More than 100 people ventured Friday, June 21, to Echo Ridge Cellars in Echo to enjoy a catered meal and live music.
As people filled their stomachs with the Echo’s H&P Cafe’s dinner of macaroni and cheese, brisket and baked bean, James Dean Kindle & The Country Combo cranked out Western tunes in the winery’s Henrietta Station. Eventgoers also had the opportunity to try Echo Ridge Cellars’ new Berry Sangria and Lemon Lavender wine slushies.
With people lingering well past the 8 p.m. end time, Echo Ridge Cellars co-owner Berlyn Anderson said the evening went well.
“It was really good and very low-key,” she said. “Not a lot of dancing, but people just sat back, listened to music and visited.”
This was the second of three live music nights Echo Ridge Cellars features this summer. The Chrome Molly Band takes the stage for the final event Sept. 28. There is no admission charge for these events, just individual prices for food and drinks.
More than wine
Events are central to the winery’s business.
On June 22, Echo Ridge Cellars hosted a 50th wedding anniversary for a local couple. Then comes a benefit auction and dinner for Maddie Owen and Eleanor Marcum on June 29 at 5:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Echo Quarterback Club, all proceeds will go toward helping these local individuals cover medical and living expenses. Tickets are $30 per person and must be purchased ahead of time, either at Hermiston Glass or by calling 541-571-8006.
In addition, Echo Ridge features a catering group every Friday, 6-8 p.m., from April through September. Tacos Xavi will be at Echo Ridge Cellars on July 5, while Ye Olde Pizza Shoppe, Midway Bar and Grill and Xavis Street Dogs will make appearances later in the summer.
Henrietta Station also has hosted the winery’s annual Valentine’s Day dinner, the 2023 Echo Car Show concert and the 2024 Stanfield prom. Community groups such as the Echo Quarterback Club’s Fish Feed and Echo Heritage Association’s Oktoberfest also use the venue, but for no rental charge, as owners Kim and Jay Bales and their daughter Berlyn Anderson want to express their appreciation for all the support they have received.
“It means a lot for us to be part of this community,” Kim said. “People have treated us so well.”
Firethorn Vineyard, 5 miles out of town at 75049 Snow Road, also has been a popular site for weddings. The first was for Berlyn’s younger sister Rheana Hersey in 2018, and Kim said they average five to six weddings each summer.
Along with these activities, Echo Ridge Cellars partners with the Harvest Hosts program that enables members to stay overnight at participating venues for free. Having heard about this app from friends, they thought it would be interesting and have participated since 2017. For those looking for a longer stay, Echo Ridge Cellars recently opened an Airbnb on the adjacent southern property in May.
From grain to wine
Kim and Jay Bales had lived with their four children in Issaquah, Washington, where Jay owned and operated the SeaPort Construction Co. Soon after retiring in 2010, Jay decided to try his hand at winemaking and stumbled upon Echo’s 60-acre Firethorn Vineyard.
Joined by Kim and their oldest daughter Berlyn, the trio in 2012 purchased the vineyard as well as the old grain elevator sitting idly downtown at 551 N. Thielson St.
They moved to Echo and began the remodeling process in 2015, with a focus of preserving the historical identity of the nearly 80-year-old grain elevator. The family coordinated with Boxwood architect Joe Chancey of Seattle to reuse or display original materials, such as the carved initials lining the aged walls and glass panel floor that shows where grain used to be poured.
The silo behind the tasting room, which the Kilgore family of Condon gifted to the Bales, provided additional outdoor seating. The Bales received another gift, as the Echo Heritage Association donated four heaters and stoves to keep guests comfortable.
“The longer I’ve been here, the more I like it,” Berlyn said. “It’s just that the people are so nice. Everyone helps each other.”
Finally, by 2016, Echo Ridge Cellars was open for operation. Aside from a vineyard crew of six to eight, these three family members manned the whole business before hiring a full-time employee in 2022.
Kim and Berlyn mainly work in the winery, with Kim as the sales and events ambassador and Berlyn as the winery operations director, while Jay spends most of his time in the vineyard as the vineyards operations director. Taking care of their online presence was Berlyn’s younger sister Rheana Hersey, who designed their website from her home in Tacoma, Washington.
Kim and Berlyn said balancing work is one of the hardest parts of their job, especially because they do all the landscaping, cleaning, and work at the vineyard and winery.
“It’s been hard finding time for ourselves, balancing work with life,” Berlyn said.
However difficult and straining the job can be, they said they enjoy it. Their favorite aspects are flexibility and socializing with others — regulars and new customers. They also said working outside in the vineyard can be relaxing and refreshing.
And of course, they love wine.
