Cherry Hill Winery

Approaching Cherry Hill Winery, you pass road signs informing you, “If you drink no noir, you pinot noir” and that you’re in a “Cabernet-Free Zone”; there’s also a speed limit sign asking you to keep it at 14 mph. You can spy the winery/tasting room in the distance past row upon row of pinot noir vines and a big pond set in a bowl in the landscape at the base of the vineyard. There’s a set of cabins and other buildings abutting the winery, with bicycles and kids’ trikes scattered about. By the time I removed my car key, I knew these guys must be true “pinotphiles.”

In 1998, Mike and Jan Sweeney purchased a piece of undeveloped property in the heart of the Eola-Amity Hills viticultural area west of Salem. With the property located on the same parallel as Burgundy, France, and with the south-facing slopes and mild climate, the Sweeneys must have been giddy with expectation. However, they were missing one key ingredient — vines. Along with a small army of vineyard workers, the couple set about planting the vines one at a time. Today, Cherry Hill Winery has planted more than 80,000 vines, accounting for 90 acres of pinot noir managed by Ken Cook and crew — all by hand.

Once I was inside the tasting room, my mouth watered at the prospect of sampling winemaker Chris Luby’s productions: several vineyard-designated pinot noirs, including the winery’s Papillon Estate Pinot Noir with the distinctive dog breed illustrated on its label. Visitors can also taste pinot gris and a dry pinot noir rosé. But make no mistake, Cherry Hill Winery is all about the pinot noir, with its Jory-soil-influenced dark cherry flavors and great finish. Chris uses neutral oak for aging, producing a tannin-tamed wine that delivers on flavor without being woody.

By the way, few wineries can boast that they offer a true wine country experience in one location. But Cherry Hill Winery can, with its dude ranch serving as a perfect spot for a romantic getaway or a corporate retreat. It’s a viticultural retreat for those who want to know more about winemaking, ride a bike through wine country or relax with a book. The nearby Cook House caters breakfast in the morning and hors d’oeuvres in the evening. But here’s the best part — the tasting room is a mere one-minute walk from your cabin.