The Pines Estate: A Vineyard Residence of Rare Provenance and Timeless Potential
The Dalles, Ore., July 31, 2025 — Tucked away in the storied hills of Mill Creek Valley, just beyond The Dalles, Oregon, The Pines Estate is not simply a property—it’s a piece of living history, a vineyard born from grit, vision, and vines older than the modern wine industry itself. With nearly 180 acres of creek-threaded land, a beautifully restored residence, historic buildings, century-old Zinfandel vines, and commanding views of Mt. Hood, this estate offers more than privacy or potential. It offers a legacy.
Where Wine History Took Root
At the heart of this estate lies the historic The Pines Dairy and one of the Columbia Gorge’s oldest vineyards, originally planted over a century ago by Italian stonemason Louis Comini. These gnarled vines, now lovingly tended, have weathered prohibition, neglect, and time itself.
But it was in the early 1980s that the story turned. Enter Lonnie Wright—a desert farmer turned visionary vintner who saw not just grapes, but greatness. While raising his family at The Pines, Wright’s restoration of the vineyard didn’t just yield wine; it reawakened an entire region. Today, he’s regarded as a founding father of the Columbia Gorge wine industry, and The Pines bears the full imprint of that dedication.
Each bottle from these vines carries more than terroir. It carries decades of passion, hardship, and an intimate knowledge of the land.
An Estate Crafted with Intention
The Pines is no ordinary vineyard. It’s a working estate built for endurance and beauty:
• 2,125 sq ft Main Home, carefully remodeled in 2008 to blend 20th-century charm with refined materials and design.
• 1,235 sq ft Guest House surrounded by pines and set above the murmuring of Mill Creek.
• Historic Outbuildings, including a 1926 Milk House with adobe walls, a huge horse barn with Swiss-gabled roof, and a chicken house ready for conversion into a tasting room or studio.
• 19 acres of irrigated vines, featuring old vine Zinfandel, Syrah, and Merlot.
• 3,000 feet of creek frontage, with spring-fed irrigation systems supporting 34 acres of irrigated ground.
• 144.5 acres of dry pasture, highland meadows, and panoramic views.
The land unfolds across the bucolic Mill Creek Valley, ridge to ridge—a rare layout offering unmatched privacy and possibility. It is a place that invites both production and peace.
A Future of Your Design
Whether you’re a vintner seeking a cornerstone estate, an entrepreneur envisioning a hospitality destination, or a family yearning for a truly exceptional rural life, The Pines Estate is a canvas rich with potential.
And while the setting is breathtaking, it’s the provenance that makes this estate rare. Every structure, every proud and tall pine tree, every row of vines, has purpose. Here, craftsmanship meets heritage. Vision meets soil.
The Pines Estate isn’t just for sale. It’s looking for its next caretaker.
Own the birthplace of a wine region. Cultivate something enduring. Let your story root itself in the most storied vineyard in the Columbia Gorge.
To inquire about The Pines Estate or schedule a private viewing, contact Philip Mascher at Cascade Hasson Sotheby’s International Realty at 503.853.4695 or philip@mascherrealestate.com
The Pines 1852 Winery Website: https://www.thepinesvineyard.com/
Property Website: https://www.thepinesestate.com/
Walk-Through Video: https://vimeo.com/1090446892
The Pines History Video: https://vimeo.com/1090677480
