Grateful Vineyards
The gems you find along the back roads are often the very best kind. Grateful Vineyards near Hood River, Oregon did not disappoint.
Craig and I decided to spend Sunday hiking in the Cascade mountains then took the long way home through the orchards of Hood River, Oregon. We followed the weather worn signs to a family farm in the shadow of the mountain. The farm produces apples, pears, cherries and blueberries. You can troop out into the orchards to pick your own fruits or visit the garage-type fruit stand to snap up the incredible freshness.
The family also produces wine and hard cider. The new tasting room that opened in 2018, offered a spectacular mountain backdrop to the perfect rows of trees and grapes. You can grab a glass, slip into an Adirondack-style chair on the patio and soak it all in. I tasted their flight that included a Riesling, Pinot Gris, Rose and Pinot Noir. Craig tried their cider. We both sampled their brick oven pizzas that were surprisingly quiet generous in size.
REVIEWING THE GOODS
The white wines were wonderfully clean and refreshing. The Riesling held a lighter fruit profile than the Pinot Gris but both were delicate in their unique flavors. The Rose was clean with deeper flavor profile and juicier fruits that were more forward than their white counterparts. The Pinot Noir was just as clean and crisp as the Riesling and Pinot Gris but with deeper character and distinct fresh cherry notes.
The cider was incredibly light with almost no hint of fermentation. I almost mistook it for fresh pressed juice! The flavor was very fruit forward and true to the flavor of biting into an apple you just picked from the tree.
The menu was simple but offered hearty portions. The brick oven pizza had very fresh toppings including a crushed tomato style sauce that was very complimentary to the crust. Generously sized cookies finished us off. The chocolate chip cookies were slightly raised but not cake-like and had generous amounts of chocolate.
TO THE POINT
Craig and I recommend this neat little spot. We plan to return and take friends. The wine was perfect to enjoy on a sunny afternoon and there are simple food options to pair with your vintage. Check out all Grateful Vineyards has to offer here on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/gratefulvineyards/
It is worth the beautiful drive to Hood River from Portland. If you’d like to take the scenic route, hit Mt. Hood, then drive over the pass and drop down into Hood River from the East side of the mountain.
