History Forum in TD on Saturday, Feb. 11, focuses on local wineries
Old Vine Zinfandel grows in a century old vineyard south of The Dalles along Mill Creek. The Pines 1852 owner and vintner, Lonnie Wright, started his award-winning career by bringing the historic grapes into contemporary production. Wright will tell the story of the Columbia Gorge wine region’s amazing growth in his Regional History Forum presentation Saturday, Feb. 11, 1:30 p.m., at the Original Courthouse in The Dalles. Photo courtesy of The Pines 1852.
From Karl Vercouteren:
“Vineyards and Wineries of the Columbia Gorge” is the title of the February 11 program at the Original Wasco County Courthouse, 410 West 2nd Place in The Dalles. Saturday’s program begins at 1:30 p.m. and is the second in a month-long series of presentations.
History After Hours, sponsored by Wasco County Historical Society, will also take place at the Courthouse. At 3:30 p.m. people from area historical organizations and museums will share current activities and future plans.
Refreshment time between the 1:30 presentation and the 3:30 gathering will feature a History After Hours tradition: a birthday cake celebrating Oregon’s Feb. 14 statehood anniversary.
The Columbia Gorge wine region grew from one winery in 1980 to 40 in a 20-year period. Much of the credit for this growth is due to the work of Saturday’s speaker, Lonnie Wright. He gained vineyard expertise in the 1970s, came to his Mill Creek vineyard in 1982, established his own winery in 2001, and started his own vineyard management company, working with others in the industry to define the Columbia Gorge wine region. He is well-known for his estate-grown, limited-production, boutique wines. In 2014 Wright received the Oregon Wine Board’s lifetime achievement award.
Admission to the program is free but donations are welcome. There is a TV monitor on the ground floor of the 1859 courthouse to serve those unable to climb the stairs. Refreshments will be served after the program.
