Explore the new Central Oregon Wine Trail

Wine connoisseurs have a reason to toast.

“You know, with the Ale Trail, it would be so nice to have a Wine Trail — and so we thought, ‘Why not?'” said Cindy Grossmann, who owns and operates Faith Hope and Charity Vineyards in Terrebonne..

She’s also the creator of the Central Oregon Wine Trail.

“We’ve got enough people in Central Oregon to build a trail, so we decided to take it on and do that,” Grossman said.

Within minutes, she had other vineyards and tasting rooms on board, and the word spread.

“When we posted the Wine Trail, (the blog) HackBend had it immediately. We got a call from Wanderlust Tours, and they’re doing a bike tour, and and it’s been really well-received,” Grossmann explained.

The six-stop trail takes you from Bend to Terrebonne, Culver and Sisters.

It features Volcano Vineyards, Naked Winery, Faith Hope and Charity Vineyards, Maragas Winery, Cork Cellars and The Open Door.

So not only do you get to sip on local flavors, you can get outside of your own backyard.

“Our local residents are tourists — that’s why they are here. They want to do and see and share everything that we have here to offer,” Grossmann said.

Grossmann hopes to soon create a passport system for the Wine Trail, much like the Ale Trail has.

For now, she just wants you to take a walk on the sweeter side, raise your glass and toast to a local collaboration that’s only just begun.

“I expect this to grow leaps and bound,” Grossmann said. “We are just at the infancy, but it is very exciting.”

To download your own map of the wine trail, visit http://faithhopeandcharityevents.com/