Dominio IV husband-and-wife co-owners Patrick Reuter and Leigh Bartholomew both studied at the esteemed University of California Davis, for winemaking/terroir and viticulture, respectively. After working harvests across the globe, they settled in the Willamette Valley and began Dominio IV in 2002, growing and making the wines of Tempranillo, Viognier, Pinot Noir and Syrah. At their Three Sleeps Vineyard in Mosier, Oregon, they farm the 35-acre property biodynamically, and in May 2012, added small parcels of Malbec, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot in the form of a labyrinth. Once these vines reach maturity, Reuter plans to harvest a field blend from the labyrinth (which is also the symbol for Dominio IV wine labels).
For this getaway, the journey is definitely part of the destination. About six miles east of Hood River, you’ll find the tiny hamlet of Mosier. As you coast through town, you’ll pass the two main spots to dine: Rack & Cloth, a cidery and café, and Route 30 Antique Cars & Ice Cream, where you can buy a cold scoop, an espresso or a Porsche. After a turn onto Sheridan Road, you’ll breeze by windswept Ponderosa pines, ancient basalt cliffs and leafy cherry orchards.
That gorgeous, golden-hued Tuscan-style villa rising from the hillside is Three Sleeps Vineyard B&B. It’s surrounded by cascading vines, fir forests and snow-capped mountain vistas, as the mellifluous name suggests. You can choose a king or queen room, both with worldly décor, cozy love seats, a private bath and a patio overlooking the estate vineyard and the one-mile labyrinth course.
Head to the patio for stargazing and warm up a brisk Pacific Northwest night with the 2011 Penny for Lily Tempranillo while pointing out constellations, and making up a few of your own. The voluptuous red evokes ripe plum and black cherry with hints of earthy sage.
