Katrina (Trina) McAlexander is a third generation farmer, fermenter and nurse practitioner. She continues to build on the traditions her family started over 50 years ago at Mt. View Orchards, a 50-acre apple and pear farm nestled just north of Mt. Hood in the quaint town of Parkdale, Oregon. Mt. View Orchards continues to grow delicious, top-grade, environmentally sustainable fruit and is an important fruit grower in the Hood River Valley and Columbia Gorge region. Katrina cares deeply about growing fresh fruit for her community and with help from the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District Loan Program, has taken steps to broaden the scope of what the orchard has to offer.
In 2016 Trina planted a vineyard and began plans to open the Grateful Vineyard Tasting Room. The Grateful Vineyard opened Memorial Day weekend of 2019 as the very first winery/cidery in Mount Hood and the southernmost vineyard in the Columbia River Gorge. In keeping with their mission of creating a restorative place for people to come and be refreshed in the heart of the orchard, the tasting room allows visitors to sample both wine and cider and also serves as a beautiful and welcoming space for indoor events. In addition to its offering of Grateful Vineyard wine and cider from their own Golden Row label, the tasting room also offers artisanal pizzas featuring seasonal fruit and vegetables, farm fresh eggs and other local ingredients.
Trina identifies hospitality and generosity as two of the biggest core values of her family and their farm. Weaving together farming, fermentation and hospitality fills her life with joy and meaning and this is something she hopes to share with customers new and old.