Panther Creek Cellars

So… no wonder we ended up loving this place… Originally started by Ken Wright back in 1986. Really good wines here! It was pretty slow when we came in but picked up by the time we left around noon. There were 2 different gentleman helping us on our tasting. Both were very friendly and informative. They had some good maps to show us around the wine areas in states of Oregon and Washington.
We learned upon our first day in Pinotland, that many of the boutiques sell out of older vintages very quickly, so when we tasted in most wineries, they were serving mainly 2014s! We found a few 2013z. This place had an AMAZING 2012 left. It wasn’t on their tasting menu but the guys there were so cool they opened a bottle for us to try. (We heard that was a good year in the Williamette Valley.) Anyways, that gesture alone to open a bottle of something off the tasting menu sold us on this place and brought them from 4 stars to 5!
In another room they also had a great spread of cheese, crackers, salamis and grapes. (Although I’m not sure if this was just for Thanksgiving weekend or a yearround thing.)
With this cellar right off the main drag through Dundee it’s an easy stop from Portland on your way out and up the hill a little. I highly suggest it! Great customer service with amazing wines.

Some of the best wines we tasted all weekend. The owner was wonderfully engaging and not only did we taste great wines but we learned a lot too!

Stopped in for a tasting and was fortunate to have stumbled on a weekend when they were doing a cellar tasting. The wines were truly 5 star. Some of the most interesting Pinots I’ve had. The 2006 and 2008 single vineyard wines had very distinct mocha notes. I did not give this tasting room a 5 only because the staff was not particularly engaging or friendly.

It is unfortunate that my friend is a smoker and was being considerate of me when she stepped outside the car to have a cigarette while I was finishing an email while in the Panther Creek tasting room parking lot. We had stopped there purposely because I love their wine and wanted to back fill my supply. While I was in the car finishing my email, an employee (owner maybe?) came out and told my friend it is offensive to their customers to see people smoking in their parking lot. The «nice» lady didn’t offer us a secluded smoking area or an alternative place to smoke, nor were there any non smoking signs visible. I can only surmise it is her that is offended, not the customers. I, myself, don’t smoke and am really disappointed I won’t be getting some of my favorite wine today. Her manner of approaching my friend was extremely unprofessional and quite the turn off. Apparently they don’t need the business that bad, especially from people who smoke. Thankful to live where we do as there are plenty more options.

Had a lovely experience here yesterday at the wine event– want to say a special thanks! 2008 & 2009 Shea PN was so lovely.
The staff were super awesome!

Good wine and super friendly staff. Definitely worth a visit.

Absolutely our favorite.

Greeted by Ms. Frankie, the wine dog who was guarding a brand new litter of kittens
Great wines served in Reidel glasses
Hostess, Jackie, is one of the most intelligent persons on the planet
This is a «MUST VISIT»

A friend who worked at Panther Creek brought me here for a tasting. The owner, Mike and Rachel (poured for us) are super friendly. I loved hanging out there. I was given the full tour of the winery and got to taste several of their pinot noirs. It was my second wine tasting in Oregon and I learned a lot from talking to Rachel and my friend.
The wines are not inexpensive, but then again it’s wine and it’s GOOD. I consider myself very lucky to have another bottle of Panther Creek’s Pinot Noir ’04 Shea Vineyard. :)

Panther Creek make incredible wines. Unfortunately, they are often priced accordingly. However, if you have unlimited funds or someone else is paying the bill, Panther Creek is a GREAT choice. Even their lower end pinots are pretty amazing (although the higher ends can be even better). Their tasting room is in town and pretty rustic, but that is more fun. When I have gone there for tasting, you have had your choice of a lot of wines including a bunch of barrel tastings. Barrel tastings may not be good if you want to buy that wine today, but it can give you a great idea about how the next batch will turn out.