About Wetzel Estate Winery (Chateau Bianca)
The Wetzel Family of Wines was established in 1990 and traces four generations of winemaking from Germany to Oregon. Its tasting room on Highway 22 west of Salem pours three labels, Wetzel Estate, Chateau Bianca and Opulent, from a vineyard in the Van Duzer Corridor that holds LIVE sustainability certification. The range runs wide for the Willamette Valley: Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay and Marechal Foch, plus small lots of sparkling wine, a ruby port, an ice-style dessert wine and a mulled wine.
The tasting room is open seven days a week from 10 am to 5 pm, closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. More than 20 wines rotate monthly, and the posted flight menu offers a White Flight and a Red Flight of five wines each for $20, waived with a three-bottle purchase. The September 2026 red flight, for example, included two older Pinot Noir Reserves from 2015 and 2016 alongside a Marechal Foch. Tastings can be reserved online, and unscheduled tastings are also offered.
There is no food service, but guests may bring a picnic to the patio, which has seasonal views and lawn games. Larger groups can arrange private tastings, food and wine pairing events and tours with advance notice, and the winery hosts dinners, parties and weddings.
JB Family Growers' lavender farm and flower market near Silverton is about 45 minutes east on Highway 22 through Salem, so a summer drive can link the two.
What to do
- Taste a five-wine White or Red Flight that changes monthly
- Compare older Pinot Noir Reserves with newer releases
- Try less common Oregon wines such as Marechal Foch and Gewürztraminer
- Bring a picnic and play lawn games on the patio
- Arrange a group pairing event or tour with advance notice
Season, hours and prices
- Season
- Open daily year-round except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day
- Hours
- Posted on their website (checked October 2026): daily 10 am–5 pm; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day
- Admission
- Flights $20 for five wines as posted in September 2026, waived with a three-bottle purchase
Good to know
- Age
- 21 or older to taste or drink alcohol
- Reservations
- Recommended online; unscheduled tastings also offered
Tips for your visit
- Pack a picnic, since no food is served
- Ask for the current month's flight menu, which rotates
- Give advance notice for group tastings or pairing events
- Plan a designated driver before heading out
Pair it with a lavender farm
JB Family Growers-Lavender Farm & Flower Market · about 45 minutes away
JB Family Growers near Silverton is about 45 minutes east on Highway 22, an easy link on a summer drive across the valley.
Getting there
Questions
Is Chateau Bianca the same as Wetzel Estate?
Yes. Chateau Bianca is one of the Wetzel Family of Wines labels poured at the Wetzel Estate tasting room on Highway 22.
How much is a tasting?
A five-wine flight is $20 as posted in September 2026, waived with a three-bottle purchase.
Can I bring a picnic?
Yes. Guests may picnic on the patio; there is no food service.
Checked in October 2026 against the business’s own website and local tourism pages. Hours and seasons change, so check with them before you go. How we check listings · Is this your business? Claim it free
