- Where is Gaston located?
- The city of Gaston may be the smallest city within Washington County, Oregon, but it is bursting with natural outdoor beauty.
- Why is Gaston a great destination for wine lovers?
- Since agriculture reigns in this area of the state, Gaston is a great destination for anyone who loves wine, as there are numerous vineyards and wineries, several of which are family-owned and operated and boast award-winning wines.
- What outdoor recreational activities are available in Gaston?
- The Tillamook State Forest offers a naturally gorgeous area for scenic driving, fishing, kayaking, or even just having a peaceful picnic surrounded by nature.
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1. Elk Cove Vineyards
Elk Cove Vineyards in Gaston is one of the family-owned and operated wineries of Oregon, established by Joe and Pat Campbell in 1974. Nestled within the Coast Range Mountain foothills, the Elk Cove tasting room offers amazing views looking out onto the surrounding vineyards. In addition to its great Single Vineyard Point Noirs, the winery also produces aromatic and crisp Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Pinot Blanc and places an emphasis on using estate-grown fruit. The tasting room at the Elk Cove Vineyards is open from 10:00am until 5:00pm every day, except for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.
27751 NW Olson Rd, Gaston, OR 97119, Phone: 503-985-7760
2. Kramer Vineyards
The Kramer Vineyards spans twenty-two acres and is a second-generation, family-owned and operated winery with more than thirty years of experience producing quality wines with good variety and value. The variety of handcrafted wines offered includes Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Muller-Thurgau, Dijon Chardonnay, Carmine, dessert wines, and sparkling wines. Guests can have a stop in the tasting room from 11:00am until 5:00pm Thursday through Monday and have a picnic on the scenic deck. Visitors can choose from three wine flights for tasting at Kramer Vineyards: Red Wines and Pinot Noir, Whites and Reds, and Sparkling Wines.
26830 NW Olson Rd, Gaston, OR 97119, Phone: 503-662-4545
3. Big Table Farm
The Big Table Farm Atelier is a “studio” in Gaston, Oregon where the family of Big Table works and shares their wine, a working art studio, as well as an “in-town” spot for locals and visitors alike to gather and try the Big Table wines. The “tasting room” for Big Table Farm offers two different types of wine tastings. The Studio Tasting provides an introduction to the wines and the tasting fee is refunded for anyone purchasing three bottles. There’s also the Big Table Tasting, which provides a private wine tasting for two to six people while seated at “the big table.”
128 S Pine St, Carlton, OR 97111, Phone: 503-852-3097
4. Beacon Hill Winery & Vineyard
The Beacon Hill Winery and Vineyard offers great hospitality, gorgeous architecture, stunning views, and of course, wines, more specifically Pinot Noirs. The Tasting Room is open to visitors from 10:00am until 5:00pm on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. An array of estate wines are featured in the tasting flight, and the fee is waived for anyone who signs up for a wine club membership or spends a certain amount on bottle purchases. The family-owned and operated Beacon Hill Winery and Vineyard is the family’s culmination of more than thirty years cultivating grapes for wine in Oregon.
22070 NE Ridge Rd, Gaston, OR 97119, Phone: 503-662-5212
5. Tillamook State Forest
Located less than one hour from the coastal Highway 101 and the city of Portland, the picturesque and unique Tillamook State Forest is a Coast Range forest that offers both tourists and locals alike in and around Gaston, Oregon a chance to get close to nature. Whether visitors are wanting to take a scenic drive, hike through the forest, take a family camping trip, or simply enjoy a creekside picnic, there are many recreation activities possible within the Tillamook State Forest. Wildlife viewing, swimming, kayaking, hunting, and fishing are possible within the state forest’s streams and rivers as well.
45500 Wilson River Hwy, Tillamook, OR 97141, Phone: 866-930-4646
6. Patton Valley Vineyards
The grounds of the Patton Valley Vineyards are made up of approximately thirty acres of vineyards, consisting of clonally-diverse Chenin Blanc, Gamay, and Pinot Noir. The certified sustainable winery and vineyard boasts a belief that sustainable wines tastes better and also ensures that no harm is done to the community, people, or the land. The Patton Valley Vineyards offers a variety of Pinot Noirs, like most wineries within the Willamette Valley wine region, as well as Riesling. The Tasting Room offers a few different wine tastings and is open from 11:00am until 5:00pm on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays.
9449 SW Old Highway 47, Gaston, OR 97119, Phone: 503-985-3445
7. Tendril Wine Cellars
The Tendril Wine Cellars is located just outside of Gaston in Carlton, Oregon and produces a wide array of luxury-priced and compelling Pinot Noirs. The winery offers small, intimate, seated wine tastings led by the winemaker, featuring a minimum of six samples of their small production wines within the private cellar. These tastings typically include five Pinot Noirs and a Chardonnay, as well as some appetizers from Child’s Play. Tendril Wine Cellars is open to visitors only by appointment, so anyone wine lover wanting to stop by for a tasting should be sure to call in advance.
130 West Monroe St, Carlton, OR 97111, Phone: 503-858-4524
| Best Time to Visit | Places to Stay | Tips for Visiting |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (March-May) – Mild weather, blooming vineyards, and scenic beauty. | The Allison Inn & Spa (nearby Newberg) – Luxurious accommodations in Oregon wine country. | Visit Elk Cove Vineyards – Enjoy wine tastings and picturesque vineyard views. |
| Summer (June-August) – Warm weather perfect for winery tours and outdoor recreation. | McMenamins Grand Lodge (Forest Grove) – Unique lodging experience close to local attractions. | Explore Henry Hagg Lake – Ideal for swimming, kayaking, hiking, and picnicking. |
| Fall (September-November) – Pleasant weather, harvest festivities, and vibrant foliage. | The Vintages Trailer Resort (nearby Dayton) – Stylish vintage trailer accommodations amidst vineyards. | Attend vineyard harvest events – Experience grape harvesting and wine tastings. |
| Winter (December-February) – Cool, rainy weather perfect for cozy indoor experiences. | Best Western University Inn & Suites (Forest Grove) – Comfortable accommodations close to wineries. | Enjoy wine tasting rooms and local restaurants – Relax indoors with great food and local wines. |
Plan Your Trip
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