If you’re building a wine trip around Marchesi Vineyards, you’ve picked one of the more distinctive stops in Hood River wine country. Franco Marchesi opened the winery to bring the wines of his native Piedmont to the Columbia Gorge, and it’s become one of the few places in the Pacific Northwest where you can get a taste of Italian varietals grown on American soil. Between the setting, the wines, and the family-run feel of the place, it’s easy to see why so many visitors plan their whole day around it.
Marchesi is also a great jumping off point if you want to explore more of the region while you’re out there. A handful of the best Columbia Gorge wineries sit within a short drive of each other, which makes it simple to build a loop of two or three tasting rooms in an afternoon. Add in waterfalls, hiking trails, and river views, and you’ve got a getaway that highlights all the best things to do in the Columbia River Gorge.
After a day of tasting, you’ll want a comfortable place to land, and that’s where Carson Ridge Luxury Cabins comes in. We’re one of the more private cabins near Hood River, close enough to Marchesi Vineyards so that you can spend your afternoon tasting and still be back in time to relax, but far enough into the woods to feel like a luxurious retreat in nature. With a gourmet breakfast each morning and a hot tub waiting for you at the end of the day, you’ll be planning a return visit before you leave. Book your stay today!
Hood River Wine Tasting at Marchesi Vineyards
Marchesi Vineyards sits on Belmont Drive above the river, with views of the vines and Mount Hood in the distance. Franco built the tasting room with an Italian courtyard feel, and it’s first-come, first-served, so there’s no need to make reservations. In the summer, the patio stays comfortable with misters and fans running, and in the winter, they set out blankets, fire pits, and heaters so you can still sit outside and take in the view. Leashed dogs are welcome on the patio too, so there’s no need to leave your pup behind.
What Is Nebbiolo Wine?
Nebbiolo is Marchesi’s signature pour, and it’s worth understanding a bit about the grape if you haven’t tried it before. Nebbiolo is an Italian red variety tied closely to the Piedmont region, the same area Franco grew up in, and its name is thought to come from the Italian word for fog, nebbia, since the grape is often harvested late in the season when fog settles over the vineyards.
A nebbiolo wine is lightly colored but can be highly tannic when young, and as it ages, the color shifts toward a brick orange hue at the rim of the glass. Give it time, and it opens up into something layered, with notes of violets, tar, herbs, cherries, raspberries, tobacco, and prunes. Some Nebbiolo can take years of aging to bring those tannins into balance with everything else going on in the glass, which is part of why it’s such an interesting wine.
What Wines Does Marchesi Vineyards Offer?
Specializing in Italian varietals, Marchesi offers a range of reds, whites, and sparkling wines. The Barbera Achille is a fun one to start with, unusual in the best way, easy to pair with a cold beer or a plate of short ribs, and it took gold at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Their Nebbiolo itself earned a silver at that same competition and a double gold at the LA Invitational Wine and Spirits Competition.
The Capolavoro is a rich red blend with dark plum, dried violet, and a touch of cinnamon on the finish, and it pairs beautifully with porchetta. For a white, the Il Bianco blends Pinot Grigio grown right on the property with Chardonnay from Sunnyside, bright and crisp with a little honeysuckle and green apple, great alongside oysters or clam linguini.
Marchesi’s Fall Winemaker’s Dinner
If you can time your visit for mid-October, Marchesi hosts a fall winemaker’s dinner that’s worth planning around. It’s a multi-course dinner paired with their wines, set to live opera, with professional singers performing classic Italian arias between courses. Tickets tend to sell out, so it’s worth reserving a spot early if you want to catch it.
Other Wineries Near the Columbia River Gorge
Marchesi is one stop among several worth hitting if wine tasting near Hood River is the focus of your getaway. Most of the wineries near the Columbia River Gorge sit within twenty or thirty minutes of each other, which makes it easy to build a short loop without spending your whole day in the car.
Stay in a Romantic Hood River Cabin
A day of Hood River wine tasting is a lot more enjoyable when you’re not driving far to get back to your room, and that’s really the case for staying at Carson Ridge. Our cabins are private, romantic, and comfortable, whether you’re celebrating something or just carving out a weekend for yourselves.
What guests mention most frequently is the personal touch. We know our wineries, trails, and restaurants, and we’re happy to help you build an itinerary if you want suggestions beyond Marchesi Vineyards.
If you’re bringing your dog along, the trip works out nicely from start to finish; Marchesi welcomes leashed dogs on the patio, and two of our own cabins are dog-friendly too, so your pup gets to be part of the whole weekend instead of waiting behind at home. Reserve your room now!