White Salmon Vineyard Wine Tasting Room & Cafe serves fine wines produced at our vineyard on Underwood Mountain and serves food that complement the wines.
Our unique winery is located within the majestic Columbia Gorge AVA. We have been producing award winning wines from our vineyard’s grapes since 2003 and opened our wine tasting room on SR14 in 2011. The vineyard is planted primarily in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the winemaker’s favorite grapes; both are challenging to make and lovely to drink. Also grown and produced are Malbec, Syrah, Riesling, and Sauvignon Blanc. Our wines reflect the meticulous care given to the vineyard and the mastery of the winemaker, Peter Brehm.
About the Winemaker
Peter Brehm has been producing fine wines for over 40 years (he started young). He is self- taught in both viticulture and enology. He started his wine career as a home winemaker and shortly after that first fermentation, he established and operated a retail store selling winemaking and brewing supplies. Peter also worked short term at Buena Vista winery in Napa Valley, running the harvest crew and as a “jack-of-all-wine-trades” at Cape Mentelle in Western Australia.
Prior to winemaking, Peter studied economics and business, attended law school, was a commercial fisherman, served in the Peace Corps, and more. Always the innovator with more ideas than a lifetime can support. He is determined and never afraid to try something new.
In 1989 he purchased a declining pear orchard in Underwood, WA, and transformed it into one of the most beautiful vineyards in the Gorge. The grapes speak for themselves. Peter has been actively involved in the wine grape industry for over 40 years and has made important contributions throughout his career.
The Vineyard
White Salmon Vineyard, previously a pear orchard, is home to 20 acres of fine wine grapes. We grow primarily Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The property was chosen for the weather conditions and soil, both ideal for these two varietals. Though, equally at home are Malbec, Syrah, Reisling, and Sauvignon Blanc. The Columbia Gorge AVA was originally based on this cool climate area. The soils were formed by volcanic activity thousands of years ago and the vineyard maintains at least three different soil types. These conditions, plus a carefully selected mix of clones, combine to provide a terrior for world-class grapes.
Wine Tasting Room and Café
Our wine tasting room at Cook-Underwood Road and SR14 (Lewis and Clark Hwy.) is housed in the historic Underwood Mercantile building in Underwood, WA. The original post office once occupied this space and the long-gone corner at the confluence of the White Salmon and Columbia rivers also held a hotel and bar, butcher shop, and auction house. A ferry pier on the Columbia, built by Mr. Underwood, brought patrons from Hood River to the hotel and bar, as HR was “dry” many years ago. The theme continues.
The tasting room serves wine Friday-Sunday, noon-6:00. You can taste a flight or buy a glass or bottle of your favorite and sit outside enjoying the view of the Columbia River, Mt. Hood, wind kiters and fishermen. The above will add to the ambience of your wine tasting experience. Inside you will find a friendly and knowledgeable staff to guide you through your tasting and tell a joke or two. We also serve small bites and a deli plate to accompany your wine. Fine wines come from fine grapes and we have both. Come by and judge for yourself.
