The first time I viewed the Maryhill Winery along the Columbia River Gorge, the last thing on my mind was wine. It was a summer of record-breaking heat, and I was determined to get to the Oregon coast, where (it turned out) the temperatures would be more than thirty degrees cooler. Friends recommended I take the scenic route along the northern edge of the Columbia — south through the Tri-Cities, then west on Route 14 and eventually down into Oregon and up to Astoria. “Don’t miss the museum and winery at Maryhill,” they told me. All went well, the scenery starkly spectacular, until Route 14 began to wind ever higher up the massive layered cliffs along the gorge. I was alone in the car, just me and my fear of heights. White knuckles on the steering wheel, I reached Maryhill, but the thought of drinking wine did not tempt me.
Maryhill along the Columbia:
In 2000, the Leuthold family, originally from Spokane, opened a winery on the Columbia Gorge near the small town of Goldendale. The site is truly spectacular, overlooking the Columbia River as it lumbers between multi-layered cliffs dating back to the Ice Age Floods , with a distant view of snow-topped Mount Hood. Owing to the region’s unique combination of hot summers, moderate winters, good soils, and ocean moisture — and the Leutholds’ experience in the industry — the local vineyards have produced a wide variety of award-winning wines, and, in 2015, Maryhill was named the Pacific Northwest Winery of the Year.
A couple of years after my first view, I returned to the winery with my husband. With him driving, the major into-the-abyss curve didn’t seem nearly so scary. The entranceway angles into an ample paved parking area. In front, a field slopes down to an amphitheater, setting for popular concerts in summer months. The winery building is spacious, with racks of an impressive variety of wines and gift paraphernalia. An open balcony with chairs and tables faces the river and Mt. Hood, and an arbor-covered patio provides a shady respite from the sun.
Maryhill in Spokane:
In 2017, Maryhill opened its first satellite tasting room here in Spokane, meaning you can now enjoy their wines without making the four-hour drive to the Goldendale site. Located in Kendall Yards, it sits in a handsome metal and glass building next to the Spokane River. The spacious tasting room looks like an upscale warehouse, with chandeliers hanging next to exposed ducts. Four long counters in a rectangular grouping cater to the wine tasters. Numerous clusters of chairs and tables are scattered around the room, and a club room juts off one corner. Outside, a patio hugs two sides of the building, offering views down to the river and, in the background, the skyline of downtown Spokane. Live music on weekends features local performers.