Yes, there is wine in Lake Oswego!

I was driving through the middle of Lake Oswego, and I could hardly believe my GPS. A winery in the heart of this affluent Portland suburb? But sure enough, at the top of Iron Mountain with a phenomenal view of the lake, sits Monte Ferro Wines. I pulled up to a sweet little patch of Pinot Noir vines planted at the base of a stunning house and wandered around back to admire the view behind their tiny tasting room.

Bob and Mignon Ervin have created a beautiful oasis of wine in the heart of Lake Oswego. Retired from the food industry, Bob returned home to Oregon and started Monte Ferro Wines as a retirement project.

But without a background in winemaking or a huge plot of land for growing grapes, how were Bob and Mignon going to produce the wines? They adopted a time-honored French tradition and become négociants.

They source grapes from local grape growers who share their philosophy of low-impact viticulture and they collaborate with a great winemaker —Terry Brandborg of Brandborg Winery (whom we featured in 2015). It’s a team approach that doesn’t require expertise on other side of the equation; just a vision for making great wine. And it is!