Nehalem Bay Wine Co.

Throughout WineTrails of Oregon, about 400 words are devoted to a winery’s story. But 400 words don’t begin to tell the Nehalem Bay Winery story – they only scratch the surface. The reason lies not so much in the wines that it produces but in the energy, vision, and life’s adventures of Nehalem Bay Winery’s owner, Ray Shackelford.

Ray’s patchwork background includes sales, the military, real estate and world travel. His winery is a résumé of those experiences, and you discover Ray’s indelible touches throughout the winery. For example, take time to check out the colorful handbags from Cambodia in the winery’s gift shop. It was Ray’s tour of duty in Vietnam that compelled him to return to southeast Asia and establish a sewing project for ethnic minorities in Chheneng, Cambodia, in 2005. Today, Ray’s program provides much needed revenue to the impoverished Cambodian village. As we discovered, the handbags also proved useful for toting a bottle a wine or two from the winery.

Speaking of wine, Nehalem Bay Winery produces about 4,000 cases annually and offers a full line-up of reds and whites as well as fruit wines, including Ray’s traditional blackberry wine. Although many a wine tourist might argue that his portfolio is too ambitious, the fact is, everyone has their likes and dislikes. If your palate goes for the Burgundy-style wines, you can focus on the winery’s pinot noir. Alternatively, if your Aunt Zelda only likes sweet wines, she would enjoy his mead (honey wine).

Now in his sixties, Ray continues to travel throughout the world helping people. The winemaking duties have been turned over to a Salem-based vintner. Chances are, Ray won’t be at the winery when you visit. However, a stop at Nehalem Bay Winery will introduce you to his well-trained and gracious staff, and the winery’s cool stone floors and weathered brick walls. But more than that, the experience will take you to other parts of the world and perhaps touch a kid’s life half a world away.