On a spring weekend getaway to Hood River several years ago, my husband and I, along with friends, happened upon Marchesi Vineyards & Winery. We noticed the friendly atmosphere immediately. The tasting room with its numerous seating areas, both inside and out, felt like home. Tableside service started with a light Bianco wine and an antipasto board with soppressata, pecorino and bread. We lingered there most of the afternoon.

Winemaker Franco Marchesi comes from Borgosesia in Piedmont, Italy, and his Italian-style wines — crafted from Columbia Valley and Columbia Gorge grapes — are friendly on the palate and pocketbook. “My philosophy is that it’s important to sell wine at competitive prices because we feel wine is to go with food and should not exceed the price of a meal,” he said. “We also keep our wine prices reasonable because we want to share them with family and friends,” his wife, Sandy, added.