A Tour Through the Gateway to Oregon's Wine Country

More than 16 wineries and the only American-owned sakéry in the country call Washington County, Oregon, “home”

Washington County, Oregon, is part of a centuries-old wine making tradition, and is home to more than 15 of Oregon’s hundreds of wineries, and home to the only American-owned saké brewery in the world. Each wine has its own distinctive personality, and each showcases the delicate tastes of Oregon-grown grapes.

Oregon perhaps is best known for its Pinot Noir. Several factors of the soil, climate and geology of the Willamette Valley make the state perfect for the production of temperate-climate grapes, such as Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. The nutrient-rich soil is ideal for producing succulent and robust wine, due in part to the rich volcanic soil, a direct result of a volcanic eruption at Mt. Hood more than 10,000 years ago. Underneath is a layer of deep clay that retains water during long summer afternoons. The final ingredient is Oregon’s unpredictable climate, consisting of cool coastal marine weather drifting across the mountain range, with “rain shadows” protecting the region’s vineyards from excessive rain, thus producing a flavorful grape.

Sustainability: Biodynamic and Organic Wines

For many years, Oregon’s agricultural industry incorporated sustainable farming techniques, and the region’s wine industry adopted techniques to create biodynamic and organic wines.

Sustainable wine growing is defined as environmentally friendly, socially equitable and economically feasible, and uses practices such as recycling, conserving energy and water, protecting air and water quality, reducing pesticide use, composting, and other methods to preserve biological diversity. Although a broad term, “biodynamic” and “organic” are more specific methods of sustainable wine and grape production.

Biodynamic agriculture methods are based on principles developed in the 1920s, which are now gaining in popularity in the U.S. Biodynamic wine growing is a holistic science, utilizing natural remedies, and planting, harvesting and bottling in accordance with the positions of the planets and lunar phases. Natural animal and vegetable matter is applied to soil to strengthen it, and various homeopathic herbal and mineral preparations are added to help the soil maximize light and heat for photosynthesis.

Organic wine grapes must be made with grapes that are grown without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides or fungicides for a period of at least three years with third-party inspection. Wines that are recognized as organic do not have added sulfites to sustain prolonged shelf life, and must have laboratory certification.

In keeping with the state’s reputation for sustainable farming, it is no surprise that several Washington County wineries incorporate these environmentally friendly methods into their grape and wine production.

The Future of Washington County Wines

Wine production in Washington County continues to grow, as more vintners are looking to Oregon to produce high-quality wines. Several new wineries are expected to open in the county over the next few years. In addition, Oregon’s unique Urban Growth Boundary has protected the region’s agricultural lands by limiting urban growth and sprawl.

As gateway to Oregon’s wine country – with many wineries only 45 minutes or less from downtown Portland – Washington County offers a variety of wines and wineries (many with tasting rooms that are open to the public), from well-known brands to boutique labels, quirky blends to traditional styles.

With more than 20 wineries in Washington County alone, there is no wonder why this burgeoning wine country of Oregon’s northern Willamette Valley has started to turn heads and tantalize palates around the world.

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