A holiday label catches the eye. A familiar football name turns up over the next door. A little farther along, there is a place to sit and let the afternoon slow down. The tasting rooms around Bend’s Old Mill and Box Factory each have a story beyond the bottle.
David Keyte’s December 2023 outing visits Evoke, Bledsoe Family Winery and Bend Wine Bar. Follow the stops for a look at the businesses, or use the route as an excuse to explore two of the town’s most inviting gathering districts.
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Evoke leaves room for a sense of humor
The Old Mill smokestacks frame the opening scene. Inside Evoke, holiday shopping takes a playful turn: David finds labels including Slay the Day and Fugly Sweater. The browsing is part of the entertainment. A gift can begin with a label that makes you laugh before you have read anything else on the bottle.
Evoke’s Bend tasting room is in the Old Mill District. Check the room’s current visiting information and food options, then leave some time for the riverfront and shops around it. The district offers plenty to enjoy whether or not tasting is part of your afternoon.
A Walla Walla story in the Box Factory
Bledsoe Family Winery brings a different connection to the next stop. David introduces the business through Drew Bledsoe, the former NFL quarterback, and the family’s Walla Walla roots. It is one of the pleasures of a small tasting room: the conversation can travel well beyond the place where you are sitting.
The Bend wine lounge is at 550 SW Industrial Way, Suite 198. Use the winery’s visitor page for current hours and reservation options. For a larger look around, the Box Factory directory helps you see what else is nearby.
A short walk to the next conversation
The last stop is Bend Wine Bar, where the film settles into the social side of the outing. David points out the paths between the Box Factory, Old Mill and downtown. Being able to pause along the way is much of the attraction.
Bend Wine Bar is at 550 SW Industrial Way, Suite 194, with Oregon and Washington wines and light bites. Its visitor page has the current menu and hours. Pick a place to sit, order what suits you and let the neighborhood become more than a few names on a map.
Give the walk equal billing
You can spend an afternoon here browsing shops, eating, talking and enjoying the river. Choose whichever stops appeal, and plan transportation ahead when drinking is part of the visit. There is no need to make every tasting room a required destination.
For a different take on the same area, follow our shopping and pizza outing. The brewery tour puts nonalcoholic choices at the center of the afternoon. Both are good reminders that the best part of going out is often the company you keep.
Explore the rest of Check It Out for more local visits.
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