Cubanisimo Vineyards

Mauricio Collada Jr. was born in Havana and describes himself as a lover of all things Cuban except Castro. He became a neurosurgeon, settled in Salem, and got interested in wine when a colleague during his medical residency shared what he’d learned growing up in a winemaking family. Oregon Pinot Noir did the rest.

He and his wife Debra bought 21 acres in the Eola Hills in the late 1980s, originally intending to sell fruit to larger wineries. Planting began with eight acres of Pommard Pinot Noir, followed by Dijon 115 and 777 and a couple of acres of Pinot Gris. Grapes went to Erath, Evesham Wood, and King Estate. Then, with help from winemaker Rob Stuart of R. Stuart & Co., the Cubanisimo label was born in 2003.

Mauricio still practices neurosurgery, so day-to-day runs through the winery team while Debra handles sales, marketing, and events.

The wines are fruit-forward Pinot Noir with a Rosado and Pinot Gris alongside, and the whites and rosé sell out fast. But what sets this place apart is the atmosphere. There’s nothing stuffy about it. The events calendar runs monthly salsa lessons, live music, comedy nights, yoga, and food trucks. Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving weekends bring tapas and dancing. Ten minutes from downtown Salem, the patio looks out over the valley toward the Capitol.

Outside food is encouraged on regular days, which makes it a good spot to bring a picnic and settle in. Families are welcome, though there are no high chairs or changing tables, so plan around that.