Stangeland Vineyards & Winery

Don’t you love those oversized arched doors that grace the entrances of some wineries? I do. To me, they speak volumes about the artisan mindset, about attention to detail, and about making it clear that visitors are welcome. The extra-large tasting-room doors of Stangeland Vineyards & Winery do that for me. They’re big — the hinges themselves must be 4 feet long. What’s more, these are not assembly-line doors. It’s as if the winery and tasting room were built around these doors.

Located northwest of Salem, on a south-facing slope, Stangeland Vineyards & Winery is the brainchild and raison d’être of Larry Miller. He planted the Stangeland Vineyard in 1978 and today produces about 2,650 cases per year. Larry began making wine from their estate fruit in addition to grapes from other vineyards, and opened the winery in 1992. In many ways, he is emblematic of many Oregon winery owners who are driven by craft and passion.

As Larry likes to say, “There are no strangers at Stangeland,” and he makes good on that statement with a friendly staff and a variety of wines to experience, including pinot noir, pinot gris, chardonnay, and gewürztraminer. While there, you’ll see T-shirts and wine labels bearing the distinctive red-and-white Norwegian flag. Turns out, Larry’s grandmother came from Norway, and I suspect that the hilly farmland of the Eola Hills reminds many Norwegian transplants of the farmland outside of Oslo — sans snow.

By the way, Stangeland Vineyards & Winery offers a unique setting for special events, such as weddings, receptions, family reunions, birthdays, and business meetings. Stroll around the grounds of this hilltop winery and you’ll understand how this winery can easily handle 150 guests for an event. But even if you don’t have an upcoming event, the picnic tables can accommodate you and a glass of Stangeland’s Estate Reserve Pinot Noir. It’s a great way to experience the lush valley below while wondering how many people it took to hang those doors.