Pete's Mountain in West Linn is becoming quite the little wine region as another tasting room is opening up in this up-and-coming area.
Campbell Lane Winery has actually been in the wine industry for more than 30 years. At one time they were home to the largest planting of Pinot gris grapes in the entire country - at only 2.5 acres. Things have changed throughout the industry in the decades since, and the same goes for the winery. They now have more than 15 acres of Pinot gris and about five of Pinot noir. In 2014 they started using their grapes to create their own wines, and are opening their tasting room to the public for the first time as part of the Thanksgiving Wine Weekend.
The winery sits on 100 acres at the highest point of Pete's Mountain, an extinct volcano that rises nearly 800 feet above the Willamette Valley. It's that volcanic soil that makes it so ideal for wine production, the vines thrive in the rocky remnants of the volcano. The wineries here are gaining so much notoriety that they are working together to get Pete's Mountain recognized with it's own American Viticultural Area designation.
One of the best things about the wineries in Mt. Hood Territory is they are small, family owned operations. You get to meet with the owner and winemaker during your visit, allowing you to truly experience the passion behind each bottle. Often times it feels as if you're being invited right in to the vintner's home. In the case of Campbell Lane, you truly are. The tasting room is the atrium of their family home, which has stood here for 40 years. It's a beautiful property, perfect for enjoying a hand-crafted bottle of wine.
The tasting room will be open on Sundays following the Wine Weekend. You can also find them in the Portland region at New Seasons stores. Find them online at their website or on Facebook. You can find them in person at 27411 SW Campbell Lane in West Linn.
