01 The Vineyard
The hard way, on purpose.
Most vineyards irrigate. Sweet Cheeks doesn't. The forty-two acres of planted vines on this hillside are dry farmed — the roots go down after water instead of waiting for it, and what comes back up is fruit with something to say. The farming is organic in practice, the harvest is done by hand, and the whole vineyard is managed directly by the winemaker rather than handed off to a contractor.
That last part matters more than it sounds. Leo Gabica has been here since 2004 — the first person Dan Smith ever hired — which means the man deciding when to pick is the same man who decides what the wine becomes. There is no translation loss between the row and the barrel.
Dan planted the first vines in 1989. He was a commercial refrigeration guy with a hillside, a dream, and by his own account a fridge full of beer for the friends who helped. He named it Sweet Cheeks because, as he put it, "it's a name you'll never forget." He was right, and the family and crew who kept going after him have held onto the rest of it too: the DIY streak, the refusal to take the easy route, the sense that a winery ought to be a good time.
Sweet Cheeks practices organic farming, and we are a dry farmed vineyard. Our vineyard is hand harvested and directly managed by our winemaker, Leo Gabica.
Sweet Cheeks Winery — Visit Us FAQ
02 The Tasting Menu
Two flights, five pours each, poured at your table.
Every experience is hosted tableside by someone who works here, for up to two hours. Order a flight, a glass of the one you liked, or a bottle for the table — and stay for the view.
Discovery Flight
$24A welcoming introduction to the winery, featuring approachable favorites crafted for everyday enjoyment and easy exploration.
- 2025Sauvignon Blanc
- 2023Estate Pinot Gris
- 2025Pinot Noir Rosé
- 2023Triple Block Pinot Noir
- 2022Malbec
Winemaker's Flight
$36A deeper exploration of the Estate and Reserve wines, showcasing the artistry and intention behind the winemaking program.
- 2023Luminary Sparkling
- 202320th Anniversary Pinot Gris
- 2023Reserve Pinot Noir
- 2021Quail Run Vineyard Grenache
- 2023Fences Vineyard Cabernet SauvignonClub exclusive
Semi-sweet rosé
Enjoy the sweeter side of life with these perfectly-balanced wines. Are you Team Rosy or Team Riesling — or both?
Estate white
Bursting with bright aromatics and lively palates, each bottle is an experience waiting to happen.
Pinot Noir
From layered, expressive Pinot Noirs to robust, full-bodied varietals like Tempranillo, and everything in between.
Pinot Noir
From layered, expressive Pinot Noirs to robust, full-bodied varietals like Tempranillo, and everything in between.
— Food pairings
Mediterranean Board
$26Hummus, bruschetta, fresh & pickled vegetables, kalamata olives, served with artisan crackers.
Petite Cheese Plate
$26Artisan cheese, pistachios, dried cherries, preserve, served with artisan crackers.
Reserve Provisions Board
$38Two artisan cheeses, Marcona almonds, green apple, pickled asparagus, Castelvetrano olives, dried fruit, preserve, Dijon mustard, served with artisan crackers.
Holm Made Toffee
$10An Oregon artisan confectioner crafting traditional handmade batches using Oregon-grown hazelnuts. Espresso, Bourbon Brown Sugar, Pink Himalayan Sea Salt, or White Chocolate Raspberry.
Jr. Grazing Trio
$10Apple, goldfish and white cheddar cheese, served with a juice box — apple, orange or berry.
Other beverages
—Soda, local beer, Sweet Cheeks hard cider, non-alcoholic beer, juice and sparkling water. Outside alcohol isn't permitted.
03 Visiting
Everything you'd otherwise have to call and ask.
We're a working farm on a country road outside Eugene. Here's what that means for your visit.
Book a table
Reservations aren't required, but they're encouraged — especially for parties over six, on weekends, or if you'd like a shaded seat. Experiences are hosted tableside and walk-in space isn't guaranteed.
Groups & vineyard tours
Parties of ten or more, and any walk through the vines, are arranged in advance with the events team so we can build the right tour and tasting around your group.
Same-day & weather
Call the tasting room at ext. 1 for same-day availability. We're in the country, so heavy weather can affect the roads and our power — if in doubt, call ahead or check Facebook and Instagram.
Dogs, kids & picnics
Dogs are genuinely welcome — on leash and beside your table. So are children, seated with you. Bring a picnic if you like; we also sell cheese plates and snacks. No outside alcohol, and the property is strictly no-smoking and no-vaping.
04 A Year on Briggs Hill
What the hillside is doing when you visit.
A dry-farmed vineyard reads differently in every season — and the wine club releases are timed to follow it.
Bud break
The rows green up and the canopy starts to close. Cool, bright days on the patio and the valley still hazy in the mornings.
Veraison
The reds turn colour on the vine and the dry farming starts to show — roots down deep, no water but what the winter left. Long evenings, full patio.
Hand harvest
Every cluster is cut by hand and moved to the crush pad, with Leo calling the picks. Tractors and crews are working, so tours go by arrangement.
Pruning & rest
The vines are cut back and the cellar takes over. The Vista Room comes into its own — all-weather, warm, and still looking out over the whole hillside.
05 Weddings & Private Events
Two hundred people, one hillside, no rain plan needed.
Covered and open-air space for both the ceremony and the reception, an onsite coordinator, and the Willamette Valley doing the decorating.
Service
- Onsite venue coordinator
- Wine service staff
- 10+ varietal and bottling offerings
Ceremony
- Wedding arbor & ceremony chairs
- Private loft dressing suite with washroom
- Vineyard access for photographs
Reception
- Dance area with bistro lighting
- Tables, chairs and wine glassware
- Prep kitchen for your caterer
- Indoor & outdoor A/V outlets, wireless internet
“I always dreamed of getting married at Sweet Cheeks since my first visit. We aren't ‘wine people,’ but Sweet Cheeks wine is delightful; the views, staff, and atmosphere make it the perfect wedding venue.”
Lene & Lucas
“Norah's meticulousness to ensure our vision came to life made a world of difference, allowing us to just relax on our wedding day. Don't hesitate — book it.”
Amanda & Stephen
“Our conference banquet was a grand success. The staff provided excellent service and attention to detail in welcoming our attendees from around the world.”
Kanet K. · University of Oregon
06 The Wine Club
Three clubs, four releases, one hillside.
Every club ships in March, June, September and November — timed to the vineyard year — and every shipment can be customised to your palate before it goes out.
Vintage Club
The core selection across the range — a broad look at what the estate and partner vineyards produced this season.
Barrel Select Club
The Reserve and single-vineyard end of the cellar, including bottlings held back for members only — like the Fences Vineyard Cabernet.
Sweet Club
For the semi-sweet side of the house — Rosy Cheeks, Riesling and the rest of the easy-drinking range.
- Complimentary tastings for up to four guests per visit
- Complimentary reservations for groups up to six, any time
- 20% off all wine purchases (some exclusions apply)
- 30% off when you add three or more bottles to a release
- Complimentary ground shipping on six or more bottles (contiguous US)
- Access to limited and member-only bottlings
- Invitations to release parties and member events
- Loyalty points on every purchase — redeemable for wine, tours and experiences
07 The Family
Employee number one still calls the picks.
Leo Gabica grew up in the Philippines and came to Oregon building a new life for his family. He was the first person Dan Smith ever hired at Sweet Cheeks, and more than two decades later he still manages the vineyard directly and makes every wine that leaves the property.
Around him is a crew that mostly doesn't leave: a president and a general manager who've been here since 2004 and 2011, a cellar master since 2014, an events manager who's become the reason half the wedding reviews read the way they do.
Also on staff: Charlie, Barketing Director since 2016, and Barley, Head of Tail-Wagging since 2017. Both are extremely good at their jobs, and both are part of why yours is welcome here too.
08 The Property
Forty-two acres, from the air and from the patio.
Ten photographs of the place itself — the hillside, the tasting house, the barrel room, and the people who run it. Click any frame to open it full screen.
09 Find Us
27007 Briggs Hill Road
Twenty minutes west of Eugene, up a country road, with the whole Southern Willamette Valley below the patio.
- Address
- 27007 Briggs Hill Rd
Eugene, OR 97405
Open in Maps → - Tasting room
- Open daily 11:00am – 5:00pmClosed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve & Day, New Year's Eve & Day
- Phone
- 541-349-9463ext. 1 tasting room · ext. 4 tours & shipping · ext. 1007 events
- info@sweetcheekswinery.comEvents & weddings: events@sweetcheekswinery.com
- Reservations
- Book a table on Tock →Or call ext. 1 for same-day availability