From the Gorge to the Block:

Landmass Wines Opens in NE Portland

We’ve been riding with Landmass since before they had a forklift, a warehouse, or even a website.

Back when Malia Myers and Melaney Schmidt were still hustling out of borrowed space and labeling bottles by hand, we tasted their wine and knew instantly: these were folks doing something special.

The pair met in Los Angeles, bonded over wine, and eventually traded the Hollywood hustle for the rugged beauty of Oregon wine country. They landed in Dallas (Oregon, not Texas), working harvest at Illahe Vineyards, and it didn’t take long before they were all in, camping on the vineyard, getting grape juice in their boots, and soaking up every bit of knowledge they could. They launched Landmass in 2018, and while they started with humble means, they made big moves fast.

Malia and Melaney are both first-generation winemakers, both queer, and both deeply committed to creating space—not just for themselves, but for their community. That ethos led them to Cascade Locks, where they transformed an industrial warehouse on the edge of the Columbia River into a full-fledged winery and event space. Their wine club parties are the stuff of legend, a heady blend of disco balls, dogs, drag, and damn good wine.

We’ve carried Landmass since day one, and over the years they’ve become part of the extended Wellspent family. We’ve stocked their Grenache rosé ("Jolene," named for their hero Dolly Parton), poured their sparkling Brut at countless tastings, and cheered them on as they carved a path through an industry that isn’t always welcoming to outsiders.

There’s no pretense here, no gatekeeping. Just seriously good wine made by seriously good people.

And now they’re bringing the party to Portland.

This month, Landmass opened the doors to their brand new tasting room on NE Fremont—a bright, welcoming space that finally gives city folks a chance to drink in the magic without driving into the Gorge. It’s got the same laid-back, inclusive energy that defines everything Malia and Melaney do: a little bit punk, a little bit polished, and 100% joyful.

There’s no pretense here, no gatekeeping. Just seriously good wine made by seriously good people.

We’re thrilled to have their bottles on our shelves year round, thrilled to collaborate with them on seasonal releases, and even more thrilled to watch them thrive. Whether you’re sipping a crisp Chenin Blanc on their new patio or dancing with a glass of fizzy red at one of their infamous Pride parties out in Cascade Locks, one thing’s for sure—Landmass isn’t just making wine. They’re building something bigger.

Visit Landmass Wines' new tasting room at 4727 NE Fremont St., and find their current releases at Wellspent Market while they last.

Photo credit goes to @landmasswines, @moramorafarm, and Megan Eleanor Clark