Welcome
Make Helvetia a Day Trip!
Sure, you've come by for Oregon's best burger and friendliest winery visitors' center. But there's a lot more to the village of Helvetia during the summer. Pile the gang into the car for a fun and easy day trip.
First stop is the Rice Museum of Rocks and Minerals. The museum boasts the largest opal-filled thunderegg in the world, crystallized gold bigger than your hand, dinosaur eggs and fossils, an extensive meteorite collection, and hundreds of other attractions. It's a great destination for adults and children. The Rice Museum has become nationally recognized as the finest rocks and minerals museum in the Pacific Northwest, and one of the best in the nation.
The museum facility (Richard and Helen Rice Residence) is listed on the National Historic Registry and recognized for its unique architectural style, as well as its use of natural stone on the interior and exterior, and the extraordinary woodwork throughout, all of native Oregon woods. The Rice Museum is located on Groveland Rd. about one mile west of the Helvetia Rd./Hwy. 26 interchange.
For another fine wine visit in the area, check out our neighbor, Garden Vineyards, off Phillips Rd. prior to Helvetia Tavern and then north on Dick Rd.. Stuart and Melinda Wilson have created a beautiful vineyard venue that is open during the summer for movies on Thursday night and a fine brunch on Sunday. Brunch requires a reservation made on their website or by phone at 503-547-9046
With a classically funky interior, gargantuan burgers ("the jumbo"), very friendly service and a great outdoor serving area, Helvetia Tavern is at the heart of Helvetia. No longer just Budweiser and Rainier, the "tav" also serves a variety of local brews. Check out the baseball hat collection (it's on the ceiling) and be prepared to shoot pool. Family friendly, too. Kids love it!
July 10th and 11th mark the Oregon Lavender Festival, a tribute to this lovely flowering herb. Restore calm and recharge your spirit in Helvetia at the Helvetia Lavender Farm next door to the winery, and also at Seasonal Mary Herb-Flower Farm and the Jackson School Lavender Farm.
Come late July, stop by Grossen's Peaches for a u-pick experience that can stretch your dollar and get you hungering for cobblers and pies. Varieties include Vivid, Red Haven, Veteran and Suncrest.Check season and hours here.
Past Helvetia Tavern, before the Helvetia Church and next door to Grossen's Peaches is Roloff Farms, home of the Roloff family pumpkin patch and the set for Little People, Big World.
After the S-turns on Helvetia and up Bishop Road just before Helvetia Winery is Pacific Crest Alpacas and Accoyo America, home of some of the finest breeding stock of the earth-friendly alpaca north of Peru. Pause as you drive past for a gander at the photogenic fluffies. If you want a more extended visit, visit, be sure to call first for an appointment.
Helvetia's 2009 Pinot Noir Rose Gets a Nod from the Oregon Wine Press
Our customers have always loved our Pinot Noir rose, but now the picky panel of judges at the Oregon Wine Press has named the Rose to its "Value" list this month. In the judges'words: "Once again, the Pinot Noir base has brought surprising flavor interest. Plum blossoms, wild roses, (as in flowers), hints of herb and green grass all lend themselves to an enjoyable overall taste experience. The only way to get this one is at the winery due north of Hillsboro." We have only 50 cases, so come on over. And while you're here, it's also time to taste two other new vintages: Our robust 2008 Pinot Noir is in the bottle as is the delightful 2009 Pinot Gris. Come taste and let us know what you think.