Visiting Wineries In Oregon's Mt. Hood Territory This Thanksgiving Weekend

By Guest Author: Matt Wastradowski

Thanksgiving weekend is a magical time to sip, sample and savor local wines in Oregon's Mt. Hood Territory. All weekend long, winemakers keep the tasting room fireplaces crackling, light candles to inspire a cozy mood and pour special releases surrounded by acres of vineyards. It’s a moment when the post-harvest cooldown gives way to the excitement of the season — and a jovial kickoff to the holidays.

This year you'll find seven wineries in Mt. Hood Territory open for the weekend—largely around the extinct volcano known as Pete’s Mountain and in the Cascade Range foothills at the eastern edge of the Willamette Valley. Though only a few miles from each other, these wineries boast disparate microclimates, soil types and weather patterns that give each their own characteristics and flavor profiles. So while you’ll almost surely find pinot noir at each of the region’s seven wineries — a varietal synonymous with the Willamette Valley — no two will ever taste exactly alike.

That connection to the lands of the Willamette Valley inspired a recent autumn excursion. I was excited to dive in, see what the winemakers are pouring and get excited for Thanksgiving weekend — one of the year’s busiest weekends at regional tasting rooms — so here’s a peek inside what to expect when you go wine tasting in Mt. Hood Territory this Thanksgiving.

My first stop on a recent fall Sunday was Pete's Mountain Vineyard and Winery, open on Fridays and Sundays on the slopes of its namesake hillside. The volcanic soils under the vineyards make Pete’s Mountain an idyllic place to grow pinot noir, chardonnay and other French-inspired grapes.

I sampled a handful of wines inside the winery’s candlelit barn, where wood adorns nearly every surface — bar tops, tabletops and exposed beams — and imbues the tasting room with a Pacific Northwest-inspired atmosphere.

There, an attentive server walked me through each selection and allowed me to taste at my own pace. One highlight in a flight full of stellar pours was the 2023 pinot gris, whose grapes were grown within eyesight of the tasting room on one of the oldest pinot gris vineyards in Oregon. A few minutes later, co-owner Mike Thayer walked into the tasting room and made the rounds, thanking each party for their patronage, asking about their favorite pours and regaling visitors with stories about the winery’s 25-year history.

Pete's Mountain Vineyard and Winery offers incredible views of Mt. Hood with fields of yellow grape vines.

St. Josef’s Winery sits just six miles south of Canby and is the rare winery that makes it tough to choose between indoor and outdoor seating.

Servers pour flights and bottles from the St. Josef’s lineup inside a relaxed, Alps-inspired tasting room (which was once a cow barn). European-inspired artwork adorns the walls, and picturesque chandeliers complement arched windows that let in plenty of natural light; it all provides a dreamy backdrop for sampling St. Josef's eclectic selection of red, white and sparkling wines. The winery planted its first vines in 1978, making St. Josef's one of the oldest wineries in the Pacific Northwest, and today sources 90% of its grapes from a handful of sustainable vineyards — without using irrigation, pesticides or harsh chemicals.

As nice as the tasting room’s interior was, it might be worth bundling up for a patio visit if the weather cooperates. St. Josef's hosts a roaring fire pit and a handful of comfortable seats that overlook a bucolic pond. Keep an eye out for llamas and goats feeding in the underbrush and surrounding fields.

St. Josef's overlooks a bucolic pond where you can try to spot the llamas and goats feeding in the underbrush while enjoying their wine.

My final stop was the family-owned King's Raven Winery — celebrating its 25th anniversary in the foothills of the Cascade Range.

I started with a crisp rosé, which I sipped on a partially shaded patio that looks out over the winery's vineyards. King's Raven has taken full advantage of its hillside location and the mineral-rich soils on which it sits to grow a few varietals not commonly found across the Willamette Valley.

I headed inside to enjoy the rest of my flight — and felt like I'd walked into an affable dinner party. A fireplace sat in the living room-like interior, ready for cozy winter gatherings just across from a bar top that peered into a converted kitchen. I sidled up to the bar, where a laminate kitchen countertop evoked warm memories of my childhood home — and where a friendly server explained each wine and answered my questions about the less-common varietals.

Those selections included an estate-grown Léon Millot (sporting well-balanced fruity notes) and a Maréchal Foch (a medium-bodied red wine with a subtle tartness) — both highlights. If planning your own visit, keep in mind that King's Raven has a long history of events, discounts and special releases over Thanksgiving weekend — so keep an eye out on the winery's website and social media channels to plan a charming getaway.

King's Raven has taken full advantage of its hillside location with great views from the tasting room patio.

In addition to what we’ve covered here, a handful of other excellent wineries will welcome visitors on Thanksgiving weekend across Oregon's Mt. Hood Territory.

In the West Linn area, Tumwater Vineyard will pour its French-inspired wines in its elegant, barn-like tasting room; if the sun’s out, look east for sweeping views of Mt. Hood. To the north, Oswego Hills Vineyard and Winery offers wines grown on a farm that dates back to the mid-1800s.

On the east side of the Willamette Valley, in the foothills of the Cascade Range, Whiskey Hill Winery pours a selection of less-common, locally sourced offerings — including a white pinot noir — in a cozy tasting room and on a heated patio. A few miles south, just outside of Woodburn, savor a handful of estate-grown wines at Hanson Vineyards; the winery’s tasting room, housed inside a converted barn, offers a laid-back atmosphere.

Wherever you wind up this Thanksgiving, keep in mind that reservations are not typically necessary for groups of four or fewer — but may be required for larger groups. Call your preferred wineries ahead of time to see what they can accommodate if traveling with several friends and family members. And if you get hungry, most wineries offer charcuterie, snacks and other light bites.