Apolloni Vineyards

Alfredo Apolloni’s family has been making wine in northern Italy for 150 years, and he spent his boyhood summers working the vineyard and villa there. When his son Adolfo was born, he and his wife Laurine decided their children should grow up in the shadow of the vines, and in 1999 they left the Midwest for a 62-acre property in the Tualatin Hills with five acres already planted. They’ve since added a neighboring 30-acre site and developed 40 more acres of vineyard.

The family tradition runs through everything. Each generation alternates between the names Adolfo and Alfredo, and Alfredo named his son for his late father. Each vineyard block carries an Apolloni child’s middle name — Filippo, Olivia, Flaminia. The label comes from a 16th-century original showing the family coat of arms: a black eagle for strength, and the helm from the armor of the captains of Scalve.

The 90-acre property carries 45 acres of estate vineyard, organically farmed and certified sustainable through both LIVE and Salmon Safe. Production runs around 9,000 cases. The core is Oregon — Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc — but the Italian side is what people drive out for. A one-acre test block of Nebbiolo and Sangiovese went in during the cool 2007 season and has thrived through warmer vintages since, ripening to 23 to 24 Brix. There’s a Super Tuscan-style red, plus Merlot, Cabernet, and sparkling.

The tasting room sits fifteen minutes from downtown Forest Grove with views over the estate and out to the Coast Range, and an underground barrel cave beneath. There are bocce courts, a patio, live music in season, and food available with your flight. Dogs and kids are both genuinely welcome. Two flights are offered at $15 and $20, with the fee waived on a $50 purchase — among the better values anywhere in the valley.

The tasting room sits fifteen minutes from downtown Forest Grove with views over the estate and out to the Coast Range, and an underground barrel cave beneath. There are bocce courts, a patio, live music in season, and food available with your flight. Dogs and kids are both genuinely welcome. Two flights are offered at $15 and $20, with the fee waived on a $50 purchase — among the better values anywhere in the valley.