These city-based establishments are changing the way we view Oregon wine country.
When someone mentions Oregon wine country, the first thing that probably comes to mind is the rolling hills of the Willamette Valley—the state’s largest wine region—and though that’s a good instinct to have, there are some city folk who are changing the way we perceive wineries in the Beaver State.
In bustling Portland, dozens of wineries have popped up within the city limits, trading in those rolling hills for a view of downtown and a rustic barn operation for warehouses outfitted with fermenting vats and barrels.
These are called urban wineries, and they’re taking the city by storm, not just because of their convenience, but also because of the variety of grapes these winemakers are able to harvest and bottle. Oregon is known for its pinots, and these 10 urban wineries offer wonderful Pinot Noir and Gris, along with so much more.
Like SE Wine Collective, Urban Crush acts not only as a winery, but also as a community for winemakers. Founded by Laureen O’Brien and Ed Fus, Urban Crush is home to a handful of family-owned wineries that share a production facility, tasting room, and wine lounge, giving visitors a variety of different small-batch wines to choose from.
You didn’t think we’d make a list of Oregon wineries without featuring at least one that specialized in Pinot Noir, did you? The husband and wife duo at Boedecker Cellars began making wine in the Willamette Valley before moving operations to Northwest Portland. Luckily, they’re still only 40 miles away from the vineyards where they harvest their grapes. Aside from Pinot Noir, Boedecker Cellars also make a variety of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, and a white blend.