In 2007, Hope Kramer and Danielle French became co-owners of Urban Decanter, introducing visitors and locals alike to Oregon’s exceptional wineries, winemakers, and handcrafted wines. Through the years, Hope has watched Oregon’s wine industry flourish while building lasting relationships with wineries, growers, and guests from across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

Today, she’s channeling that same passion into an exciting new venture that reimagines how people experience Oregon wine country.

Her vision is simple: pair Oregon’s spectacular outdoor landscapes with thoughtfully curated wine experiences that invite people to slow down, connect, and discover the region in a whole new way.

Instead of spending the day driving from tasting room to tasting room, guests are invited to experience an all-inclusive adventure every month. Imagine kayaking across a peaceful lake before enjoying a locally prepared meal and a guided wine tasting. Picture a scenic hike followed by a beautifully curated picnic featuring Loch wines. Every experience is intentionally designed so guests can simply arrive, relax, and enjoy.

“It’s about creating an experience,” Hope says. “Anyone can pack a bottle of wine for a picnic. We wanted to create something where everything is taken care of so people can relax, connect, and experience Oregon in a completely different way.”

The idea began close to home.

After living near Henry Hagg Lake for nearly three decades, Hope found herself seeing the area differently. The lake, nestled within Scoggins Valley Park southwest of Forest Grove, is already a favorite destination for boating, hiking, fishing, paddling, cycling, and family recreation. Yet she saw something more, a place where Oregon’s outdoor beauty and wine culture could come together in an entirely new way.

“There are so many incredible places that people drive past every day,” Hope said. “I started asking myself, ‘What if we could create something truly special here?'”

That question sparked a much bigger vision.

Across Oregon, travelers are increasingly looking for meaningful experiences instead of traditional sightseeing. They want authentic connections, memorable moments, and opportunities to immerse themselves in the places they visit. Hope believes Washington County offers exactly that.

The region’s forests, lakes, vineyards, farms, and small towns create the perfect backdrop for experiences that combine adventure, hospitality, and Oregon wine.

What makes Hope’s concept unique is that every detail is thoughtfully planned. Guests don’t have to coordinate reservations, pack meals, or decide which winery to visit next. The experience is seamless, with food, wine, logistics, and nonalcoholic beverage options carefully arranged so everyone can enjoy the day.

It’s a fresh approach to tourism that reflects how people are choosing to travel today.

The Forest Grove Cornelius Chamber of Commerce sees tremendous potential in the concept.

“We’ve always known this region offers so much more than incredible wineries,” said Claudia Yakos, Executive Director of the Forest Grove Cornelius Chamber of Commerce. “We have lakes, trails, forests, farms, parks, and breathtaking landscapes. When you combine those outdoor experiences with our local wine industry, outstanding food, and welcoming hospitality, you’re creating something uniquely Oregon.”

The Chamber plans to highlight Hope’s vision through Discover Forest Grove while sharing the story with regional tourism partners and media outlets as another example of the innovation happening within Washington County’s visitor economy.

For Hope, this venture isn’t about leaving behind what she’s built over the past nineteen years.

It’s the natural evolution of it.

Since 2007, she has helped thousands of people discover Oregon wine. Today, she’s inviting them to discover the landscapes, communities, and outdoor experiences complemented by her winery, Loch, while showcasing the very best of Oregon’s wine country.

It’s a reminder that wine country isn’t defined only by vineyards or tasting rooms.

Sometimes it’s found on a paddle across a quiet lake, a walk beneath towering trees, a picnic overlooking rolling hills, or an evening spent with friends watching the sun set over the foothills of western Washington County.

For Hope Kramer, that’s the future of Oregon wine tourism.

And for Forest Grove, it may be the beginning of an entirely new way to experience everything this remarkable region has to offer.

– Claudia Yakos, Executive Director, FGC Chamber of Commerce