Winderlea Vineyard and Winery

DUNDEE, Ore. – A Boston couple who fell in love with pinot noir, have re-invented their lives in Dundee.

That’s how the Winderlea owners’ story would read in the papers. Committed to creating a business together, fifty-something Bill Sweat and Donna Morris purchased the legendary 20-acre Goldschmidt Vineyard in the heart of the Dundee Hills in 2006. They left their professional lives behind to pursue a common passion — pinot noir. For years, they knew that pinot was their wine of choice, especially when they realized it influenced the restaurants they frequented and the food they cooked. When you have the pinot noir bug that bad, no amount of visiting Dijon or maintaining a robust cellar of pinot noir could satisfy the need to actually make it. They put “Oregon or Bust,” metaphorically speaking, on the car and headed west to pursue their dream.

Bill and Donna brought a key component with them from New England — the name Winderlea. Also the name of their Vermont-based farm, the word is derived from German and loosely translates to “valley protected from the wind.” When they began their enterprise, Bill and Donna had their estate grapes from Goldschmidt Vineyard, but they needed one more key ingredient to make the wine. Enter acclaimed winemaker Robert E. Brittan, formerly of Stags’ Leap Winery, to make several vineyard-designated and reserve pinot noirs.

Winderlea’s contemporary architecture is nothing short of spectacular. Drawn up by Ernest R. Munch, Architect & Urban Planner, LLC, of Portland, the design takes advantage of recycled materials and uses minimal amounts of electricity. Once inside, you can see why the electricity bill is low. One entire side of the tasting room is composed of glass, providing views of the Goldschmidt Vineyard and the Willamette Valley below. These glass walls open to the patio, where, on hot summer days, the division between indoors and outdoors evaporates. As your wine touring continues in and around Dundee, you likely will hear folks ask, “Have you been to Winderlea?” They’re anxious to get your reaction and affirmation that Winderlea is truly a one-of-a-kind experience. Design matters.

By the way, at Winderlea, your tasting fee of $10 goes to ¡Salud!, an Oregon-based program to provide health care to seasonal vineyard workers and their families. A commendable gesture.

WineTrail Tip: On Fridays during the summer, Winderlea hosts three-course lunches paired with Winderlea wines. (An offering made possible by a full-sized kitchen that was included in the winery’s design.) Space is limited to 12 guests, and reservations are required. Call 503-554-5900.