Jacob Williams Winery is a family owned and operated winery in the Columbia River Gorge with a Tasting Room in Lyle, WA. The winery produces under 2000 cases of ultra premium wine annually from some of the best vineyards in the Columbia Valley AVA and around the Columbia River Gorge. Brad Gearhart owns and operates Jacob Williams with the help of award-winning wine consultant John Haw, formerly of Maryhill and Sokol Blosser. Brad graduated from the University of Oregon in the 1987 and moved to Portland in 1992. He and his college roommate started Dry Hollow Vineyards in The Dalles in 2003. The wine operations and production were moved to an updated facility in Hood River a few years later, and the name was changed to Jacob Williams after Brad’s two sons.
Jacob Williams Winery currently has a cozy tasting room in downtown Lyle, WA, right on Highway 14. Brad’s father Len runs the tasting room Friday through Sunday, noon-5pm, from April through mid-December. The winery is in the process of building a permanent production facility and tasting room among vineyards along the banks of the Columbia River just off Hwy. 14. This new location has incredible views of the river and Mt Hood and should be completed by the spring of 2010.
The Winery’s wine club boasts many special events throughout the year, with everything from barbeques & barrel tastings to fantastic Italian dinners. Members receive a year-round discount on all wine purchases and are treated like part of the family.
Jacob Williams is currently producing Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Reserve Merlot, Syrah, Reserve Syrah, Zinfandel and Sadie Red, a special vintner’s blend named after the family dog. The wines are fabulous; if you haven’t had the opportunity to taste them you are missing something. You can find the wine at several local restaurants and wine shops, or you can sample all the current releases at the tasting room located at 421 State St. (Hwy. 14 & 5th St.) in Lyle, WA.
