Pheasant Court Winery

Charlie Gilson is the host with the most at The Wine Vault tasting room in downtown Philomath. Housed in the former Philomath Bank, the tasting room highlights the wines of Pheasant Court Winery and a variety of other local wines. In the center of the main room, Charlie pours samples to seated guests and provides a mixture of Wine 101 and tasting notes. He’s friendly, informative, and approachable.

This old bank building has been around for nearly 100 years, and while visiting, you can still find telltale signs of the former financial institution. One example is the bank-vault door to the tasting room, which previously guarded personal valuables. The tasting room is located opposite the room bearing the sign “Da Boss”; this is where Charlie retreats to do the books and ponder his next vintage. He’s clearly “chief janitor” and self-described one-man band of this operation.

Like a number of other select Oregon wineries, Pheasant Court Winery purchases its fruit from local vineyards. To this end, Charlie has established collaborative relationships with local growers to produce pinot noir, pinot gris, chardonnay, Maréchal Foch, and viognier. However, he does import his merlot grapes from the Rogue Valley.

Visitors will be tickled to know that besides experiencing great-tasting wine at Pheasant Court, they will also experience economic relief — there’s no tasting fee!

Directions: From Corvallis go south onto US-20 [SR-34] for 5.9 miles toward Philomath. Arrive at 1301 Main St. on corner.

From Newport (Oregon Coast) head east on US-20 [Corvallis-Newport Hwy] 46 miles to Philomath. Arrive at 1301 Main St.

Addresses

• Benton County WineTrail

  Tasting Room

  1301 Main Street, Philomath, OR 97370
  Hours: Saturday and Sunday 12–6
  44.540227-123.367667
• Benton County WineTrail

  Winery

  1731 Pheasant Ct, Philomath, OR 97370
  Hours: NA
  44.559571-123.359282