Dominio IV

Worth getting lost for a bit to find it — if you call ahead to book a tasting they will take you back so you an stand amongst the barrels, which is great because I’m sure the tasting room fills up quickly. Our host was extremely knowledgeable, told us a good deal of history and answered many of our questions, both wine related and personal. He was hospitable even when our tasting went a bit after closing hours and retroactively comped 2 tastings due to us purchasing a good deal of the delicious wine (loved the Rose!).

Overall this was the best winery we’d been to in town. WE tried to go on Friday, but they weren’t open. We met the winemaker and he was nice enough to point us to a freshly tapped keg at the market in the same parking lot. I insisted on going back the next day, and boy am I glad we did. All of the wines were great, I purchased a great bottle of the 06 Tempranillo for around $ 26.00. The atmosphere was very accommodating, very personal. I just reallly liked this winery.

Dominio is a small winery located in the industrial district of McMinnville. Tucked in the back of a large parking lot, you see the towering tin building bearing the winery’s name. As Brian T. mentioned, we tried to stop by a Friday evening but they weren’t open. The owner said for us to come back the next day which we did. We had some complimentary tasting coupons we picked up at Panther Creek winery and the owner didn’t even bat an eye when we gave it to him (three). He was talkative, personable (just got back from his 3^rd grader’s soccer game), and was generous with the pours. If I recall correctly, there were four wines included with the tasting, a white and three reds. I liked their Tempranillo and Viognier (can rarely pronouce that correctly but I can damn well spell it!) It was our last day in town and getting ready to drive back to Portland, and we were so glad we stopped back in. I really like supporting the smaller wineries and this place was well worth it.

This is a very small winery that makes very good wine. I could leave it at that and just expect everybody to seek them out, but let me elucidate just a bit.
First of all, I’m a huge fan of good Tempranillo, and they make an excellent one, grown near The Dalles at the «Three Sleeps» vineyard. So called because it is said when Lewis and Clark stopped here on their journey West they were told by the Indians that the Pacific Ocean was three sleeps away. They also grow Viognier and Syrah there. Winemaker Patrick Reuter does a fine job with all three and year in, year out produces marvelous wines. They all seem ready to drink and age worthy, a feat not often repeated by other wine makers.
The Willamette Valley is home to their Pinot Noir vines and Patrick again does a consistently fine job with Pinot.
They do make some red blends that sell for in the neighborhood of $ 15-​$ 20 and are very good.
As I said this is a very small winery, distribution is limited, I always buy mine at the tasting room. I have found it at New Seasons and some small wine shops.