Fall 2012
IT’S EASY TO FEEL A SENSE OF reverence at Celilo Vineyards. I did, standing there among the vines on Underwood Mountain in the late-summer sun. And it’s only partly due to the breathtaking view. Celilo is one of the oldest vineyards in the Gorge—some of it planted 40 years ago—and under the careful tending of managers Rick and Jody Ensminger, it is these very vines that helped put the Gorge on the region’s wine map years ago. The reputation of Celilo’s wine grapes, which have been going into award-winning wines for decades, also helped earn the Gorge federal designation as an American Viticultural Area (AVA) in 2004. While many wine regions are denoted for their uniformity in growing characteristics—soil, climate, elevation, varieties grown—the Columbia Gorge AVA has proven itself distinct for exactly the opposite reason. From Celilo Vineyards, where up to 40 inches of rain falls each year, to Maryhill Winery in the eastern Gorge, which receives a mere 15 inches of rain, the climate, geography and geology differ immensely, giving winegrowers and winemakers the ability to produce and create one of the most diverse arrays of wine from a single region anywhere in the world. While the Columbia Gorge AVA officially borders the Columbia Valley AVA east of Lyle, we include wineries from the eastern Gorge here too, because, well, they are part of the Gorge. We delve into the Gorge wine scene starting on page 24.
On page 46, Adam Lapierre discovers the thrill of soaring in a glider high above the Hood River Valley and the Gorge. It turns out that a combination of conditions makes the area one of the premiere places in the country for this thrilling pursuit. In honor of the 75th anniversary of Timberline Lodge, Ric Conrad explores its fascinating history starting on page 48. Bill Weiler finds a community of gardeners in High Prairie (page 56), and our favorite Gorge foodie Kacie McMackin creates a mouthwatering autumn meal, complete with suggestions for wine and beer pairings, on page 60. And there’s a lot more in here. Come with us as we explore the bounty and beauty of fall in the Gorge.
JANET COOK, Editor
