Henry Estate Winery

I was the accidental wine tourist who stumbled onto the Henry Goes Wine festival at the Henry Estate Winery. For more than 20 years, the Henry family has hosted the daylong bash as a way of saying “thanks” to its many fans. The shindig is held the third Saturday of each August; come early and bring an empty belly for succulent barbecue and flavor-packed wines. This is your opportunity to watch horseshoes being tossed, hop on a wagon ride, and listen to local bands.

The winery’s slogan is “A Family Tradition,” and for good reason. Scott Henry III founded the vineyard in 1972 with the planting of 12 acres of premium wine grapes. Since then, he has expanded to 40 acres, begun a winery and immersed his offspring in the business. His son, Calvin Scott Henry IV (Scotty), is the chief winemaker and responsible for producing 16,000 cases annually, making Henry Estate Winery the largest winery in the region. Daughter Syndi (married to another Scott) manages the tasting room and coordinates events, including the aforementioned Henry Goes Wine celebration. Her kids help, too, with mass mailings and other elf-type duties. All this makes you wonder if there is a Henry VIII waiting in the wings.

Located alongside the beautiful Umpqua River, the vineyard’s rich soil provides the perfect ground for growing pinot noir, pinot gris, chardonnay, gewürztraminer, Müller-Thurgau, riesling, and merlot. However, the emergence of the vineyard took time to develop and considerable ingenuity. Soil and weather factors necessitated the engineering prowess of Scott Henry III to develop a unique trellis system for growing grapes. A number of vineyards have since embraced the Scott Henry Trellis System.

Rarely do you find a winery that is kid friendly, welcomes dogs, and provides a parking lot in which you can easily maneuver the family Winnebago. That’s the not case at Henry Estate Winery, where children, dogs, and RVs are welcome. Inside the tasting room, take time to explore the retail area, where wine-related merchandise awaits. The tasting bar gives visitors the chance to taste numerous “best buy” wines. Here, pinot gris will set you back $15 a bottle. And it’s little wonder that many visitors cart away a case of Henry’s Oregon Pinot Noir, which goes for about $180.

Take time to walk through the splendid memory garden outside the winery. Scott dedicated the winery to his mom and dad, adding to the “family tradition” of this renowned winery.