Wind River Cellars
The views are stunning. The wine is magnificent. The hospitality is first-rate. Wind River Cellars has it all.
With magnificent views of Mount Hood to the south and Mount Adams to the east, visitors to Wind River Cellars have license to use the word “stunned.” This is the perfect setting to get married (which they do) or to enjoy a catered lunch on the deck after a day of white water rafting (which they also do). Wind River Cellars owners Joel and Kris Goodwillie love being in the Columbia River Gorge and being residents of the tiny town of Husum. A visit there might have you packing your bags as well and taking up windsurfing.
Joel Goodwillie handcrafts about 3,500 cases annually using grapes from his vineyard, other local growers (including Celilo Vineyard), and Horse Heaven Hills. Joel produces the wine but Kris is the marketing/number crunching brains behind the operation. They make a good team. He states that the Columbia Gorge grapes have more acid than grapes from other wine growing areas of Washington and therefore you get that clean crisp lively finish on the tongue. However, the word “velvety” came to mind when we sampled our way through a fairly ambitious list of Wind River wines: riesling, gewürztraminer, pinot gris, cabernet sauvignon, merlot, pinot noir, syrah, lemberger, tempranillo and a “save room for dessert” Port of Celilo. By the time this WineTrail adventurer got to tempranillo, Joel had a very strong resemblance to Hollywood star Kiefer Sutherland. However, Joel assured me that they weren’t separated at birth.
If you are fortunate to be the only one visiting the tasting room (rare in the summer time), Joel can provide you a tour of the barrel room. Cross your fingers that he brings along his thief for barrel tasting. If he’s too busy pouring, rumor has it that their two boys Connor or Adam will provide the guided tour. Cellar rats unite!
-
Order the book!
Wind River Cellars was featured in WineTrails of Washington as part of the Columbia River Gorge WineTrail on page 172!
WineTrail: Columbia River Gorge WineTrail
Owner: Wind River Cellars, Inc. - Joel and Kris Goodwillie
Winemaker: Joel Goodwillie
Opened: 1995
Tasting Room: Open to the public
Amenities: Picnic, Receptions, Tasting Room, Weddings, Wine Club and Coordinated with white water rafting companies -- big deck and wonderful food. Great views.
Where To Buy: Winery, wine shops, grocery stores 90% is sold at the winery.
Phone: 509-493-2324
Website: www.windrivercellars.com
-
Wind River Cellars
Winery
196 Spring Creek Road, Husum, WA 98623 -121.512194 45.80434Hours: Daily 10–6; closed December 15 to January 1
-
Wind River Cellars
Tasting Room
415 West Steuben Street, Bingen, WA 98605 -121.470033 45.716038Hours: Daily 10–6; closed December 15 to January 1
Directions: From SR-14 go north onto SR-141 (toward Husum). Proceed about 6.5 miles remaining on SR-141 and turn left (west) onto Spring Creek Rd a little past Husum town center. Continue on Spring Creek Rd for 1.5 miles and arrive at Wind River Cellars. (Note: Wind River Cellars wines can also be sampled at the Bad Seed Cider House tasting room in nearby Bingen.)
