I’m always up for a thirst-quenching adventure! Whether it’s wine, spirits, or beer – Central Oregon is packed with delicious beverages, and there’s lots of exploring to do along the way. Read along for three can’t miss experiences for the thirsty visitor!
- Sip Wine in the Perfect Setting at Faith Hope & Charity Vineyards
70450 NW Lower Valley Dr, Terrebonne, OR 97760
This is a dream for any wine lover! The picturesque setting offers you the stunning surroundings of Central Oregon; you’ll enjoy vineyard views with mountains in the background as you taste your way through their wines. Faith Hope & Charity focuses on French-American, hybrid, cold-hardy varietals, which grow well in this climate. They are currently pouring three whites and four reds of this style on their 312 acre site.
Yummy wood-fired pizzas, soups, salads, and cheese boards are available for purchase to enjoy with your wine.
Faith Hope & Charity is a beautiful place to visit anytime of year. It’s no surprise they host lots of weddings as well as weekly live music events (see their website for more info). Winery tours are offered Monday through Wednesday for just $25 a person, and I highly recommend it.
2. Step Back in Time (and Drink Beer While Doing it) at The Ale Apothecary
30 SW Century Dr Suite 140, Bend, OR 97702
The Ale Apothecary is, without a doubt, one of the coolest breweries I have ever stepped foot in. This husband and wife owned business is Bend’s only sour brewery, and creates totally natural, barrel-aged beer using ingredients straight off their own land or sourced nearby, direct from Oregon farms.
You’ll love the eclectic space and great service at The Ale Apothecary, but what’s perhaps the most interesting part of this brewery is the incredible history you’ll find inside of it. Owner Paul Arney lovingly named it “The Ale Apothecary” as an ode to both his great grandfather and grandfather whom were both pharmacists. The bathrooms of the brewery are lined with “prescriptions” for beer during Prohibition, and you can also see boxes of these prescriptions on display in the tasting area.
The people here couldn’t be nicer, and the beers are incredibly well crafted. Long-term, barrel-aged beer is their specialty and they produce a wide variety of wild ales and historically-inspired one-offs. We left with multiple bottles!
3. Take a a Prohibition Cave Tour
I will admit that I was a little apprehensive about venuting down into this seemingly dark abyss, but I am honestly so glad I did it! Our guide with Wanderlust Tours was absolutely amazing, and the drive out to the cave was just beautiful. Once inside, you’ll get an education on the geology of the area and learn about how these caves were used for distilling during prohibition (so cool)!
The tour continues with your next stop – a tour and tasting at Oregon Spirit Distillers. Here, you’ll get a walk through of their production facility and an education on (legal) local distilling.
After the distillery tour, you’ll head into the tasting area to sample spirits and enjoy a cocktail made with your favorite. The whiskeys were wonderful, but I also really enjoyed their limoncello, which they were kind enough to open up for us.
Cheers to three fantastically thirst-quenching adventures! Make sure to put them on your list for you next trip to Central Oregon!
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