Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Thursday 26 april 2018
Wine and waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge

By SALLY CARPENTER HALE lumbia Gorge and Colum-
Associated Press bia Valley AVAs, and uses
HOOD RIVER, Ore. (AP) — grapes from both regions.
The Columbia River Gorge COR has won acclaim for
is a marvel of nature known its cabernet franc, mal-
for spectacular waterfalls, bec, cabernet franc rose
scenery and hiking. But it’s and Alba white, a blend of
also famous in the world of gewurztraminer and pinot
wine. gris. We especially liked the
The region’s geology has 2015 cab franc. Picnicking
given rise to a wine industry is welcome in the courtyard
that’s growing in both num- garden. Next, we headed
ber and reputation, with back west and crossed the
more than 40 wineries with- Columbia to Hood River for
in a 40-mile (60-kilometer) lunch. The town has a huge
stretch. In 2004, the Colum- beer scene — Full Sail,
bia Gorge was designated pFriem and Double Moun-
an American Viticultural tain among the breweries
Area, a wine grape region — but that tour would have
distinguished by geograph- to wait for another day. We
ic features. settled in at Solstice Wood
Here’s a look at the gorge, Fire Cafe and sampled
the wine region and winer- This Aug. 11, 2017 photo shows wine for sale at the Cathedral Ridge Winery in Hood River, Ore., in some unusual and delicious
ies, along with what visitors the Columbia River Gorge. pizzas, including a cherry
need to know about the Associated Press and chorizo pie and one
wildfire that made head- are open. An updated list around the country and lo- fers many restaurants and made with local cremini
lines last year. of the status of hiking trails cal friends and family. watering holes, such as the mushrooms.
THE GORGE, THE FALLS AND and recreational areas With a soundtrack of classic Walking Man Brewery, to Of Hood River’s 15 winer-
THE FIRE can be found here: https:// garage rock, we headed those just passing through. ies, we chose two: Vien-
The gorge is an 80-mile- www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/ across the Columbia and Deeper into the gorge, to Wines and Cathedral
long (129-kilometer-long) crgnsa/recreation. east on Highway 14, past we passed through White Ridge Winery. Viento’s
canyon with dozens of wa- THE WINE REGION Wind Mountain, Dog Moun- Salmon, Washington, a winemaker, Rich Cushman,
terfalls spilling down tower- Many of the wineries are tain — known for its spring popular spot for white- is a Hood River native who
ing cliffs. The most famous clustered around Hood Riv- wildflowers — and Beacon water rafting and kayak- founded the winery in 2007.
is Multnomah Falls, 620 feet er, an hour east of Portland. Rock State Park. We saw ing on the White Salmon Viento sources most of its
high (189 meters). Wine tasting in the region is the Bonneville Dam, which River. Whimsical street art grapes from several area
The Columbia River cuts a relaxing contrast to the generates enough elec- and restaurants line its tiny vineyards, but the winery
through the gorge on its Willamette Valley south of tricity to power half a mil- main street, including the grows its own riesling in a
way to the Pacific Ocean, Portland, where traffic and lion homes. We passed the Everybody’s Brewing pub, vineyard planted by Cush-
forming the boundary be- crowded tasting rooms Bridge of the Gods, a steel with an outside deck and a man in 1981.
tween Oregon and Wash- can detract from the ex- truss cantilever bridge that view of Mount Hood across Viento has earned high
ington through the Cas- perience. Tasting fees are leads to Cascade Locks, the river in Oregon. marks for its Verona, a
cade Range mountains comparable, $10-$15 per Oregon. THE WINERIES blend of pinot gris, char-
north of Mount Hood and person. Nearby Stevenson, Wash- At COR Cellars, in Lyle, donnay and sauvignon
past heavily forested hill- Wine tasting was our mis- ington, is home to Skama- Washington, we were blanc, and for its syrah and
sides and huge boulders. sion one day while in Port- nia Lodge, a resort that fea- treated to a lovely view sangiovese. We thought
Interstate 84 on the Oregon land for a reunion show by tures 254 guest rooms, two of Mount Hood. The win- the 2014 pinot noir was deli-
side of the river and High- my husband Rick’s rock restaurants, a golf course, ery, founded in 2003 by cious. Of the three wineries,
way 14 on the Washington band. We rented a party an outdoor zipline and Luke Bradford, produces Cathedral Ridge had the
side offer easy access to bus and filled it with 16 peo- aerial park, and onsite hik- 10 wines just west of the largest selection, including
trailheads, viewpoints and ple — college buddies from ing trails. Stevenson also of- boundary between the Co- several reserve wine op-
rugged parks. The windy tions. The winery has won
gorge is also a favorite spot numerous awards, primarily
for wind- and kite-surfers. for its reds. Winemaker Mi-
A wildfire burned more chael Sebastiani hails from
than 20,000 acres (8,000 the famous California wine-
hectares) of the gorge making family.
last fall. But little evidence We were drawn to the
of it can be seen from the reserve reds — the 2015
road, aside from a very few Daughter’s Rhome, 2015
scorched trees cut down Rhett’s Red, 2014 Rock Star
just east of Multnomah Red (a blend of cabernet
Falls. The lower viewing sauvignon and syrah), 2014
platform at the falls has re- and 2015 pinot noir, and
opened, though the trail 2015 cabernet sauvignon/
to the upper platform re- merlot blend.
mains closed. Elsewhere, Heading back to Portland,
Horsetail and Wahkeena we uncorked a couple of
Falls are also closed and bottles and vowed to re-
not expected to reopen turn soon to explore more
until at least this summer, This Aug. 11, 2017 photo shows the vineyards at Cathedral Ridge Winery in Hood River, Ore., in the of the gorgeous gorge and
Columbia River Gorge.
but others like Latourell Falls Associated Press its wineries.q