1 Elixir Wine Co. / Ermisch Cellars 11 NW Lava Rd, Bend elixirwinegroup.com (541) 390-2668 ✈ 2 Evoke Winery Bend - Old Mill Tasting Room 330 SW Powerhouse Dr #110, Bend evokewinery.com (541) 386-3700 3 Faith Hope & Charity Vineyards 70450 NW Lower Valley Dr, Terrebonne faithhopeandcharityevents.com (541) 526-5075 ✈ 4 Maragas Winery 15523 US-97, Culver maragaswinery.com (541) 546-5464 ✈ 5 Merrill Cellars – Tasting Room and Wine Patio, Tumalo 64653 Bruce Ave, Bend merrillcellars.com (541) 382-3332 ✈ 6 Stoller Wine Bar | Bend 555 NW Arizona Ave #30, Bend stollerwinegroup.com/stoller-wine-bar-bend (503) 864-3404 ✈ ✈ Oregon Wine Flies Free participating winery TERREBONNE REDMOND BEND 5mi 4 3 5 2 21 6 While Central Oregon is best known for its ample opportunities for outdoor recreation and its ever-expanding brewery scene, this high-desert region provides plenty for oenophiles, from quiet country wineries to chic urban wine bars. Quick Trip Central Oregon By Margot Bigg Sips Although Central Oregon is known for its craft-brewery scene — owing largely to the pioneering Deschutes Brewery, which was founded in Bend way back in 1988 — there’s plenty for wine lovers, too. Sample vintages in swanky style at downtown Bend’s Domaine Serene Wine Lounge, or head over to the Old Mill District to try a flight next to the fire pit at Evoke Winery. It’s worth making the trek up to Maragas Winery in Culver, where local winemaker Doug Maragas crafts wines using techniques that were passed down to him from his Greek winemaking ancestors. While you’re in the area, head over to Faith Hope & Charity Vineyards in Terrebonne to enjoy a tasting while you take in views of the Three Sisters mountains that gave the winery its name. Eats The best dining options in the region are found right in Bend, from Bos Taurus steakhouse, which serves up exclusive cuts sourced from as far as Australia and Japan, to casual Spork, with its eclectic menu of noodles, tacos and fried chicken. For something fancy, head over to Ariana Restaurant, where you’ll find European fare with a Pacific Northwest touch, served up in a repurposed Craftsman house. Trattoria Sbandati is another great option, offering beautifully plated Italian fare in a casual space that’s glammed up with white tablecloths. Come for the house-made pasta and stay for the desserts — tiramisu and panna cotta are both worthwhile choices. COURTESY OF FAITH HOPE & CHARITY VINEYARDS Faith Hope & Charity Vineyards Play Central Oregon is a magnet for lovers of the great outdoors, with plenty of ways to get out and play, no matter the season. Head to The Cove Palisades State Park for summertime swimming and boating, or make your way to Mt. Bachelor in the winter months for some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the state. If hiking or rock climbing are more your forte, Smith Rock State Park won’t disappoint — you may even end up spotting a bald eagle or two. Of course, you don’t have to be outdoorsy to get your fill of fun in Central Oregon. You can immerse yourself in the natural and cultural history of the region at Bend’s High Desert Museum or learn about the traditions of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs at The Museum at Warm Springs. Stay Bend offers the bulk of Central Oregon’s accommodation options, from luxurious Tetherow, with its 18-hole golf course and cabana-flanked pool, to the pet- and pocketbook-friendly LOGE Bend, an old motor lodge that’s been transformed into an outdoor-adventurethemed boutique hotel. That said, there are plenty of gems scattered throughout the region. SCP Redmond Hotel offers airy, contemporary rooms just a short drive from the trails and rock-climbing routes of landmark Smith Rock. If you’d rather stay away from the city lights, consider an overnight at Brasada Ranch — a destination resort in the nearby desert community of Powell Butte — or make your way west to Sisters on the edge of the Deschutes National Forest for a romantic stay at FivePine Lodge & Cabins. OREGON WINE TOURING GUIDE 33
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