Oregon vineyard reopens with wine pods

To help protect people during their visit, Willamette Valley Vineyards has installed a set of wine pods at its estate, allowing guests to sip at a safe distance.

As reported by Oregon news channel Katu, Willamette Valley Vineyards reopened to the public last week with its new wine pods, which have also been used by restaurants around the world to allow for a warmer al fresco dining experience.

The pods can seat up to four people from the same household, and include heating and lighting. Each pod is deep cleaned and ventilated between each use and winery staff keep a safe distance from the pods while guests are inside.

The winery’s general manager, Spence Fogarty, thinks the wine pod trend is here to stay.

“It’s kind of added this cool element, especially at night when you see them up here with the backdrop of our tower and beautiful vineyard,” Fogarty told Katu.

“What’s nice is with them clear and open, you get to look out over our Pinot Noir vines and still feel like you’re in wine country,” he added.

The pods are priced at US$150 for a two-hour tasting session, which includes wine and food pairings.