene, and of course, its incredible wineries. This quaint town is a mecca for windsurfers and sportspeople, but did you know it’s also got a buzzing wine and cider scene?
You can head to Hood River for a cider road trip or plan a vacation there for a fun wine-tasting adventure touring some of the numerous Hood River wineries. If you’re looking for a scenic place to enjoy unique wine-tasting experiences with down-to-earth people, visiting this tiny region less than an hour from Portland, the Hood River should be on your list.
This article covers all of the best wineries in Hood River where you can relax, enjoy fantastic wine, and soak in the town’s beautiful scenery. Read on for some enchanting wine-tasting spots with fantastic scenery and even better wines to try on your next trip to Oregon.
Hood River Wineries
Below are some of the most fabulous wine estates and tasting rooms in Hood River. If you’re planning a road trip nearby, there are also excellent wineries near Hood River Valley for you to explore, too. Whether you’re looking for a tucked-away tasting room or an elaborate estate in the hills, you’re bound to fall in love with one of the elegant Hood River wineries below.
If you need a place to stay while you’re in Hood River, you can book a room at Hood River Hotel. It’s the oldest hotel in town, and you can get a cozy suite with a view of the nearby river. Alternatively, try your luck at Best Western Plus Hood River Inn.
Analemma Winery
Located in the Mosier Valley, nestled within the rain shadow of the Cascades, Analemma Winery offers sustainably grown wines and unique vineyard and wine-tasting experiences. Their menu of wines includes rarely grown Spanish varietals (in the U.S.) such as Mencia as well as more common grape varietals, such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The charming winery practices biodynamic farming and supports its local farmers and artisan food makers by working with 100% local ingredients for their Gorge Grown vineyard picnics.
Book a vineyard tour and tasting or an orchard picnic and tasting and enjoy Analemma’s gorgeous property and views.
**Note that while Analemma isn’t technically in Hood River, it’s close enough that it is easy to include in a Hood River winery itinerary and most people consider it one of the best wineries in Hood River :).
Evoke Winery
Note: Evoke Winery used to be Naked Winery. The winery changed its name in 2001, due to the confusion caused by the name being so similar to the behemoth Naked Wines company.
Evoke Winery’s motto is ‘Northwest wines for fun people’ and they deliver on that promise. Their recently opened flagship downtown Hood River location is bright and spacious with chic and colorful decor and panoramic river views.
While the winery’s Hood River tasting room is new, the brand itself started in 2005, choosing its name in reference to the suggestive labels they chose for their bottles, which evoke a reaction or discussion (see what I did here…).
The brand has always worked with farmers in different regions of the Pacific Northwest to source the grapes they use to make their wines, opting to focus on making the best wines possible and running a winery over dumping millions into buying a huge estate, owning all of their own vineyards, etc. This allows them to seek out the grape varietals they want to work with, find the best places for those grapes and the best people growing them, and do their thing.
The winery currently makes around twenty wines including a range of red wines, white wines, a rosé wine (heard of Gay Rosé? That’s them), a few sweet wines, and a sparkling wine. Red wines include a few different blends, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Sangiovese, and Cabernet Sauvignon. White wines include Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling. Sweet wines include two sweet white wine blends and a sweet red wine blend.
Evoke Winery’s downtown Hood River tasting room is open 7 days a week, and offers both indoor seating as well as outdoor dog-friendly patio seating plus free parking in downtown Hood River (whaaaaaattt? yep). They’ve also got tasting rooms in Bend and Seaside Oregon as well as Vancouver, Washington.
Hiyu Wine Farm
Hiyu Wine Farm is an incredibly unique winery and farm situated on a gorgeous Hood River property. These guys have turned their property into a fully functional farm-to-table operation complete with a huge market garden (organic), winery/cidery, restaurant (that feels more like a dining hall at a mountain retreat), farm animals (who make up an important part of the farm’s ecosystem), and a staff that seems more like a family than employees.
While Hiyu’s main focus is wine (organically grown) they also make excellent barrel aged hard (naturally fermented) ciders. Try one of Hiyu’s food and tavern tastings or wine tastings or wine and farm experiences to get a true sense of this unique site and how special it is.
The Gorge White House
No wine lover’s trip to Hood River would be complete without stopping at the historic Gorge White House. Situated on over 30 stunning acres of lush orchids, this farm and winery boasts breathtaking mountain views of Hood River Valley.
You can enjoy both wine and cider tastings at the Gorge White House, not to mention delicious gourmet dishes on the menu for pairing. It’s genuinely romantic to dine out in this beautiful 100-year-old winery, and you can even bring the kids along to pick some of the seasonal fruit in the fields. The Gorge is a delightful, family-friendly spot that anyone can enjoy.
Mt. Hood Winery
One of the best gems in Hood River, Mt Hood Winery has a relaxing atmosphere and wonderful views of the expansive 25-acre vineyards. You can also see the mountain ranges in the distance, offering a truly picturesque setting that will make sharing a bottle of vino even more romantic.
The staff at Mt Hood Winery are knowledgeable and friendly but don’t worry, there’s no air of pretentiousness about it. Just relax, soak in the sun rays, and sample the finest wines Hood River has to offer. The tasting room also boasts a stone fireplace that roars in the winter and an expansive outdoor patio, overlooking the vineyard.
Stave & Stone Wine Estates
Stave & Stones is a multi-award-winning wine estate that offers fantastic food and wine pairings. There are numerous award-winning wines for you to try, such as the 2019 Chardonnay cellar select, which clinched the Oregon Wine Press September 2020 award.
If reds are more up your alley, try the 2018 Broken Boulder Pinot Noir. This bold and rich wine won the silver award in the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and the Savor Northwest Wine Competition.
The staff at Stave & Stone are incredibly knowledgeable about all the estate’s varietals, so you can be sure you’ll get a premium tasting experience any day of the week. You can even join the estate’s wine club free of charge, which will give you access to discounted wines, complimentary tastings, and exclusive signature wines.
Stave & Stone has two locations for wine tasting: the vineyard itself and the downtown Hood River tasting room. The vineyard boasts enchanting views of Mount Adams and the surrounding valley, while the tasting room is a comfortable and classy place to enjoy some of the best Oregon wines.
Upside Down Wines Tasting Room
This dog-friendly downtown Hood River tasting room features wines from Upside Down Wine, a Tri-Cities area winery. While the winery and its vineyards aren’t located in Hood River, their tasting room is a great spot to stop for wine tasting while in the town of Hood River. The wines and the hospitality are fantastic. And the fact that they allow dogs in their tasting room (they’ve even got a jar full of free tennis balls that are sure to delight your fur baby) is an added bonus!
Wy’East Vineyards
This family-owned winery in Hood River produces hand-crafted wines like Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. Wy-East even won the Tripadvisor 2019 Certificate of Excellence. The vineyards are situated on the Hood River Valley at an elevation of 1600 feet, so you can imagine the breathtaking views you’ll see on your wine-tasting trip.
This vineyard is relatively small at only 10 acres, but the grounds are pristine and beautiful any day of the year. You can try an impressive range of reds and whites, as well as vintage reserves that will knock your socks off.
Join the Wy-East Vineyards wine club for 20% off all bottle purchases, a complimentary tasting for you and four friends, and exclusive notice on special wine events and dinners. Club membership even includes opportunities for vineyard tours and VIP barrel-tasting events.
Cathedral Ridge Winery
Named after Cathedral Ridge in Mount Hood, Cathedral Ridge winery is a favorite with visitors to the Hood River Valley.
The tasting room pavilion and barrel room are both rustic and inviting, offering the perfect spot to enjoy good company and an extensive menu featuring a diverse range of wines. You can also opt to sit outdoors and enjoy gorgeous views (though, beware of the high winds in the Columbia River gorge!) or tour the vineyards for a peaceful afternoon under the sun.
Try the Barrel Tasting Immersion experience for a comprehensive look into the complicated wine-making process. You and five friends will get to sample four wines directly from the barrel room and compare them with earlier vintages during a 2-hour tasting experience. The winery makes a huge range of wines from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to Cabernet Sauvignon, big red blends, etc.
More Stuff to Do in Hood River & Where to Stay in Hood River
Enjoy Wine Tasting in Hood River
Hood River is an excellent place to plan a road trip if you’re a wine enthusiast. There are numerous wineries, estates, and tasting rooms in town where you can enjoy some of the finest wines that put Oregon on the map, not to mention some Hood River local favorites. I recommend staying at least two days and one night to take full advantage!
If you’re looking for more wine-tasting itinerary ideas, check out some of my posts on California wine regions and wineries: