Beer, Wine & Spirits in Washougal

Red Slate is a relaxed environment to learn about and enjoy wine. The space is also available for private parties and events

Eight vineyards coax fermentation from grapes under the Seufert Winery umbrella, including the certified organic and sustainable Bishop Creek Vineyard, which grows blended pinot noirs in its rich, volcanic soil. A short jaunt up into the Chehalem Mountains reveals the sun-drenched vistas of Hawk’s View Vineyard, where the thin, crisp air and colder soil imbue grapes with floral and berry flavors and the temper of a mountain goat. From their octet of properties, the discerning palates at Seufert Winery’s urban-inspired warehouse collect the best vintages for guests to sample at tastings.

All 12 of the current-release wines—save a single vintage of dolcetto in its final year of production—derive their flavor and essence from the pinot grapes that thrive on the West Coast. The diverse soils of the region imbue distinct idiosyncrasies into the fruit’s ultimate flavor, which can help samplers understand the regional personalities of wines, such as the sweeter profile of those produced in colder climates and the frequent counseling required by those grown in Hollywood.

Eleven family-owned wineries situated throughout the East Willamette Valley band together to form the East Valley Winery Tour, which acquaints guests with the picturesque scenery and unique wines of their historic growing region. The tour regularly hosts events that let attendees loose to sample newly released varietals and talk with artisan vintners amid the sounds of the best live music not performed by saxophone-playing raisins. Home to more than 1,500 acres of vineyard, the region has supplied grapes for many of Oregon's largest wineries.:

Named Best Homebrew Store by Northwest Brewing News readers five times, FH Steinbart Co. has been outfitting aspiring homebrewers since 1918. A hops-hardened staff runs the oldest homebrew supply store in the country, connecting amateurs and experts with the raw ingredients and equipment to make smooth elixirs. Starter kits can spark a first attempt at fermentation, and resident draft experts can also help transform your fridge into a kegerator. FH Steinbart's extensive brewing classes teach students how ingredients affect the final product and let them witness the rare mating dance between hops and yeast as well as the stumbling walk of shame that follows.

Drawing on grapes from nearly 900 acres of Northwestern vineyards in Oregon’s Willamette and Umpqua Valleys and Washington’s Wahluke Slope, Duck Pond Cellars staff have created a variety of award winning varietals. That list includes its silky and smooth Syrah, which won a silver medal from last year’s San Francisco International Wine Competition. Overseen by father-son duo Doug and Greg Fries, the team painstakingly crafts wines that visitors can sip on at the winery’s tasting room. Purchase a bottle for yourself, a friend, or for your imaginary alter-ego at the gift shop.

No strangers to the art of winemaking, the Wetzel family’s roots run deep into the vineyards that surround their winery. For four generations, they have crafted award-winning wines in Germany, and for the last 35, they have called Oregon home. Chateau Bianca Winery peeks out from the Willamette Valley, where Pinot Noir grapes flourish across the estate vineyards. These carefully cultivated grapes eventually fill bottles such as the 2002 Estate Reserve Pinot Noir, a vintage aged 5 years to a mature red with notes of blueberry, black cherry, and the loneliness of being confined to a barrel for that long.

Guests visit the tasting room to sample some of Chateau Bianca’s wines, where each day a rotating selection of 6 bottles are uncorked for swirling and sipping. On days when the summer sun dapples the fields and shimmers playfully off Bacchus’ lampshade hat, sippers relax on the outdoor patio to enjoy a glass or share a bottle while looking out across rows of vines.