Lucky for you, it’s very hard to go wrong with any wineries in the Salem area! Here are a few fun ones: Brooks Winery Brooks has a wonderful blend of elegant wines and a welcoming atmosphere. It’s an absolutely gorgeous space with great views of the Cascades and a fun outside area with picnic tables…
That’s a good question because several wineries cut back on their hours during the winter months. A few in that general area that should be open include: Stoller Vineyard Ponzi Vineyard Sokol Blosser Anne Amie Vineyard Argyle Winery Domaine Serene and Domaine Drouhin (both are across the street from each other) Soter Vineyards is available by…
There are several wineries south of Eugene that border each other — King Estate and Iris Vineyards are backdoor neighbors, and Chateau Lorane is also very close. I have heard anecdotally that you can walk from King Estate to Iris, and last year there was a 5K/10K trail run in the area that took the…
My top pick would be the Eugene area for cycling to wineries. You’ll find a higher concentration of wineries in the Dundee/Newberg area, but the roads are more highly trafficked with very minimal shoulders, and not as good for cyclists. In the Eugene area there are a couple of different routes that will take you…
Picking the best hotels, wineries and restaurants in the Willamette Valley is a little bit like picking a favorite child…they’re all so great it’s hard to pick just one. But I’ll do my best! Hotel: For the fanciest hotel near wineries, I’d have to say The Allison Inn & Spa in Newberg, Oregon. It’s a…
For the most concentrated wine tasting area, stay either in the Yamhill Valley (Newberg, Dundee and McMinnville area, where the majority of the Willamette Valley’s wineries can be found) or in Salem (easy access to the Eola-Amity Hills AVA). My go-to fun, budget-priced hotels in Yamhill Valley: McMenamin’s Hotel Oregon, a beautiful historic hotel in…
Dundee and McMinnville are beautiful areas! Most of the countryside directly surrounding Dundee and McMinnville is covered in vineyards, and some vineyards actually have hiking or walking trails. Here are a few to check out: Sokol Blosser, just outside Dundee: they have a guided vineyard hike you can sign up for. Winter’s Hill Vineyard, Dundee…
Both April and May are great times to visit wineries in the Willamette Valley, but if I had to pick I’d lean toward May because it’s Oregon Wine Month and many wineries are offering special events and tastings that they don’t offer at other times of the year. Depending on your preferences, you may or may not…
If I could predict when harvest would be, I’d be a rich man 😉 In all seriousness though, harvest typically happens sometime between September and October every year. The weather in spring and summer will have a huge impact on how the grapes ripen. Harvest time can also be one of the best times of…
King Estate and Left Coast Cellars are on the list. You should also check with Willamette Valley Vineyards as I believe they serve lunch regularly if not dinner as well. In Dundee you’ll find both Red Hills Market (just upstairs is Domaine Trouvere) which is a definite favorite. Also in Dundee is the Dundee Bistro,…
Here are a couple of companies in Portland to check out: Pedal Bike Tours Portland Bicycle Tours Each of them offer tours of the Willamette Valley via bike, and seem competitively priced. Also, if you’re interesting in planning your own bike ride, here’s a good article I found that gives some tips. The first tour…
There are many places I would recommend to you, though given your tight schedule, to explore one region in the valley might be your best bet. I would highly recommend checking out wineries in the Dundee Hills AVA, located near Dundee, OR (right on 99-W). My top picks would be: • White Rose – ask…
Mount Saint Helens is going to be pretty much out of the question. Due to the time you have available, the drive is too lengthy for you to enjoy yourself. Most of the visitor center’s don’t open until May 18th either and the dining options in the area are limited, to say the least. Mount…
Highway 101 runs along the entire Oregon coast, from Washington State to California. There are state parks worth visiting along the entire stretch. Especially scenic are the stretches between Cannon Beach and Manzanita on the North Coast, and near Coos Bay on the South Coast (especially Shore Acres State Park). If you’re also interested in…
In Portland proper you should definitely check out ENSO Winery. Also, Liner & Elsen Wines does some excellent tastings on the weekends in NW Portland. Safe travels and happy tasting!
Favorites: J.K. Carriere Wines, Trisaetum, Seven of Hearts Wine, Anderson Family, Ghost Hill and Vidon. I also recommend the Carlton Winemakers Studio, several small production labels: Brittan and Retour and, for a handy (albeit not to scale) map of everything, have her check this site.
You’re in luck! Even though Oregon is definitely famous for Pinot Noir, that is not to say that Cabernet is left out. Turn your attention to Southern Oregon Wine for a bounty of bold reds including Cab, Merlot, Tempranillo, Syrah, Zinfandel, and others. I really enjoy those by Troon Vineyard and Cliff Creek Cellars. Soléna…
If you’re looking for a guide/driver check with Ralph at Grape Escape out of Portland. or Byron who is based in Eugene at Grand Cru Wine Tours. I’ve met both of them when I worked in a tasting room myself, and would highly recommend them.
It’s typically too warm in Oregon, but there are producers with excellent late harvest/dessert wines. Try Trisaetum or Seven of Hearts Wine Here’s an article I wrote last year about Oregon dessert wines with other recommendations. Enjoy!
I’m a big fan of Liner & Elsen Wines shop in Northwest Portland
