Shafer Vineyard Cellars

Not only was the owner an amazing and friendly woman to the grown-​ups in the party, but she also had plenty of toys for the «too young to wine taste» crew to play with while the adults sipped some of the delicious wines. The Tempranillo was divine, and I could not resist leaving with a bottle of it! I would definitely recommend this for anyone traveling with kids! They also have an adorable Christmas shop that you can browse as you sample their vines!

A trip wine tasting out in the Forest Grove area is not complete without a visit to Shafer Vineyard Cellar. Originally established in 1973 by the Shafer family it is now ran by Miki and Jerry Kramer.
This vineyard is remote and hidden, and it has a spectacular view of the Gales Creek Valley. You can bring a picnic lunch and a glass of wine from inside and sit and enjoy the view from many different seating areas on the property. So quiet and beautiful.
I got to tell you that this is my favorite vineyard in this area and Miki is the one of the most warm and friendly people I’ve ever met. Since Miki lives here and makes many of the wines herself she can tell you the differences in the years and types of grapes and anything else you may want to know about the wines.
The wine list includes a mix of reds and whites and even a couple Ports. My current favorites are the 2012 Pinot Reserve and the 2013 Tempranillo. But feel free to taste away and find your favorite.
Miki’s Christmas Ship is also open year round on the premises and sells retail and mail order unique Christmas ornaments, KWO/​Christian Ulbricht German Smokers, Smoking Men, Old World Glass Christmas Ornaments and much more.
The grounds can be rented for your special event and they will even cater it for you. Love this place!
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We came here right after visited Apolloni Vineyards. No flies here!!! And the staff was nice and fun. Free tasting too (maybe just that day, I’m not quite sure).
The view were just amazing!!! Their wines were decent. They are having Christmas decorations show at the back (already?). lol

Love this place. It’s beautiful, the Christmas shop is always fun, and Miki is pretty much the friendliest person ever. The Holiday Magic wine is my favorite, I reccomend trying that if it’s the right time of the year.

Had such a great time! Beautiful views, amazingly tasty wines, and superb service. We felt so welcome and had a great tasting. Wines are reasonably priced and honestly worth every penny. The Holiday magic wine is a must try as well, so unique! We will definitely be back and suggest this place to all of our friends!

This is a very no frills but unique and awesome in it’s own way wine tasting experience. The woman behind the counter was so friendly and welcoming, and offered tastes of anything we wanted. She answered questions without judgement and shared some cool knowledge. I only wish they had a greater area to sit down and enjoy the wines, but the Christmas shop was worth poking around in with a glass of wine!

Really nice place. They have a good selection of reislings and an excellent Mueller-​Thurgau. Good outdoor area and the x-​mas shop was a small bonus.

I have to tell you, when my sister first said we were going to this winery, I absolutely was not impressed. Driving out to the end of Forest Grove on a rainy Sunday afternoon was not first on my list of fun things to do; but I’m always interested in great wines and with all the new wineries popping up, I’m interested in the varieties and how they’re made. However, I’m not usually that impressed. So you can imagine my very big surprise when we drove up and they were busy!
Normally Sundays (if you can even find a winery open) are not crowded at wineries. When we walked in, the positive energy in this place was like a warm blanket on a freezing day. It was welcoming, friendly, and clean! The back of the place has this unbelievable space that was decked out with every kind of Christmas ornament you could think of! The wood carved ornaments were my favorites. The figurines that were in the middle are phenomenal! So beautiful, cute, and some very funny. They are pricey, but well worth it. If you have anyone that is into adorable carved figurines ranging from a biker on a trike, to a rabbi complete with yarmulke (no discrimination here)!
Then came the wine tasting. You get 1 – 5 tastes for $ 5.00 and they’re not skimpy either. OMG, the Holiday Magic is just that — a full party in your mouth! If you miss that Holiday Magic, you’ve been missing something. Sweet, with just a hint of cinnamon and all the full body that a great wine can offer. The Pinot is good and they have it dry or regular; the Chablis was very good, but my absolute favorites were the ports — Chocolate red was the best! It would complement any meat — as an after dinner drink.
So the next time you feel like an adventure, hop onto highway 8 and follow it all the way out until you see the signs for Shafer Winery. You won’t be disappointed at all!

Recently a friend gave us a bottle of the sparkling wine. It was delicious. We decided to visit having last visited about 15 years ago. We ended up buying a mixed case. The 2011 Pinot Gris and 2012 Pinot Noir were excellent. So we returned today to buy more. Mikki, the owner, is as delightful as the wine. Unpretentious as you can get, unlike others who stick their noses in the air about their wine. Definitely worth the trip.

Don’t miss, some of the nicer wines we bought on our trip beautiful vineyards bring a picnic lunch.

We haven’t yet been to a wine taste but buy every year from their wonderful Christmas Shop. Their online buying experience is great! Miki’s goal is to have a satisfied and happy customer and that’s how they run their business with integrity and great service.

The wine is nothing to be desired, but friendly tasting room managers. And if you are in to year round Christmas holiday décor shopping, this is the place.

I can not believe that I had not reviewed this place yet. Like other « Unilocalers», I too am in love with this place. Despite hard times for the owners, they are very friendly, outgoing, and hospitable. Always have a smile on their face, and lots of wine options to try. Their cheese and crackers are always good too. I also LOVE the Christmas shoppe. What a fun way to do some shopping and see a variety of ornaments from around the world. The wines are good, the views are gorgeous. I haven’t been here in a year, but I hope to get back this fall for harvest season. It is so heavenly. Thank you for this retreat and calming spot.

Best wine hostesses I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting! A friend who is a regular customer of theirs brought us here on a recent Oregon coast trip. Their vineyard is spectacular, and they have an extensive selection of wine. Although I didn’t find one that I felt I had to bring home, just the experience of going and tasting is worth the time. They have a fun Christmas store in the back to peruse while sipping your vino, too!

What a fun, quirky, and unexpected little place. I had a guest visiting from out of town, and we stopped in here (per the Unilocal recommendations) on our way home from Tillamook. Miki is warm and personable, and she had nearly a dozen wines open and ready to pour (and she doesn’t hesitate to offer you as many tastes as you’d like). My friend tried the sweeter wines, and I opted for dry wines (including a dry gewurztraminer — something I didn’t even know existed). The Christmas shop is a kick, brimming with delightfully kitschy ornaments and figurines. A great stop if you’re on highway 6 or 8, or if you’re in the Forest Grove area.

Went there with my wife for a quick trip out of the house. One thing that stood out was that the tastings here are free of charge, and that today, Miki (the owner) was pouring NINE different tastes!
Generally speaking, I find myself preferring dark Italian (Tempranillo, Primitivo) and inner-​central/​north California reds like big ol’ Zin’s and Merlot’s, and Shafer seems to produce a variety of predominantly white and blush wines. But that said, I found what they have to be pretty decent stuff.
They had a Chardonnay with less-​than-​normal amount of oaking – a very smooth wine. Chardonnay is my wife’s least favorite white, and even she found herself admiring it. Their off-​dry gris, gwurtz, and rieslings were all excellent. We came home with a bottle of their «Miki’s Blush», an off-​dry with a deep rose color that was just wonderful.
They were also tasting a few of the Purple Cow wines (a few miles northeast) – a wonderful Italian-​style red blend and another was one of the best Tempranillo’s I’ve ever had, but (appropriately) priced in the mid-​$ 30s. They did charge $ 5 for the Purple Cow tastings (at Purple Cow’s request) but it was worth every penny and I would encourage those that like «big reds» to take a dive in to those PC selections if they’re available.
In all, on the pricing scale, I can’t argue with $ 5 for THIRTEEN tastes. With that variety, there’s something in there for everyone.
Beautiful Christmas-​themed shop in the rear, and several different cheese, cracker, and jelly selections in the tasting room.
Wonderful place and better-​than-​average local wines! We’ll be back with friends!

Shafer Vineyards is a must-​see among the many other choices in the area. Here’s what puts them at the top of my list:
1. Miki and her daughter — they are delightful wine hostesses!
2. The ice wine. Holy wine lovers! There isn’t a word to describe it’s deliciousness. I’ve learned that amazing wines come in the teeny bottles. If only I could afford a lifetime’s supply…
3. The grounds. Breathtaking. There are picnic tables outside among their grapes, and you’re welcome to bring a picnic or just take a glass of wine out there and enjoy the view.
4. Miki’s Christmas Shop! She stocks what seems like the entire Old World Christmas ornament line, and there is an ornament there for everybody. Seriously.
They have a selection of wine-​themed goodies, and some really tasty cheeses for sale, and some also to sample. Yummo. Definitely a place to take out-​of-​towners, or to bring people whom you are trying to convince to move up here. This will seal the deal!

This is a fantastic place to visit for the view, the wine and the service. The wines are very reasonable priced plus they have some great specials and an excellent case discount.

Not only is this a lovely site to visit because of the location and the yummy wine, but Miki’s Christmas shop has an INSANE amount of wonderful Nutcrackers, Unique and authentic German incense smokers, and the BEST selection of Old World Christmas glass ornaments I have ever seen.
This is a MUST-​STOP spot for my entire family just before Thanksgiving to ring in the spirit of the holiday season!
My must tries are the reserve pinot, and of course the gewurtz, but the special pinot noir «Ambrosia» is one of the most enjoyable tastes my palate has ever come across!!!

This winery, which has been around since 1978, has won a soft spot in my heart for various reasons. For one, Miki (one of the owners) is a gem, and she’s always there with an open smile and genuinely great character to offer wine tasting, helpful information, and a few laughs. Two, they showcase a lot of whites that are all enjoyable, and a few reds with personality. Their dessert wines are notable and are delicious with the smooth Seattle Chocolates they offer.
Some of my personal favorites are the Autumn Harvest Riesling, Estate Bottled Gewürztraminer, Fume Blanc, and they have an extra oaky Chardonnay that rocks my socks. Try their ice wine if you can because it’s a delight. And I’m not a red connoisseur, but I am odd in that I like their 2002 Pinot Noir over their 2005. Most people would enjoy the younger red, but I’m a strange one.
While you’re there also enjoy your wine (which they’ll gladly open for you and offer free plastic cups) on their 2-​acre oak shaded picnic area, enjoy the gorgeous view from their gazebo, check out Miki’s beautiful Christmas ornament shop, and try the Pepper Jelly they sell there. Actually buy some of the jelly and come over to my house… I’ll provide the cheese and crackers.