The Winery at Manzanita might actually be my favorite part of this sleepy beach town.
After a hasty unpack of the car, my husband and I beelined it to the winery to make sure we had time to enjoy a wine flight before they closed for the evening. We figured we had all night to settle into the the house and unpack, so we tried our best to look casual as we power-walked to the tasting room with ample time to enjoy our wine, buzzing with excitement for our treasured Manzanita treat we had both looked forward to all week.
Tasting Room
The winery and tasting room sits on Laneda Ave. the main road that runs through the center of Manzanita, a tiny beach town in Oregon. The signage portrays an image of Pinot, the beloved black lab who belongs to the owner of the winery. Pinot the pup is the face of this wine bar, on every label, glass and piece of merchandise sold on the property.
The tasting room is housed in a handsome cedar-shingled building with a large lower patio and upper deck on the top floor. The downstairs patio’s 3 large fire pits are surrounded by Adirondack chairs and the retractable awning on the lower patio makes the space a comfortable place to enjoy a glass, even on rainy days. That early spring evening was grey and misting, but with the awning overhead and heat of the fire pits, there was no other place we would rather be. For those that would rather be indoors there is a bar that seats about 10, and a handful of tables inside the main room. As a bonus, the establishment is both dog and family-friendly
Food and Drinks Menu
The winery sells about 20 different wines at a time, and many are available by the glass. That evening they offered 5 different wine flights, and I opted for the Club Flight where I got to taste the Pinot Noir Rose, 2021 Pinot Noir and the Petit Verdot. The stemless glasses come out on a little board, thrilling because I love good presentation.
Being short I generally struggle with Adirondack chairs, but in such a setting I don’t mind it because it literally forces me to sit back and relax. If you get peckish, they have a selection of 12” pizzas and a variety of meat and cheese boards as well as snacks like soft pretzels, truffle popcorn and olives and almonds. For non-wine drinkers, they offer a selection of Pacific Northwest beers and ciders as well as kombuchas and other non-alcoholic beverages.
Casual and friendly service
The staff consistently provides genuine and attentive service. It lacks the pretension of many wineries and I am always completely comfortable bumbling through my questions as I attempt to nail down my order. The servers are knowledgable, kind and relaxed, and I have never been made to feel rushed.
Origin Story
Mark Poden is the owner of the winery, and launched his original wine business in 2008 in Salem, Oregon while still attending wine school. After a few years stint in Hawaii making wine, he landed in Manzanita for the gorgeous sunsets and dog-friendly beaches. His organic pinot noir grapes are grown at Black Dog Vineyard, his vineyard located just outside Carlton, Oregon. These grapes are the foundation in all of his Pinot Noir based wines. The winery also produces a variety of red blends that utilize grapes from various vineyards in Southern Oregon. His approach centerss on small batch fermentations with a clear focus on quality over quantity.
The love he has for his dog is palpable and as a dog lover myself, only makes me love his wines even more. Photos of him and his pup Pinot are all over Instagram and his website and it is clear they have been partners in crime throughout the years.
Visiting other tasting rooms throughout Oregon
His wines can be enjoyed an any of his five locations spread throughout Oregon:
+ Portland Wine Bar: 526 SW Yamhill St. Portland, OR 97204 Portlandwinebar.com
+ Manzanita NW Wine Bar: 2141 NW Savier, Unit 105, Portland, OR 97209 Manzanitanw.com
+ The Bend Wine Bar: 550 SW Industrial Way, Suite 194 Bend, OR 97702 bendwinebar.com
+Black Dog Vineyard: 8085 NE Oak Springs Farm Rd, Carlton, OR 97111 theblackdogvineyard.com
