A long weekend in Newberg, heart of the Willamette Valley wine region, is an oenophile’s paradise. With six wineries within easy walking distance in a compact downtown, Newberg lets you park your car for a weekend and wander, wine and dine. Passionate wine enthusiasts share local lore with every pour, and you can stroll safely to the next flight. Here’s how to explore world-class wine on your own schedule, powered by your own two feet.
Day 1: Pairings, Shopping and an Art Walk
After winding your way to Newberg, 50 minutes southwest of Portland, relax with a flight at the Chehalem Winery Tasting Room. Their signature sips are single-vineyard pinot noirs, sourced from their trio of vineyards in three distinct growing regions of the Willamette Valley AVA. Look for their special events throughout the year.
Take a 10-minute walk to the Newbergundian Bistro for a lunch of coq au vin or a regional spin on a croque monsieur, then stroll the shops on East 1st Street. Little Bird Boutique curates active women’s clothing along with accessories and home goods. At Lineage, whimsical gifts and housewares complement the distinctive women’s clothing. For rugged vintage style — Pendleton plaids, logger boots and manual typewriters — check out Velour. Pulp and Circumstance on East 2nd fills a Victorian Cottage with cards, jewelry and gifts, along with old-fashioned bulk candy in the original house kitchen.
Punctuate your shopping with a stop at Et Fille Wines, which crafts elegantly complex wines from fruit sourced from four local AVAs. Co-founded by a father-daughter team, the winery is now helmed by daughter Jessica Mozeico, who is raising a third generation in the business. Consider booking an “Inspiration Tasting,” which pairs library wines with a cheese plate, customized to your interests. Afterward, splurge on the tasting menu at The Painted Lady for a gastronomic dinner adventure with optional wine pairings.
Time your Newberg visit for the First Friday Art Walk. Merchants and tasting rooms welcome visitors from 5-9 p.m. with wine and music. If it’s the third Friday of the month, pop into Social Goods, a family-friendly combination toy store, café, bottle shop and taphouse for their Jazz Jam, an evening jam session on their mezzanine overlooking the cafe.
Day 2: More Walkable Sips, Art and a Drive-In Movie
Fortify yourself with brunch at Ruddick/Wood (open Friday through Sunday), serving savory mains like chicory Caesar salad as well as standards like eggs Benedict. Walk a block to Artisanal Wine Cellars, both family-friendly and family-run. Kids are welcome at the tasting room, with books and crayons to keep busy as parents sip. A husband-and-wife winemaking team sources grapes from around the state, and their daughter runs the tasting room.
Have lunch at the Bite of Newberg food cart pod, serving great Filipino, Thai and Mexican food. If the weather’s nice, then browse the local art scene. Art Elements displays paintings, sculpture, jewelry and more; the owners also curate the art collection at The Allison Inn and Spa, just down the road. The Blue Trout Gallery is a tiny one-person show, and My Personal Framer deals in both art and framing. The Chehalem Cultural Center hosts a rotating visual art exhibit, as well as music, performances and classes.
Kick back at Longplay Wine, a casual tasting room with a record-store vibe. Their Chehalem Mountains vineyard predominantly supplies other makers, but they make small quantities for their own label, coaxing out the story of each vintage through their limited-production wines.
Dine around the corner at Recipe, where seasonal cuisine with French flair reflects the bounty of the region. Stroll to a movie at the historic Cameo Theatre, or if you’re up for a six-minute drive, enjoy a nostalgic evening with popcorn at 99W Drive-In, one of the last drive-in theaters in Oregon (with screenings from early May to late October).
Day 3: Brunch, Side Streets and Seafood to Go
Jory at The Allison Inn & Spa is worth a nine-minute drive for daily breakfast or weekend brunch. Check out the art and the beautiful property, then return to town for a southern Oregon flight in the vault at Cliff Creek Cellars, located in a historic bank building. This upper Rogue Valley winery emphasizes big reds made in traditional French style. Check out their occasional Sunday Soup Supper Series, pairing three soups with three wines.
Rosmarino, just four blocks away from Cliff Creek, is a traditional Italian osteria known for skillful wine pairing. After, pop across the street to Chapters Books and Coffee, which also houses Cream NorthWest, serving house-made ice cream.
Then take to the side streets, flanked with Victorians and craftsman cottages, for a walk to Anam Cara Cellars, where their pinots have a signature dusty elegance. The inviting interior doubles as an art gallery, and there’s patio seating when the weather’s fine. They host local winemakers in their tasting room on the second Saturday of each month.
Conclude your walking tour of Newberg at Bar Deux, under the same ownership as Recipe, for seasonal small plates in a warm bistro atmosphere, or walk up the street to Northwest Fresh Seafood for some fresh fish or shellfish to take home. On Thursdays, they host a seafood and wine event, partnering with a different winery each week to offer tastings and samples.
If You Go:
Consider planning your trip around two annual festivities: At Picnic in the Garden at the Hoover-Minthorn House Museum, the childhood home of President Herbert Hoover, local wineries offer tastings, glasses and bottles and food trucks sell a variety of fare. Taste of Newberg is a night market at the Chehalem Cultural Center, featuring Newberg wineries, beer and food vendors, and quality crafts.
Lodging options include the Victorian bed-and-breakfast at the 1906 University House of Newberg, and the private suites at Yamhill Flats, both within walking distance of downtown wineries and shops. A few miles from downtown, consider The Allison Inn & Spa, a deluxe full-service resort; Chehalem Ridge Bed & Breakfast, with sweeping views of the Willamette Valley; and Vineyard View Inn, where all rooms have a private patio or deck.
