The Enterprise - White Salmon, Washington

Passport to wine kicks off April 8

Gorge weekend April 12-14

March 12, 2013

The Columbia Gorge Winegrowers presents Passport Week April 8-14. The week is kicked off with an annual tasting event at The Good Mod at 1313 W Burnside in the Pearl District of Portland.

Tickets are $25 and include tastings from 26 Columbia Gorge wineries. Ticket price includes a wine glass, tastings of Gorge wines, delicious light fare, and a Passport to use the following weekend (a $15 value).

Passports may also be purchased separately for the weekend of April 12-14.

Passports are booklets that resemble an actual passport. Each page in the passport represents a different winery, and each winery presents a custom offer for the weekend. For example, Phelps Creek Vineyards is offering complimentary wine flights, plus a shuttle tour of their estate vineyard.

Tasters must have a passport to redeem the special offers for that weekend, and wineries will actually stamp their passports when they arrive.

Passport holders may choose to start off in downtown Hood River, with over 6 tasting rooms within walking distance from one another. Naked Winery will be revealing eight new Cirque du Risque labels, including other circus themed fun throughout the weekend with live music and barrel tastings for wine club members.

Tasters can cross the Columbia River to meander along the traffic-free roads of Underwood Mountain where vineyards dot the hillsides and Aniche Cellars is offering hand-crafted foods along with waived tasting fees and a special guest winemaker, Jan Marc of Jan Marc Cellars.

For those coming from the East, a stop at Maryhill Winery & Amphitheater to enjoy the sunshine along with waived tasting fees, barrel tastings and bocce ball courts is always fun.

For a full list of amazing deals from both Washington and Oregon wineries or to purchase passports, visit GorgeWine.com.