OUR BLOG
Winter is Here! Events to Stay Warm and Festive this Winter Season
The hours of sunlight might be getting shorter, but activities are only picking up in the Willamette Valley. Fall and winter mark some of the most beautiful months to get the real Oregonian experience, and when the rains return, winemakers move their events indoors,...
Cubicle to CEO’s Ellen Yin on “Getting Visible”
Today we are excited to share with you our recent interview with Ellen Yin, the founder of “Cubicle to CEO” who just recently held one of her first larger-scale retreats here with us at The Independence. Read on to learn all about her amazing company, as well...
Spotlight on Brad Ford and his role in Willamette Valley’s newest AVA
If you’ve been wine tasting before, chances are you’ve heard the term “AVA” thrown around. But what exactly is an AVA, and how does it help indicate what kind of wine you’re about to drink? We have answers for you! AVA stands for American Viticulture Area, so...
A Willamette River Experience: Kayaking from The Independence Hotel to Emil Mark Lloyd Fishing Hole
Picture it: You find yourself at The Independence Hotel on a beautiful summer day. The sun is out, the river is glistening, Osprey dive for nearby fish and you have left your work commitments at home. While you love nearby winetasting and cycling around Independence,...
Spotlight with Eric Aebi: Program Chair for The Hospitality & Tourism School at Chemeketa
If you’re reading this, you probably already know that Oregon produces world-class wine, but did you know that just as much work and talent goes into presenting that wine to you? Picture your favorite wine right now, there’s a story to how you first heard of that...
![The [soil] Plot Thickens: Q & A with Leigh Bartholomew, Director of Viticulture for Results Partners, LLC.](https://theindependencehotel.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Soil-1080x602.png)
The [soil] Plot Thickens: Q & A with Leigh Bartholomew, Director of Viticulture for Results Partners, LLC.
Oregon wine country has several factors to thank for its world renowned Pinot Noir. From our rainy climate, to longer summer days and talented winemakers, it takes a perfect storm of various elements to produce what you sip at a tasting. But there is one factor...
Wine Country Spotlight: An Interview with Vicki Sowa
If we have learned anything over the last few years, it’s that life is precious and moments– if not seized –can pass us by. So let’s celebrate the here and now, the little victories as well as the big, and the small moments as well as the life changing ones. Well,...
Creatives Fellowship Spotlight: An interview with Amy Bleu
The Independence believes life is better with art, music, poetry and some creative spark! To do our part, we've started a “Creatives Fellowship” program which provides a place to stay for artists who want to get away and have a quiet space to work on their craft. From...
The Creatives Fellowship At The Independence Hotel: Spotlight with Belinda Carroll
If there’s anything we’ve all learned over the last couple of years, it’s the importance of the arts during times of transition and uncertainty. It can bring us peace in the chaos yet simultaneously challenge the status quo. But it has become an all too familiar...
Creatives Fellowship Spotlight: Dancer Ashleigh Bolling
Because we love the arts, we've invited artists and creatives to participate in a week-long stay and fellowship! Ashleigh Bolling, dancer and choreographer stayed at The Independence Hotel for one week to create a new dance video piece. Ashleigh spent Sunday through...
