Harris Bridge Vineyard

I figured it was fitting to end my first day on the Benton County WineTrail at Harris Bridge Vineyard. It has a reputation for producing marvelous dessert wines from pinot noir and pinot gris, and I have a big sweet tooth. So going down the winding gravel road alongside Mary’s River, I had to break out the drool cup in anticipation. However, I was to be disappointed in short order.

A sign on the door to the tasting room greeted me as I approached. It read, “Sorry we missed you. We’re having a BABY!!! Hope to see you soon. Nathan, Amanda and ?????”

It was a big reminder to call ahead to confirm that wineries are open. Sometimes wineries close shop because they’ve run out of wine; sometimes tasting rooms can’t be staffed due to extenuating circumstances. In this case, the extenuating circumstance was the birth of a baby! It’s a reminder to all wine tourists to be flexible and expect the unexpected while out in wine country. When you can, call ahead.

Nevertheless, we took the opportunity to stroll around the flower-populated grounds and view the 3 acres of grape vines, the old oak trees, the picnic grounds and a bocce court. But the key highlight for us was the historical covered bridge beside the property — the Harris Bridge, built in 1929 and the source of the winery’s name. Inside the covered bridge, I could hear the gentle flow of Mary’s River below as it made its way to join the Willamette River. It was easy to imagine old logging trucks making their way through this part of Harris Valley many years before.

As I walked through the covered bridge and caught sight of the nearby red [giving a specific shade of red makes it more interesting to read; what shade of red was it?]-colored winery, I made a mental note to return here as soon as possible. Harris Bridge Vineyard has garnered major attention from local and regional lovers of dessert wines. Nathan’s background in winemaking includes stints at Croft Vineyard, Argyle Winery and Eola Hills Wine Cellar, and these various experiences led to Nathan’s unique focus on dessert wines.

Next time, I definitely will call ahead and then pack a picnic with peaches and cream to pair with Harris Bridge’s dessert wines. In the meantime, I offer Nathan and Amanda my congratulations on the birth of their baby. I’m sure this is the best vintage yet!