Oktoberfest Celebration
Bryn Mawr Vineyards may carry a Welsh name, but behind it lies the Lauer family’s deep German roots. On Friday, September 25, the family will celebrate those roots with the return of its Oktoberfest celebration, inviting guests to the Eola-Amity Hills estate for an evening of wine, German-inspired food, beer and festive music.
The Lauer family will be fully decked out in lederhosen and dirndls for the occasion and encourages guests to break out their own festive attire. For co-founder Kathy Lauer, the celebration has a personal connection. She was raised in Frankenmuth, Michigan, widely known as “Michigan’s Little Bavaria” for its Bavarian-style architecture, festivals and German heritage. Bryn Mawr’s Oktoberfest brings a piece of that upbringing to the family’s Oregon vineyard.
Estate Chef Jonathan Jones will prepare a selection of German-inspired bites, with one plate included with each ticket. The culinary offerings will be paired with a wine list inspired by the famed wine regions of Germany and Austria, including Bryn Mawr’s expressive Riesling, alongside a spectrum of estate Pinot Noirs. Guests will be greeted with a welcome splash of Bubbles, either beer or sparkling wine. Wines will be available for purchase by the glass and bottle throughout the evening and this year, Santiam Brewing’s Edelweiss Hefeweizen beer will be on tap.
“Hosting Oktoberfest at Bryn Mawr gives us a chance to celebrate where our family comes from while sharing what we’ve built here in Oregon,” says Kathy Lauer. “There’s such a natural connection between the wines we love to make, particularly Riesling and Pinot Blanc, and the winemaking traditions of Germany and Austria. It’s a fun way to bring those pieces together and welcome people to the vineyard.”
About Bryn Mawr Vineyards
Founded in 2010 by Jon and Kathy Lauer, Bryn Mawr Vineyards is a family-owned and family-run estate in the Eola-Amity Hills of Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The winery crafts aromatic, structured wines of complexity and character, shaped by a precipitous volcanic landscape and guided by organic and regenerative farming practices. Since its founding, Winemaker and Vineyard Director Rachel Rose has led both vineyard and cellar with a playful yet precise, low-intervention approach, producing expressive, site-driven wines that reflect both place and personality. Bryn Mawr Vineyards is known for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, along with alternative varietals such as Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Tempranillo, and Dolcetto.
Bryn Mawr Vineyard’s tasting room offers a culinary program run by James Beard-nominated Chef Jonathan Jones, owner of the former Epilogue Kitchen in Salem, OR. In addition to the tasting room, Bryn Mawr Vineyards offers guests two unique, vineyard front lodging options, The View House and The Gate House, for overnight stays. Chef Jonathan Jones offers customizable private dining experiences for guests lodging at the vineyard.
Bryn Mawr Vineyards is open daily from 11am to 5pm, located at 5935 Bethel Heights Rd. NW, Salem, OR 97304. For more information or to book your stay at Bryn Mawr Vineyards, please visit www.brynmawrvineyards.com.
