Waving Tree Winery & Vineyards — Restaurant in Goldendale

The Maryhill area of the Columbia River Gorge is idyllic and unparalleled in it's beauty and can produce wines that compete on a world scale. Waving Tree Winery and Vineyards has a miniscule production (2500 cases). Nearby Maryhill Winery probably spills that much wine in a year. There's no grand Chateau to intimidate you into liking the wine, just a pedestrian tasting room. There's no big advertising budget, marketing gimmicks or distribution deals to inflate the price of the product. I don't care about those things. They sell from the property. They grow it, they make it, they sell it. That's old school.

And they do it well. What will impress you, as it did me, is the quality. The wine is in the bargain $20-$35 price range. Don't judge. That's a facade for quality that can embarrass the big boys. How's this for a list of grape varietals: Cinsault, Nebbiolo, Mourvedre, Sangiovese, Barbera, Petite Sirah, Grenache, Chardonnay and the rare Orange Muscat. They are big on reds, mostly, but also do rose wines and that Chardonnay.

I didn't have a single bad wine, not one. All were surprisingly delicious and expertly made. The blend in the Rhone style (Columbus Landing) was a standout, among others. The Orange Muscat and sweet Barbera satisfied my dessert wine Jones. This is just good wine!

As a resident of the PNW, Waving Tree Winery and Vineyards is a place I will keep coming back to. As much for the taste as for the scenery. It's a small winery that serves the locals, but also welcomes the travelers. Word of mouth, or taste as it is. I hope this winery continues to do well (they've been at it since 2001). Not too well, I hope (do you get my drift?). I just want it not to change. Please keep it old school,...

We found Waving Tree through Google, looking for a tasting room near the interstate (and which didn’t charge an arm and a leg!). The two employees there were so fun and personable and unpretentious - just like the tasting room. Even better, the wine was delish and the tasting cost was more than reasonable.

When we arrived, one other couple was finishing their tasting, so it was me, my partner, and the two employees for at least an hour. We bought six different wines - they have a wide selection (~20) and all are available to taste. I think it was $8/tasting, which included 5 wines, refunded if a purchase was made. I enjoyed the Cinsaut - a varietal I haven’t heard of or tried previously - as well as the Nebbiolo and the Rivergazer Blend. The B Sweet is a delicious, light and somewhat sweet Barbera that’s perfect for hot summer days.

Definitely recommend this place for tasting (and shopping!). Thanks to the team for hosting us and for the fun conversation (including more info about peaches and apricots than I...

Just had my first visit to Waving Tree. Owner and winemaker Tak poured and discussed his business model, winemaking philosophy, industry trends, the challenges of running a small winery, staffing and labor considerations, weather patterns in the Columbia Gorge and nearby winemaking regions, etc… it was a generous tasting and an interesting conversation!

The wine is very good, and amazing at the price point. The wine club includes a pretty generous discount, making it an even better value. I can’t think of any other winery where I’d go expecting to beat Costco on price.

The atmosphere is agricultural / utilitarian, as Waving Tree is a farm first and wine making is a way to bring the fruits of that labor to the people. Don’t expect a highly polished tasting room; expect a friendly vibe in a working facility, and a great tasting at a...