There you'll find a cadre of vineyards and wineries, among them the award-winning Vitis Ridge Winery.

This "boutique" winery has grown from making one varietal wine to over 18 wines in just four short years. Already their Pinot noir and early muscat took gold medals at the 2006 Oregon State Fair. Vitis Ridge was the only winery to win two gold medals that year, a surprising feat considering how new and small their winery is (less than 2,500 cases per year). They followed up that stellar showing with another gold for the early muscat and a silver for their Gewurtzraminer at the 2007 Oregon State Fair.

Bestsellers? That's an easy call. The Marechal foch, a red classic wine from a French-American hybrid grape. This grape thrives in our cool, temperate climate, and the wine's name comes from a World War I French field marshal. Other big sellers include the early muscat and Pinot gris.

According to Chris Deckelman, one of the winery's partners/owners, their 2005 port, due out this November, should quickly become a favorite.
When asked about how this year's strange weather has affected the harvest (Pinot noir grapes have been particularly affected because in warmer conditions, they would stay on the vine a bit longer to increase sugar levels), Deckelman replied, "The grapes will be fine but it certainly will present some challenges to the winemaker. They may have to get creative this year!"

Vitis Ridge has five partners, including Deckelman and his wife, Sharon, Bruce and Sally Eich, and the winemaker, Glen Brunger. Brunger started out as an amateur winemaker 20 years ago, and based on his winemaking awards, patrons can only conclude that he found his calling.

Vitis Ridge is open for tastings the second weekend of each month, except for January, from 12 - 5 p.m. Grape lovers can also live the Vitis experience at Portland's Holiday Food and Gift Festival November 2 - 4 at the Portland Convention Center.