cricket hill winery

Cricket Hill’s “tasting room” is a simple corner inside the fermentation room of this rustic winery building. “This is no Falcon Crest,” they joke, but guests there can count on meeting, tasting and talking wines with the real workers of the land - in an increasingly rare informal setting. And what wines! They make only Right Bank Bordeaux and it’s delicious. As good as any I’ve found on the West Coast. If you love wine more than architecture look for this out of the way winery.

This teeny vineyard, only 4 acres planted, provides a living example of what two people can accomplish when they're doing what they love. With such small acreage they opted to focus on Merlot and Cab Franc and, as of this writing, produce only three wines. Two are blends and one is 100% Merlot. They adhere to the French tradition of winemaking, aging their wines in oak for much longer than most other Southern Oregon vineyards. Hit the tasting room at Folin, Cliff Creek or Del Rio and most of the wines are '11 or younger. Visit Cricket Hill and you'll be tasting '07 or older. There's no food, no t-shirts for sale and no glass and chrome tasting room, but there is very enjoyable wine produced by two people who care deeply about their product.

Delightful! These people work hard in this small winery and their efforts are paying off. The Cabernet Franc has won awards and you will not be disappointed if you try it and buy a bottle or more. I will definitely return to stock up again when I am in the area. Great people, too.

Not much on ambiance - but some DAMN GOOD WINE!

The owners of this winery are very friendly and knowledgeable. They enjoy sharing their stories of the grapes, harvesting, crushing and bottling. But, best of all they like to enjoy their wines with you...their guests.