Review: Jacob Williams Winery
Photo: The view from Jacob Williams Winery.
By Brittany Drewett
The Dalles, Ore., February 26, 2024 – Last weekend I decided to take advantage of the spring (of faux spring) sunshine and engage in one of the Gorge’s most classic weekend activities: a hike followed by food, good wine, and good company at Jacob Williams Winery.
Saturday morning, I drove to Mosier and hiked the Twin Tunnels with my family. It was sunny and beautiful, albeit a bit windy.
The Mosier Twin Tunnels trail is popular with hikers, bikers, skaters and roller bladers. Photo: Friends of the Gorge
Afterward, I headed to the Washington side for an afternoon wine tasting with a friend. We are so very fortunate in The Gorge as we can easily go out and take a hike and check out a local winery, brewery or eatery without hours and hours of driving.
Jacob Williams Winery sits on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge in the small town of Wishram, Washington, a historical trade center of Native Americans. It can be accessed from the Avery Park turn off of Highway 14.
Once inside we could see that the winery features stunning views and delectable treats alongside a variety of local wines.
Business was hopping on Saturday. Since the main tasting room was full, we were seated in the member tasting room which is only a quick jaunt across the patio. The member room was the original tasting room, but was not large enough to meet the demands.
One of the wonderful things about Jacob Williams is the wide variety of seating options available year-round. The main tasting room offers table spaces as well as bar seating. The large windows provide unparalleled views of the Columbia River and Mt. Hood. When the weather is warmer, and the wind calmer, customers can sit outside at a table or recline in Adirondack chairs.
Today however, the wind made it impossible to sit outside.
As you can see here, in this photo, taken from the warmth and safety of the inside of the tasting room, the spring sunshine turned a a bit overcast and blustery by the time we made it to the winery. Photo: Brittany Drewett
We placed our orders and the employees were friendly and the service was speedy. We found them to be very knowledgeable about the wines, vineyards and history of the winery itself.
Then it was time for a tasting.
The current tasting flight features a ‘22 Chardonnay, NV (non-vintage) Sadie Red Blend, ‘21 Merlot, ‘22 Hi Valley Syrah, ‘21 Malbec and a ‘22 Proprietor's Reserve red blend. You can try all six for $20.
The ‘22 Chardonnay is dry-farmed from the Dampier Vineyards in Underwood, Washington. It is a medium-bodied Chardonnay fermented in a mix of oak and stainless steel barrels. As the only white wine on the tasting flight, it offered contrast to the next five wines.
Next up was the NV Sadie Red Blend which is always a crowd-pleaser. The name Sadie comes from a beloved winery dog and the blend pays an excellent homage to the furry friend. This wine is an excellent choice that you can never go wrong with.
The next three wines were 2021 vintages of single-grape origin. Merlot, Syrah and Malbec.
We were very impressed with the Merlot and the Malbec.
The Merlot and Syrah are sourced from Hi Valley Vineyard in The Dalles, Oregon. The Merlot has tasting notes of fruits and spices and was one of my friend's favorites. And the Malbec was incredibly smooth and had a gorgeous red hue.
Jacob Williams Winery has a long-standing relationship with Hi Valley Vineyard. They have been sourcing grapes from the vineyard since 2003.
Not feeling a full tasting flight? Not to worry! You can purchase wine by the glass or bottle. If you choose a bottle, your options expand greatly! Jacob Williams offers a plethora of vintages and wine varietals sure to meet the desires of all. Photo: Jacob Williams Winery
To finish off our tasting flight, we were poured the 2021 Proprietor's Reserve red wine. This particular wine is part of the current wine club release. It is a full-bodied red and is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, Tempranillo and Syrah.
To pair with your wines, Jacob Williams offers cheese, crackers, meats and other goodies. So that you can build your afternoon picnic!
If you check out Jacob Williams in the future you may find that there are additional food items that may be available for purchase as well. The weekend of February 24th saw the debut of three new food items- warm pretzel sticks with whole grain mustard, a Mediterranean plate and a petite picnic plate.
The pretzels in particular looked and smelled divine!
Peter Cushman is the winemaker at Jacob Williams, according to Judy Tausend.
For more information and current offerings, follow Jacob Williams Winery on Facebook and Instagram. You can also find information about the winery and wines on their website: jacobwilliamswinery.com.
