Cascade Cliffs Winery and Vineyard

At mile marker 88.5 on Highway 14, look for a red, white, and green wine barrel. It marks the entrance to Cascade Cliffs Vineyard and Winery. We know it looks like a fruit-packing shed, but that’s part of Cascade Cliffs’ charm. Named for the basalt cliffs rising 400 feet on the north side of the vineyard, Cascade Cliffs is the creation of owner/winemaker Bob Lorkowski. The geography, which includes the Columbia River and surrounding cliffs, creates a microclimate well suited to the 23-acre vineyard. Lots of heating units combined with a long growing season translate into the perfect climate for grapes of Mediterranean origin.

So how is your Italian? You may be speaking it with a Piedmont accent by the time you depart Cascade Cliffs. This is the home to outstanding barbera, nebbiolo, and dolcetto. Bob also produces a red blend called Goat Head Red composed in part of barbera and nebbiolo. In the process, Bob manages to use American, French, and Hungarian oak to create a kaleidoscope of flavors that he blends to create his award-winning wines. However, not to neglect the French, Bob also produces small quantities of petite syrah, zinfandel, syrah, and cabernet sauvignon. But don’t be surprised to find that many of these wines are not available for tasting; they often sell out. That’s OK, WineTrail lovers are here for Bob’s renowned light and fruity Italian wines.

WineTrail Tip: Pick up a large Four Cheese Decadence pizza from Sahara Pizza nearby in The Dalles, Oregon (918 West Sixth Street; 541-296-0099). Claim a table outside the Cascade Cliffs tasting room and uncork one of its Italian wines for a delicious experience. Buon gusto!

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  Cascade Cliffs Winery and Vineyard was featured in WineTrails of Washington as part of the Columbia River Gorge WineTrail on page 184!