The Oregonian

Ponzi Vineyards' new Washington County tasting room vaults to forefront of metro area wineries

Originally Published August 7, 2013, The Oregonian by Terry Richard

Ponzi Vineyards’ new tasting room, on the southwest-facing slopes of the Chehalem Mountains in rural Washington County, raises the bar for wine hospitality in the greater Portland area.

There is nothing else quite like it so close to town.

The spacious, beautifully located and landscaped building opened last month. It will formally welcome visitors on Thursday, Aug. 8, during normal tasting hours.

Prepare to be surprised. And delighted. The setting is nothing short of awesome, with facilities to match.

The tasting room is open daily, 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., at 19500 S.W. Mountain Home Road, Sherwood.

The tasting room features inside and outside fireside seating, a covered terrace with views and bocce ball courts.

Wine is served at the bar, or with table side service. Private tours and events are available by appointment.

Dick and Nancy Ponzi are among the early pioneers of Oregon’s wine industry. The family-run business was founded with the first planting of vineyards in 1970. The first vintage was bottled in 1974.

The original tasting room opened in 1976, “in our garage,” Nancy Ponzi said last week, while chatting with me at the new tasting room.

Continuing coverage of travel in Washington and Yamhill county wine country.

The family went on to build a tasting room on Cooper Mountain, at 14665 S.W. Winery Lane, Beaverton. That room is still open and remains the closest vineyard tasting room to Portland.

The new tasting room, also surrounded by vineyards, is a bit farther out, but is worth the visit. It truly is a destination winery, where you can pack a picnic and spend a day.

“It was a huge commitment by our family,” Nancy Ponzi said.

If there is one winery tasting room to visit in the Portland area, it’s the newly opened one by the Ponzi family. The Ponzis also have a wine bar and the Dundee Bistro in Dundee, at the intersection of Oregon 99W and S.W. Seventh St.