Vitis Ridge

Are you looking to escape the crowds and spend an enjoyable respite tasting wine? At Vitis Ridge, making visitors feel comfortable and open to tasting handcrafted wines is the owners’ main goal; partners Chris and Sharon Deckelmann, Sally and Bruce Eich, and Glen Brunger make it their business. When you visit Vitis Ridge (which is open during the second weekend of each month), you can expect to have one of the partners pouring wine and making sure you’re happy.

With plenty of wines to choose from (as many as 19!), chances are visitors will find a wine that they enjoy. Winemaker Glen Brunger produces about 2,800 cases annually. However, his portfolio of wines has a broad base; from big reds such as cabernet sauvignon, Maréchal Foch, syrah, and Malbec to fruit-forward smooth pinot noir and Beaujolais nouveau, there are plenty of reds to enjoy. Offerings of the white variety include pinot gris, riesling, and a white blend with the intriguing name d’Vine. Vitis Ridge’s wines honestly express the varietal character and the region’s appellations.

A transplant from the Midwest, Glen’s love of pinot noir led him to a career of making wine. However, because focusing on pinot noir was too limited for him, he has began making more robust wines such as the aforementioned cabernet sauvignon and Maréchal Foch. Because of his ever-expanding repertoire, Glen has adopted the approach of producing a number of small batches of wines, rather than making one big batch of a single variety. It’s a lot of work, but passion has a way of driving a person.

Honest. Uncrowded. Personal. Located just one mile north of the town of Silverton and the famous Oregon Garden, Vitis Ridge is a decidedly pleasing stop along the East Willamette Valley WineTrail.