About Us
OUR STORY
WHO WE ARE
Copper Belt Winery is a small, family run winery located 25 miles east of Baker City Oregon in the Snake River Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA). Established in 2010 Copper Belt Wines source the grapes for the wines from their estate vineyards and two others near the winery in the Snake River Valley AVA; as well as vineyards from the Willamette Valley AVA . Our wines are small case production wines that reflect the same hand made wines that have been enjoyed throughout the ages. We make wines that are easy to enjoy from the moment you pop the cork that are age worthy yet approachable early on.
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 fall 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 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. 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 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 made his second wine, a Pinot Noir from Woodhall III Vineyard in the South Willamette Valley. The 2006 still remains to be one of Travis's finest creations. Every year he continues to improve on what he creates. 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 wine. Travis still makes delicious Pinot Noir, but also creates a white, our red blends and a Syrah and several others. To try any of our wines, stop in at our downtown Baker City tasting room any day of the week!
OUR WINES
SPARKLING (Call for availability)
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 ($20)
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 usually is done in a nice dry European style.
CHARDONNAY (call for availability)
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 ($20)
This dry rosé is a blended rosé that usually changes a little every year. our goal is to produce a French style dry rosé that reflects the region. this wine is always fantastic on the back patio during a hot summer afternoon!
PINOT NOIR ($28)
Our Pinot Noir fruit comes from some of the best vineyards in the Willamette Valley. For almost 10 years our winemaker Travis installed and managed several vineyards just to the west of Portland Oregon. 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.
RESERVE PINOT NOIR ($55)
Every Year our winemaker carefully selects the best barrels of our Pinot from the best vineyards to create our reserve barrel selections. The wine is then carefully aged in French oak for up to three years in order to achieve the right integration of flavors. Many years only one barrel makes the cut, so if you are lucky enough to get a bottle, you may want to hang on to it for a special occasion!
SYRAH ($26)
Our Syrah comes from a unique vineyard in the heart of the Columbia Valley. Situated on the banks of the Snake River, the fruit brings out flavors reminiscent of the Rhone Valley of France. Lighter flavors of blueberry, and wild currents, mingle with spice and the wonderful flavors of the barrel make this Syrah one of a kind!
TEMPRANILLO ($25)
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
KEATING RESERVE ($95)
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.
COPPER BELT RESERVE ($75)
The Copper Belt Reserve is our Snake River AVA Blend. It's our favorite barrel from each of the three Baker county vineyards and is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot.
RANCHERS RED ($20)
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 (call for availability)
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!
LATE HARVEST RIESLING ($20) 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.
BARREL AGED DRY RIESLING ($34)
The Barrel aged dry Riesling is our favorite dry white. bright acidity and wonderful flavors of dried pineapple, come through on this "chardonnay" style dry white.
The Vineyards
Where we get our grapes!
A majority of our grapes are grown right here in Baker County! Within the Snake River Valley AVA we source from three Vineyards including our Estate Vineyard in Keating Valley. Together they 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 the Yamhill Carlton AVA within the Willamette Valley.
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 Ina our tasting room manager Tuesday through Friday, or one of our other staff over the weekend.
1937 Main St.
Baker City, Oregon
Summer Hours April-December
Monday 11-5pm
Tuesday 11-5pm
Wednesday 11-5pm
Thursday 11-5pm
Friday 11-5pm
Saturday 11-5pm
Sunday 12-5pm
Winter Hours January-March (call ahead as we may close early on slow days)
Monday 11-5pm
Tuesday 11-5pm
Wednesday 11-5pm
Thursday 11-5pm
Friday 11-5pm
Saturday 11-5pm
Sunday 12-5pm
Phone: 541-519-0949
The Cheese Fairy Cheese Shop
The Cheese Fairy Cheese Shop is an artisan cheese shop located inside the Copper Belt Wines tasting room. The Cheese Fairy offers a variety of cheeses from around the world. Cut to order, cheese plates or samples, The Cheese Fairy is a great neighbor and who doesn't enjoy wine and cheese!
More information on The Cheese Fairy can be can be found on there Facebook page by clicking the link below!
Our Team
Travis Cook (winemaker)
Heather Hansen (Tasting Room Manager)
Heather Hansen (Tasting Room Manager)
TRAVIS IS OUR WINEMAKER, IN 2004 HE AND HIS FAMILY PLANTED 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 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 10 YEARS BEFORE RETURNING TO BAKER COUNTY. TODAY HE FOCUSES ON MAKING WINE FOR COPPER BELT. TRAVIS CAN BE REACHED AT TRAVIS@COPPERBELTWINERY.COM
Heather Hansen (Tasting Room Manager)
Heather Hansen (Tasting Room Manager)
Heather Hansen (Tasting Room Manager)
HEATHER IS OUR TASTING ROOM MANAGER AND CAN BE FOUND AT THE TASTING ROOM TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. HEATHER COMES TO US WITH A MIXED BACKGROUND IN HOSPITALITY, EVENTS AND MARKETING WITH A NEW PASSION ABOUT WINE. SHE KNOWS HER STUFF AND IS FUN TO HANG OUT WITH. STOP IN THE NEXT TIME YOU ARE IN TOWN AND SAY HI! YOU CAN CONTACT HEATHER AT: HEATHER@COPPERBELTWINERY.COM
Michael Cook (Vineyard Manager
Heather Hansen (Tasting Room Manager)
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)
Krista Cook (Office Manager & Tasting Room Operations)
Michael Cook (Vineyard Manager
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)
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)
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 SATURDAY, SUNDAY AND MONDAY
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