A highly-anticipated new winery located just west of Salem along Highway 22. Great wine, super sweet people, and an amazing space for the Tots!
Bring the whole crew to enjoy this gem of a place with drinks, lawn games, food, and music!
Tots Mom here. I'm sorry it's been soooooo long since our last blog post! Life...am I right? But, great news because we are back and we have an awesome spot for y'all to check out! I can hardly wait to share all about it. Having grown up in the Salem/Keizer area, I can attest to the fact that our area has come a long way since when I was a kid. There's a lot more unique, independently-owned little spots to visit and to spend time. If you're in the area, West Hills Vineyards is one of those places that you simply must visit.
We had driven by West Hills Vineyard for months, just hoping and praying that what we were seeing being constructed would be, A) Something awesome, and B) A winery. We are happy to report that it is in fact both of those things, woo hoo!
It was Father's Day morning and all Tots Dad wanted was a mimosa and to spend time with his girls. As we drove out to Independence, OR to grab a mimosa flight at the lovely and adorable Jubilee Champagne and Dessert Bar, we finally saw what we had been so excited for all these months - WEST HILLS VINEYARDS WAS OPEN!!! We decided to hit them up on our way back into town.
And we are go glad that we did. Right when we arrived, we were greeted by huge smiles and the most genuine hospitality. Each staff person was so kind and knowledgeable, allowing us and our crew to settle in and make ourselves right at home.
You guys - this place is just beyond adorable in every way and truly has something for everyone. It is unpretentious, warm, and wonderful. We always wonder how folks will view us when we walk into an establishment with our herd of (cute) children. West Hills Vineyards was so welcoming - we can't stress that enough. They pulled out all the lawn games and fun and the Tots had an absolutely blast during our visit here.
The outdoor space is fantastic - so much space for activities! We particularly enjoyed the comfy seating next to the wood-burning fire. Such a cozy setting! They have a pretty killer line up of live music coming up this summer so I highly encourage that you keep close tabs on that. Bring the kids, bring the dogs, bring everyone. It's just such an easy place to hang out.
The amount of time and energy that the Gulick Family has put into this property is truly astounding. As you can see, the tasting room is just lovely. Well-appointed yet comfortable and homey all at the same time. If the weather isn't cooperating, there's tons of space inside and we look forward to spending more time here soon.
Although the updates and upgrades to the building are tremendous, they pay wonderful homage to the history that surrounds this building. Wayyyyyyy back in the day, this building was a flower shop. The original florist cooler is still operational and is kept stocked with stunning seasonal bouquets by local floral designers. Isn't that just the sweetest thing? They also have some wonderful local good for sale (think chocolates, nuts, olive oil, etc.) and will be increasing their offerings here very soon.
I might be getting side tracked in the details here but I hope y'all are starting to see that West Hills Vineyards is just a special place. And the really cool thing? This is simply phase one of the family's vision! They are breaking ground on a chapel to be able to host weddings and other special events this coming summer. They also have an abundance of green space and gazebos for private gatherings or simply to enjoy a more intimate experience while visiting. They are in the process of renovating and restoring the historic homestead next door to the tasting room to serve as a robust, full-service event venue. They will also begin providing winery tours throughout the Valley in the West Hills Vineyard touring van. How much fun would that be? Stay tuned for more as they release the details on all of this! Man, I thought we were busy but these folks take the cake!
We had the opportunity to meet Lisa, one of the three daughters that help make West Hills Vineyards as awesome as it is. Not only is she sweet as can be, but she shared more with us about her family's history here and connections to the local community. They are just awesome people doing awesome things - and we are so here for all of it.
Oh this is a wine/drinking blog, so I guess I should talk about the wine now, huh? Well, we thoroughly enjoyed it! Tots Mom and Tots Dad shared the red and the white tastings. The variety is pretty incredible. They source from an array of vineyards throughout the area until their own grapes are mature enough to begin producing. But we were thoroughly impressed with the complexity and overall quality of all of these wines. We took home bottles of the 2021 Rosé and the 2019 Pinot Noir. For those that do not like wine, they had a great selection of Ninkasi beers and non-alcoholic drink options.
West Hills Vineyards also have a pretty amazing food menu. We had just stuffed our faces at brunch and sadly weren't super hungry during our visit but we will be sure to get our hands on some of that delicious flatbread, pizetta, and asparagus salad next time. However, Tot #3 decided that she was a bottomless pit and couldn't get enough of Beto's All Star Tacos who was onsite for the Father's Day festivities. I don't blame her - it was darn delicious!
All in all, we had a wonderful time at West Hills Vineyards and cannot wait to go back. They are a family-owned establishment and are so down-to-Earth and friendly. They have big dreams for this property and we are excited to see their progress. Go give them a follow and pay them a visit. We are certain that you will have the best time ever! See y'all soon, West Hills Vineyards!
What to expect when you visit:
Indoor and shaded outdoor seating
GREAT food menu, too!
Check their website and social media often - They are getting some great live music out there!
Non-alcoholic beverages available as well as beer for you non-wine peeps
Stunning grounds with ample green space if your tots need space to frolic (supervised, of course!)
If you sit outside, there's plenty of space to spread out a bit with a picnic blanket and kids activities and they have lawn activities galore!
Their outdoor area is dog-friendly. WOOF!
No high chairs or changing tables so just come prepared with a back-up plan
More Info:
Website: West Hills Vineyards
Walk-ins welcome - reservation options coming soon!
Hours: Wednesday - Sunday 12pm - 7pm
Address: 4785 Salem Dallas Highway Salem, OR 97304