About Us
OUR STORY
WHO WE ARE
The northeast corner of Oregon contains vast amounts of copper hidden beneath the surface. They call areas like these “Copper Belts”.
Through a pioneering heritage, Copper Belt Wines was established in 2010 to inspire and invite you on a journey through time and place through our wines, our story and our family. Located east of Baker City, in the heart of the Baker County Copper Belt our wines are fruit forward, approachable, age worthy, consumer friendly and reflect the same handmade wine styles that have been enjoyed throughout the ages. By growing all of our own fruit at some of the highest elevations in Oregon our wines are unlike any other. We welcome you into our tasting room to embark on a journey through our wines and our story.
WHERE DID WE COME FROM?
In the spring of 1894 Thomas and Cora Cook with their three sons decided that Kansas was not the place for them. They sold what little they had, got a wagon and set out on the trail to Oregon, their destination: Oregon City. The Winter of 1894 came early and they were forced to stop in Union county outside of La Grande Oregon. The next spring with Cora being pregnant they opted to hold off their journey. In July of 1895 Walter Cook was born. Shortly after the Cook family moved back to a little valley just east of Baker City. There the Cook Family started a Homestead in Keating Valley. When Walter was grown he Married Lucy Mills and Homesteaded nearby. Today our vineyards are planted on the same ground that Walter Cook the Great Grandfather of our Winemaker Travis Cook claimed over 100 years ago. The land has always been apart of the Cook family and the desire to work the land has always been the heart of our dream.
At a very young age our winemaker, Travis Cook developed a fascination with wine looking at labels and hearing the passion and romance about where they came from at the local wine shop, it was his calling. When he graduated from Baker High School in 2003, he followed his curiosity to Oregon State University and enrolled in their Viticulture and Enology program (vines and wine). in 2004 Travis and the Cook family with the help of some friends planted the first wine grapes on the homestead. In 2005 Travis made his first wine through the OSU viticulture research program, it turned out horrible. After learning where he went wrong, in 2006 he tried again, a Pinot Noir from Woodhall III Vineyard in the South Willamette Valley. The 2006 still remains a delicious creation and is fun to taste as it continues to age . Every year Travis continues to improve on the wines that he makes and stewards. In 2010 at the recommendation of many friends and family, Travis and his family established Copper Belt Wines. Today the 2004 vines provide a blending base for our Keating Reserve and Estate Dry Riesling both are 100% estate grown wine. Travis still makes delicious Pinot Noir, but focuses on the creation of our local varietals. To try any of our wines, order online or visit us at our downtown Baker City tasting room any day of the week!
OUR WINES
SPARKLING
The Sparkling wine is that perfect brut style champagne without the champagne price tag! light and fruity with an explosion of bubbles, meant to be enjoyed as is, but also goes really well with orange juice!
RANCHERS WHITE
The Ranchers White is the counter part to the Ranchers Red, this is a white blend that is perfect for a hot summer day, the Thanksgiving turkey, Valentines or a spring break away from the winter. This wine is done in a nice dry European style.
CHARDONNAY
Our Chardonnay is a blend of Burgundy and America, Rich in vanilla and spice with a medium body. This is not your California buttery Chardonnay, this is Eastern Oregon at its finest!
DRY ROSÉ
This dry rosé is a blended rosé of Syrah and Tempranillo. tart and bright, this wine will transport you to the southern coast of France with each sip. This wine is always fantastic on the back patio during a hot summer afternoon!
PINOT NOIR
Our Pinot Noir fruit comes from Matteri Vineyard in the Yamhill Carlton AVA. For more than a decade our winemaker Travis installed and managed several vineyards just to the west of Portland Oregon in the heart of the Willamette Valley wine region. This work gave us access to some of the best fruit in the world. Travis makes the wine in a fruit forward style that reflects what true pinot noir is. Pinot is a lighter red that carries many flavors of the place it was grown. Travis carefully selects some of the finest French oak barrels from world renowned coopers and carefully integrates the toasted flavors of caramel, vanilla and oak into our pinot noirs. This wine has received a 92pt rating from Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
SYRAH
Our Syrah comes from Anderson Hill Vineyard right here in Baker County. Reminiscent of the Rhone Valley of France our Syrah carries lighter flavors of blueberry, and wild currents, mingle with spice and the wonderful flavors of the barrel make this Syrah one of a kind! This wine has received a 91pt rating from Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
TEMPRANILLO
Bold and beautiful our Tempranillo is grown right here in Baker County at Anderson Hill Vineyard. This Spanish clone thrives in our heat and develops rich dark cherry flavors and full silky tannins. This wine has received a 92pt rating from Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
KEATING RESERVE
The Keating Reserve showcases the Oregon Snake River AVA to perfection. Sourcing fruit from the highest vineyard in Oregon at 3,400ft the Keating Reserve is made in a traditional French field blend style. Then carefully aged in French oak for up to 3 years before finally being bottled. Blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah this wine is our biggest and boldest and 100% from our estate vineyard. Ready to drink on release, or cellar for decades this wine will leave you savoring every last drop. This wine has received a 90pt rating from Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
COPPER BELT RESERVE
The Copper Belt Reserve is our Boudreaux style red Made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and some Cabernet Franc. This wine has received a 91pt rating from Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
RANCHERS RED
The Ranchers Red is our house red blend, fit for any occasion and any meal this is our every day drinker. Smooth and subtle the Ranchers Red is one of our favorites and after tasting it, we hope it is one of yours!
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
The Copper Belt Cab is 100% grown and made in Baker County, the only Oregon Snake River AVA Cabernet Sauvignon produced! Lighter in style and very similar to Cabs found in Europe, the wine carries a delicate perfume of fruits and is enjoyable with or without food!
MERLOT
The Copper Belt Merlot is 100% grown and made in Baker County, the only Oregon Snake River AVA MERLOT produced! Full bodied with dark ripe fruit and smooth tannins, the wine has a wonderful aroma and is one of our favorites.
LATE HARVEST RIESLING 375ml
The Late Harvest Riesling is our sweet treat for the perfect dessert. Sourced from our estate vineyard in Keating Valley the Riesling carries with it a bright acidity and wonderful flavors of dried pineapple and pear.
DRY RIESLING
The dry Riesling is our favorite dry white. bright acidity and wonderful flavors of dried pineapple, come through on this "chardonnay" style dry white.
PORT STYLE WINE
This port style wine is our sweet dessert wine made with merlot and cabernet grapes and blended at the perfect sweetness with Glacier 45 Brandy. Barrel aged in a tawny style.
The Vineyards
Where we get our grapes!
Our grapes are grown right here in Baker County at some of the highest elevations in Oregon! Within the Snake River Valley AVA our wines are unlike anything you have ever tasted and will inspire! Our vineyards grow Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Tempranillo, Riesling, Chardonnay and Gewurztraminer. Our Pinot Noir is the only fruit we bring in from outside the area and is sourced from Matteri Vineyards in Yamhill Carlton AVA within the Willamette Valley. Matteri is a vineyard Travis established and cared for before founding Copper Belt and holds a special place in his heart..
Tasting Room
Copper Belt Tasting Room Downtown Baker City
A cozy space the downtown tasting room is directly across the street from the historic Geiser Grand Hotel on the corner of Washington and Main. We are open 7 days a week and offer a variety of wines to taste and purchase. Stop in and say hello to Sami Jo, Ann, or Mary, for a unique experience ask about private tasting and pairing opportunities.
1937 Main St.
Baker City, Oregon
Hours
Monday Closed
Tuesday 12-5pm
Wednesday 11-6pm
Thursday 11-6pm
Friday 11-6pm
Saturday 11-6pm
Sunday 12-5pm
Phone: 541-519-0949
The Cheese Fairy Cheese Shop
Upon stepping into our downtown tasting room you will be instantly transported away from the hustle and bustle of daily life! To accomplish this we have partnered up with The Cheese Fairy Cheese Shop. Located inside the Copper Belt Wines tasting room, the Cheese Fairy offers over 100 artisan cheeses from around the world. Cut to order, cheese plates or samples, The Cheese Fairy is a great neighbor, and; who doesn't enjoy cheese with their wine?
More information: The Cheese Fairy can be can be found on there Facebook page or website by clicking the link below!
Our Team
Travis Cook (winemaker)
TRAVIS IS OUR WINEMAKER. IN THE MID 1990's THROUGH NON OTHER THAN A CALLING FROM GOD AT THE AGE OF 12, TRAVIS DECIDED HE WAS GOING TO BECOME A WINEMAKER. IN 2004 WITH THE HELP OF HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS, HE STARTED PLANTING THE ESTATE VINEYARDS ON THE COOK RANCH EAST OF BAKER CITY. IN 2007 FOLLOWING HIS DREAMS TO WORK IN THE WINE INDUSTRY HE GRADUATED FROM OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY WITH A B.S. IN HORTICULTURE SCIENCES WITH AN OPTION IN VITICULTURE AND ENOLOGY. SHORTLY AFTER GRADUATION FROM OSU HE MARRIED THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE KRISTA AND STARTED WORKING FOR SPINDRIFT CELLARS AS THEIR VINEYARD MANAGER AND CELLAR ASSISTANT. ONE YEAR LATER HE MOVED HIS FOCUS TO THE NORTH WILLAMETTE VALLEY WHERE HE FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING AND MANAGING PREMIUM PINOT NOIR VINEYARDS IN YAMHILL COUNTY FOR ALMOST A DECADE BEFORE RETURNING TO BAKER COUNTY. TODAY HE FOCUSES ON MAKING WINE FOR COPPER BELT. TRAVIS CAN BE REACHED AT TRAVIS@COPPERBELTWINERY.COM
Michael Cook (Vineyard Manager
IN 1983 MICHAEL GRADUATED FROM OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY WITH A B.S. IN ANIMAL SCIENCES. HE SOON REALIZED THAT HIS CALLING WOULD BE MORE ON THE PLANT PRODUCTION SIDE THAN LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION SIDE. IN 1987 HE AND HIS WIFE CATHY ESTABLISHED EAGLE CAP NURSERY JUST OUTSIDE OF BAKER CITY. IN 2008 THEY SOLD THE NURSERY TO PURSUE EARLY RETIREMENT. AFTER TWO YEARS THEY DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD JOIN THEIR SON TRAVIS IN A NEW CAREER OF WINE-MAKING AND IN 2010 STARTED COPPER BELT WINES.
TODAY MICHAEL HAS MANY TITLES BUT HIS MOST IMPORTANT IS VINEYARD MANAGER FOR KEATING VINEYARD SERVICES, AS VINEYARD MANAGER MICHAEL HANDLES ALL OF THE DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS IN THE VINEYARDS THROUGHOUT BAKER COUNTY. MICHAEL CAN BE REACHED AT KEATINGVINEYARDS@GMAIL.COM
Cathy Cook (Hospitality)
AFTER MEETING HER HUSBAND AT OSU, SHE FOLLOWED HIM BACK TO EASTERN OREGON. AFTER HER SUCCESS IN MARKETING AND SALES WITH EAGLE CAP NURSERY SHE FOUND HER CALLING IN THE MARKETING AND SALES FOR COPPER BELT WINES. TODAY CATHY CAN OCCASIONALLY BE FOUND IN THE TASTING ROOM, BUT MOSTLY ENJOYS SPENDING TIME WITH THE GRAND KIDS. SHE HAS ALSO BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN OBTAINING THE PROPER CERTIFICATIONS, LICENSING AND DOCUMENTATIONS NEEDED FOR COPPER BELT TO OPERATE AS A WINERY. CATHY CAN BE REACHED AT CATHY@COPPERBELTWINERY.COM
Krista Cook (Office Manager & Tasting Room Operations)
Krista Cook (Office Manager & Tasting Room Operations)
WIFE OF TRAVIS COOK AND MOTHER TO NATHAN AND LEAH; KRISTA IS THE FAMILY VETERINARIAN GRADUATING IN 2009 FROM OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE WITH HER DVM. TODAY KRISTA HANDLES THE BOOK KEEPING AND IS THE OPERATIONS MANAGER OF THE TASTING ROOM. SHE ALSO HELPS OUT WITH HARVEST, BOTTLING, WINERY EVENTS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY THE KIDS.
KRISTA CAN BE CONTACTED AT:
KRISTA@COPPERBELTWINERY.COM
Mary Miller (Tasting Room Sales Associate)
Krista Cook (Office Manager & Tasting Room Operations)
MARY JOINS THE COPPER BELT TEAM WITH A LONG NURSING CAREER HELPING PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND ME GET BETTER! SHE HAS A GREAT PALATE, A LOVE FOR WINE AND DEDICATION TO SERVICE. MARY CAN BE FOUND AT THE TASTING ROOM FRIDAY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
