Group Activity

Have you ever driven through the Columbia River Gorge and seen vineyards? The Gorge serves as a border for much of Oregon and Washington States. Traveling east from Portland, vineyards are easily spotted on both sides of the river starting about an hour east of Portland and continuing in patches well into the Columbia Valley plateau (closer to Hermiston and the Tri-Cities area). A special segment of the river produces so many distinct grapes and styles of wine that it has earned its own American Viticultural Area: The Columbia Gorge AVA! This is a highly-focused region, located approximately west of Hood River all the way to The Dalles, and extending north into Washington along the same longitudinal lines. Here, climate, geology, and soil combine to create a wild and diverse terroir that produces some of the most incredible range of white and red varietals. Blustery winds cause the grapes to grow thicker skins. Rich, volcanic soils infuse grapes with properties that bring out intense and spice-driven fruits. Wines can be produced in myriads of ways, using stainless steel, concrete, lots of oak, and everything in between! If you’ve ever wondered what kinds of wines come from these vineyards, this is […]

Have you ever wondered what kinds of wines were enjoyed by ancient civilizations? Call us weird, but we sure do! What about varietals that existed long ago and that are still grown? What about progenitor (ancestral) varieties that were cross-bred to create the styles of wines we enjoy today? In this very special Wine 101, we sample eight varietals you've likely never heard of that helped create today's global wine industry. Sip reds enjoyed by figures from ancient texts! Taste the fruits of ancient Rome's caesars! Take a walk back in time with every taste from your glass. It's sure to be an incredible and investigative afternoon your palate will never forget. *Special pricing in 2026: Club Members save on all Wine 101 classes!*