Hermiston was the place to be on Thursday, the fourth of December. I spent the evening going door to door tasting some of the region’s newest wines, shopping for unique Christmas gifts, and more importantly catching up with old friends that I haven’t seen in a while.

My first stop took me to the Petal Pusher on Main Street. Dottie and her staff were hosting David Hill Winery. William Kobyluck, David Hill’s marketing director, was on site pouring some very refreshing wines and great conversation.

David Hill Winery is located in Forest Grove. It is a beautiful 140-acre farm specializing primarily in Pinot Noir and is on the National Historic Register. According to William, the first wine grapes planted in Oregon were at this vineyard.

I sampled 2007 Pinot Blanc, which has a light citrus and melon character. A light acidity and crisp finish make this great with fish or pasta. The 2007 Estate Riesling was slightly sweet, and would make a great pairing with Thai food or other spicy dishes. I also enjoyed the Farm House Red. This non-vintage mixture of several varietals was very enjoyable and affordable.

My favorite taste of the evening was David Hill’s Sparkling Brut. Made from a mixture of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, this sparkling wine has a beautiful creamy texture, with flavors of strawberries, dough, and fresh pears.

Following my visit to the Petal Pusher, I made my way across the street to the Pheasant to visit a tasting being held by Coyote Canyon’s owner and winemaker Mike Andrews.

Mike was pouring several wines, including his Viognier, Sangiovese, Syrah, and a red blend called Tres Cruses.

I was quite impressed with the 2004 Sangiovese. This wine is sourced from several premium vineyard sites, and spent quite a bit of time in the barrel to create a very rich and nicely spiced Sangiovese. I also found the 2005 Estate Syrah to be quite notable. It is rich with the smells and flavors of fresh vegetables, rich soil, and spices.

My last visit and finale was a stop at Bellinger’s to visit Jack and Donna and their staff. They were playing host to my good buddy Rich Marshall from Maryhill. If you are a wine lover and haven’t experienced Maryhill wine, you are definitely missing out. Maryhill offers over 28 different blends and varietals.

I enjoyed the 2006 Winemakers Blend. It is a wonderful Bordeaux- style blend, with plenty of fruit that is balanced by tannin and just the right amount of oak. I also revisited the Proprieters Select Cabernet. This wine is truly amazing, and should be enjoyed with friends and family around the fireplace this winter.

I do want to note that in the creation of this article no laws were broken. I am a strong proponent of eating snacks, smelling, spitting and dumping your wine. If you are going to be drinking this season, please do it responsibly. Enjoy and be safe!

Rich Breshears, the East Oregonian’s wine columnist, is a commercial photographer and marketing consultant for the wine industry in Oregon and Washington. He lives with his family in Kennewick, Wash. His column appears weekly.