You don’t need to stray far from Portland to get a taste of Oregon’s wine country: Simply head west to Tualatin Valley, where you’ll find rolling hills dotted with exquisite wineries, beautiful farms and woodlands, and plenty of restaurants and gastropubs where you can indulge in tasty Northwest fare.
If you’re looking for a particularly immersive introduction to this fun and family-friendly region (or if you just really love rosé), don’t miss the second-annual Pink! Rosé Festival on May 21, 2023, where you can rub shoulders with local winemakers while sipping on some of the finest in the valley. Or follow this two-night itinerary to make the most of your wine-country getaway any time of year.
Day 1: Sample Small-Batch Pinot and Unwind in a Soaking Pool
Start your wine country getaway with a visit to Sidereus Vineyard & Winery in the Laurelwood District of the Chehalem Mountains. This boutique winery makes small-batch wines that represent the characteristics of the terroirs in which they are grown, without heavy intervention from humans. The winery’s casual, comfortable tasting house in Cornelius is a great place to familiarize yourself with many of the wines that Tualatin Valley has to offer, including pinot noir, chardonnay and riesling. While reservations aren’t required, they’re encouraged (particularly on weekends).
After your tasting, check into Hillsboro’s brand-new CedarTree Hotel, which draws inspiration from Japanese design and hospitality. Interiors are sleek and simple, with neutral color schemes and soothingly minimalist decor. Amenities include a sake bar — Kiyomizu, which means “pure water” — as well as indoor and outdoor hot soaking pools that invoke Japan’s onsen (hot springs) traditions.
For dinner head to the nearby ABV Public House, where you’ll find a hearty menu of elevated pub fare — think burgers, pretzels and pickle chips — plus wine, cider and dozens of craft beers on tap. Make sure to check out the on-site bottle shop, which offers a selection of over 800 types of beer and mead. If you see something you’ve got to try, you can sip it with your meal or bring it home for a nightcap.
Day 2: Hike Through the Woods and Sip Rosé
Begin your day with a light breakfast at Insomnia Coffee Company in historic downtown Hillsboro. You’ll find all the usual espresso-drink suspects on the menu as well as an unusually large selection of mochas, from Aztec mochas enriched with cinnamon to Black Forest mochas, which add berries to the mix. Pair your choice with a scone or a croissant, or opt for a savory breakfast sandwich made with flaky biscuits instead of English muffins.
Spend the rest of the morning experiencing Tualatin Valley’s natural beauty at Noble Woods Park, a 10-minute drive east of downtown Hillsboro. Spread over 38 acres, this forested park is an ideal spot to take a long walk, with a network of interconnected trails — many of which are paved — that meander through the woods. The park is popular among birders, and sightings of Vaux’s swifts, tundra swans and European starlings are common.
For lunch make your way over to Bethany Public House in Beaverton, known for its long tap list featuring nearly two dozen craft brews from across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. The food menu is equally extensive, with classic pub snacks plus Italian American favorites such as chicken Parmesan, pizza and panna cotta.
In the afternoon, head to Eagles Nest Reserve, located between Tualatin Valley and the Tualatin Mountains. This winery takes a stewardship-based approach to viticulture, avoiding practices such as irrigation and soil disruption to maintain the integrity of the land and the ecosystem in which it exists. This same ethos extends to the wines, which are unfiltered and naturally fermented. Don’t miss the barrel-aged rosés of pinot noir. Reservations aren’t required, but it’s wise to call ahead to check current opening times.
For dinner head up to Amaterra Winery, a gorgeous winery and restaurant perched on a wooded hillside in Portland’s West Hills. Choose a prix-fixe pairing menu that showcases the best of Pacific Northwest food and wine, or order from the a-la-carte menu, which features local fare such as pan-roasted salmon and risotto cooked with locally sourced mushrooms. If the weather permits, opt for a table on Amaterra’s outdoor terrace and take in fantastic views of the Willamette Valley while you dine. While reservations aren’t required, they are a good idea, particularly on weekends. Note that you’ll need to pay a one-time $25 membership fee, which can be applied to a purchase of two or more bottles of wine.
Day 3: Enjoy a Farmhouse Brunch and a Walk Among Flowers
Wrap up your wine weekend with a leisurely brunch at Cornell Farm Cafe in Portland’s West Hills, which occupies a converted 1926 farmhouse on a family-owned farm. There’s plenty to choose from, from bacon and eggs served with buttermilk biscuits to chai-infused oatmeal made with steel-cut oats from Oregon’s own Bob’s Red Mill. Come for the food and stay for the blooms: Cornell Farm’s nursery is one of the best places in the region to pick up plants, from Northwest native plants such as yellow-flowered clasping arnica to colorful, fragrant roses.
