Lynn and I decided to take a wine tasting and camp trip to Maryhill for our 2nd year wedding anniversary in April. We’ve never been wine tasting at such a large vineyard before. It was a great experience and we look forward to going back.
The Maryhill Winery & Tasting Room Goldendale, is located on a beautiful hillside overlooking the Columbia River and has a picturesque view of Mtn. Hood. This is the most scenic setting I’ve experienced while wine tasting.
There’s a large patio with seating for dining as you walk to the front door. You can have lunch or dinner while sampling wine and take in the beautiful view. The patio is pet friendly too.
Below the dining patio is an amphitheater where Maryhill Winery hosts a popular summer concert series, bringing in renowned artists and providing a unique outdoor concert experience amidst the vineyards. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy live music while savoring a glass of wine and taking in the scenic beauty of the surroundings. There wasn’t music when we went but we’re going back soon to listen to music, drink wine, and take in the scenery.
The winery offers a unique setting with wine in samples and by the glass. They also have a full menu with food and appetizers. The food that is offered makes for a wonderful pairing with any of the wine that is provided in house. Menu includes sandwiches, salad, pizza, and more. The staff is friendly and very accommodating to any dietary needs or restrictions. We went with the charcuterie board. Included was a couple of different meats, crackers, jams and olives with a fresh bake bread. This made for a great combination with the tasting flight.
If you are looking for a small scale, intimate wine tasting experience, this is not the place for that really. The staff is very knowledgeable but they are not coming to your table with every sample pour to give you a description of the wine you are about to sample. The staff serves your entire flight all at once. I was not sure if this was a seasonal thing or that is just how this location operates.
You get a list of what is included in the flight and a description of each wine. They come on arched wooden glass holders. Our flight included a Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc Proprietor’s Reserve, Merlot, Merlot Proprietor’s Reserve, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and a Zinfandel Proprietors Reserve.
The Chardonnay has vibrant aromas of melon, pear, and apricot. Followed by traces of pineapple and grapefruit, continuing into a crisp fruit finish. I’d have to say our least favorite was the Chardonnay. However, we are not huge white wine fans to begin with.
The Chenin Blanc has vibrant aromas and flavors of pear and honey. A full viscous mid palate with a crisp finish. For not being a fan of white wine, the Chenin Blanc was delicious.
The Merlot starts with red fruit aromas of cherry, plum and savory character. The flavor profile is topped off with a honey and oak finish.
The Merlot Proprietor’s Reserve takes it up a notch with currant added to the red fruit notes of the classic Merlot and a wonderful note of mulled spices. The finish has roasted chestnut with chocolate and clove spices over a concentrated fruit.
The Syrah starts off with a bold blackberry aroma and subtle toasty character. A smooth palate full of more ripe black fruit. Then integrated with chocolate and wood tannins.
The Cab Sauv has a continuing palate with aromas of fig, black pepper, and tobacco. That finishes with a young powerful tannin upfront that smooths as the wine opens. This was our favorite.
The Zinfandel Proprietor’s Reserve has a fruity compote with dried sage, cooking spice and persimmon aromas. A smooth palate, tannins in middle and layers of honey for a sweet finish.
In the end we purchased the Cab Sauv, Chenin Blanc and the Proprietor’s Reserve Merlot. All these wines were a delight to try.
I recommend Maryhill Goldendale to anyone passing through the area or if someone has never been wine tasting. Wine tasting at Maryhill Goldendale location is very similar to going to any restaurant. It’s a comfortable and familiar setting. You don’t need to know anything about wines or the correct way to taste them.
It’s also family friendly. There were a few families there while we were having our tasting. You can alway enjoy the food and view and still have a wonderful time without wine tasting.
If you want a more private experience try the wine club. They have their own private section at the bistro.
Maryhill is more on the mass production side of the winemaking world. They produce 80,000 casks annually. The majority of Maryhill wines appeal to a large audience by remaining true to the common flavor notes for each type of wine. When you buy a Maryhill’s Cabernet Sauvignon, you know what you’re getting.
There are three other wine tasting locations in Washington; Vancouver, Spokane and Woodinville. Each location offering has its own charm.
Camping at Maryhill State Park
Maryhill State Park is located an easy drive, several miles below the winery. Camping here is as picturesque as the winery, situated along the Columbia River. The campground is nice and open with grassy flat camp spots. There are plenty of trees.
There is a little bit of noise from I-84 across the river in Oregon. But the sounds of the river and wildlife help to drown it out.
This campground has all the amenities you need for an RV or tent camp. We RV camped with our little trailer. There are electric and water hookups with pull through spots.
All the RV access is easy for the campsites. All the RV parking areas are asphalt so it makes for a pretty level setup.
There are two kitchen areas for use within the campground. These are on a first come first serve basis.
The day use area has a nice beach with a swimming area. There are some walking trails around the campground too. There are also full bathrooms located in a couple of spots throughout the campground.
Nearby Points of Interested
Located nearby are a museum and a replica of Stonehenge. The replica of Stonehenge was commissioned in 1918 by Sam Hill and it was also when construction of the concrete structure began. It was dedicated on July 4th 1918 as a memorial to those who lost their lives in World War I. Construction was completed in 1929. It was the first monument in the United States dedicated to those lost in World War I.
You can also visit the towns of Goldendate and Centerville.