Tyler H.
Yelp
Normally, even though I go to a LOT of wineries, I am reluctant to review wineries on Yelp. The reason I typically hesitate is that wine tastes are so subjective to varietal preferences, where one person may love a Syrah, while another despises it.
And, beyond just varietals, one person may prefer fruity lighter wines, while another may want rich, earthy, tannic flavors. It's hard to rate a winery and not comment on its wine, so I tend to suspend my Yelp postings as a result.
But - now and then, a winery rises to the occasion on so many fronts, that it just merits a writeup, and I'm happy to say that Bryn Mawr is such a place.
Bryn Mawr, which is Welsh for "Large Hill" is appropriately named on the top of the biggest hill in this area. While the scenery atop the hill is majestic and worth a visit for the view alone, the hill can get windy, so they can't cater to wedding events. You'll note the hill and wind depicted on their logo (which I thought was an octopus tentacle...nope!). But for a wine tasting in the Eola-Amity Hills region, this is a phenomenal venue.
The current iteration of Bryn Mawr is relatively new, with current owners in place for the past 14 years or so. I think it's safe to say the wines have hit their stride and this place is up-and-coming. We did a delightful tasting with an engaging tasting room lady who enchanted us with her knowledge and love of the location. Some tasting rooms are getting pretty minimalist with their service orientation (which I call 'slug and chug'), but not here. Bryn Mawr was welcoming and interesting, like having a knowledgeable friend with us on the visit.
On a tour through Willamette Valley, we felt this stop had the best overall experience and wines on our little journey. We tend to favor red wines, but we were fans of the entire tasting lineup, and would happily take home any of them.
Price relative to value was very good here, with the tasting fee waived with purchase of a few bottles (which we found easy to do). I do miss the winery days of yore with $5 tastings that included a souvenir glass, but there ya go. Nothing gold can stay.
Please do reserve yourself a stop, if you'd like a great winery visit.