Things To Do in North Willamette Valley Wine Country
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North Willamette Valley Wine Country Attractions
You can see wine country from the air on a hot-air balloon ride with Vista Balloon Adventures (tel. 800/622-2309 or 503/625-7385; www.vistaballoon.com), which charges $189 per person for a 1-hour flight (that includes brunch at the end of the flight). Alternatively, between March and early November, you can opt for a flight over the region in a glider. Contact Cascade Soaring, McMinnville Airport (tel. 503/472-8805 or 503/864-3735; www.cascadesoaring.com), which offers a variety of flights ranging in duration from 15 to 45 minutes and in price from $60 to $200. Gliders carrying one or two passengers are used.
Seven miles south of Newberg off Ore. 219, on the banks of the Willamette River, is Champoeg State Park (pronounced "sham-poo-ee"; tel. 503/678-1251; www.oregon.gov/oprd/parks). The park includes a campground, a bike path, disc-golf course, picnic area, historic home, log cabin, and a visitor center that traces Champoeg's history from its days as a Native American village up through its pioneer farming days. Park admission is $3.
54 Results
- Winery/Brewery/Distillery
A to Z
Producing what they call "aristocratic wines at democratic prices," A to Z, which also owns Rex Hill Vineyards, is Oregon's largest producer of wine. Not only that, they produce some of the best-value wines in the state. If you're looking for deals, be sure to stop by this tasting… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Adelsheim Vineyard
If you're from out of state and you're at all familiar with Oregon pinot noir, you've probably had some Adelsheim wine. This winery has been around since the 1970s and consistently produces well-regarded pinots. The single-vineyard wines here are the standouts. If you'd like to tour… - Winery
Adelsheim Vineyard
This winery has been around since the 1970s and consistently produces well-regarded pinots. The single-vineyard wines here are the standouts. You can call ahead to arrange a tour ($25–$50). - Winery
Alexana
The wines at Alexana are made by Lynn Penner-Ash, one of Oregon’s top winemakers (her own winery is just a short drive away), and they are every bit as good as the wines from her own label. Pinot noirs include an estate bottling and a vintage from Shea, considered one of the best… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Amity Vineyards
Founded in 1974, this was one of the earliest wineries in Oregon and helped set the stage for the Willamette Valley becoming one of the world's top pinot noir-producing regions. Amity Vineyards is now one of the few wineries in the state producing gamay noir, and it also produces… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Anne Amie Vineyards
Set amid nearly 100 acres of vines and located high on a hill with one of the best views in the area, this winery has a large tasting room and does a few respectable white wines, which usually sell for less than $20. The winery also produces several vineyard-designate pinot noirs. - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Archery Summit
With big wines, a big winery, and a big reputation, Archery Summit is one of Oregon's premier producers of pinot noir. Only pinot noir is produced, and the grapes all come from Archery Summit's own vineyards. Wines are aged almost exclusively in new-oak barrels and spend time in some… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Argyle Winery
Located right on the highway in Dundee, this winery is best known for its sparkling wines and chardonnay but also produces pinot noir. Due to traffic congestion in Dundee, this winery is best visited when heading east on Ore. 99W. - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
August Cellars
This is the first winery you'll come to along Ore. 99W as you reach the Yamhill County wine country. The big winemaking facility here is just off the highway and is actually home to several small wineries. Stop by on a weekend to taste wines by some of the tenants here. - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Bella Vida Vineyard
This little winery in the Dundee Hills is unusual in that it hires three winemakers from other wineries to make pinot noir from its own estate-grown grapes. Each winemaker gives the wine a slightly different character. Bella Vida also produces a very enjoyable pinot gris-Riesling… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Bergstrom Wines
The wines produced by winemaker Josh Bergstrom are among the most lauded and sought after in Oregon, and they have the prices to prove it ($55-$75 for most bottles). The various vineyard-designate pinot noirs produced here showcase wines with intriguingly distinctive flavor profiles.… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Bethel Heights Vineyard
Set high on a hill and surrounded by more than 50 acres of grapes, Bethel Heights primarily produces chardonnays and pinot noirs. Most of their pinot noirs are in the $50 to $60 range, while their chardonnays, which can be very good, are around $25. - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Bishop Creek Cellars
Downtown Newberg is slowly awakening to its location in the middle of wine country, and Bishop Creek is a good place to start a walking tour of the area's tasting rooms. Expect to find several pinot noirs in the $28 to $40 range, plus pinot gris and occasionally some unusual red… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Cana's Feast Winery
Big reds are the specialty of this winery. Cabernet sauvignon, sangiovese, and Syrah all show up here, making this a distinctly different stop in this region of pinot noirs. If you like assertive red wines, don't miss this small winery. - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Chehalem
At this tasting room, on the edge of downtown Newberg, you can sample the wines of one of Oregon's most respected wineries. Reliable pinot noirs can be found here, as can good chardonnay, pinot gris, and pinot blanc (a less common white wine). You’ll also find Riesling and Grüner… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Cooper Mountain Vineyards
Now nearly surrounded by upscale suburbs, this mountaintop winery is one of the few in the state that uses only organic grapes. The pinot gris is moderately priced and can be quite good. Chardonnays, which go light on the oak, can also be good. Pinot noirs are decent, and for those… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Cristom Vineyards
With a beautiful setting high in the Eola Hills, this winery is an ideal place for a picnic. For every vintage, a wide range of pinot noirs, in a variety of styles and price ranges, is produced here. The estate chardonnay can be quite good and is usually priced around $25. Cristom is… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
David Hill Winery
This winery overlooks the forested foothills of the Coast Range and has its tasting room in a picturesque farmhouse. Here you'll usually find more than a dozen wines available for tasting. The sparkling wine and dessert wines (including a port) are particularly noteworthy. For the… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
De Ponte Cellars
This small winery, neighbor to acclaimed Archery Summit, produces pinot noir in a variety of prices, and these wines can be absolutely exquisite. This is also one of the only wineries in the state (and in the country, for that matter) that produces melon, a white wine that is made… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Dobbes Family Estate
This tasting room right in Dundee pours the wines of both Dobbes Family Estate and the affiliated Wine by Joe. These are both labels of winemaker Joe Dobbes, one of Oregon's top winemakers. The Dobbes Family label offers some superb, highly extracted pinot noirs and Syrahs, while the… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Domaine Drouhin Oregon
Years ago, when France first heard that Oregon wineries were making pinot noir, most French winemakers scoffed. Not Maison Joseph Drouhin of Burgundy; the family bought land in the Red Hills of Dundee and planted vines. Today the Burgundian-style wines of Domaine Drouhin Oregon are… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Domaine Serene
Located across the road from Domaine Drouhin Oregon, this is another of Oregon's top wineries, with an impressive winemaking facility and impressive prices to prove it. Great ratings from Wine Spectator have made these wines some of the most sought after in the state. Pinot noir,… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Elk Cove Vineyards
In business since 1974 and located in an idyllic setting in the hills above the community of Gaston, this is another of the state's larger wineries. Pinot noir and pinot gris make up the bulk of the wine produced here, and the Roosevelt pinot noir, although expensive, can be very… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Erath Winery
In business since 1972, Erath Vineyards, set high in the Red Hills of Dundee, was founded by Dick Erath, one of the pioneers of modern Oregon winemaking. A wide variety of wines is produced here, and you can usually sample 10 or more during your visit to the tasting room. Be sure to… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Fox Farm Wine Bar
Although primarily a tasting room for the wines of Fox Farm Vineyards, this little wine bar also pours wines from small wineries around the region. - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Kristin Hill Winery
"Méthode champenoise" sparkling wines are a specialty here and make this small family-run winery well worth a visit. The Fizzy Lizzy, a cherry-infused dry sparkling wine, is one of Kristin Hill's most popular wines. - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Lange Estate Winery & Vineyards
Superb pinot noirs are the hallmark of this small winery. The estate wines produced here are among the best pinot noirs in the state and tend to be priced from $40 to $60. Lange also produces a few wines (mostly pinot gris and chardonnay) in the $16 to $20 range. - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Lemelson Vineyards
This has long been one of my favorite Oregon wineries, and now that it has a tasting room, it is one of my favorite wineries to recommend to others. If you're lucky when you visit, you'll have an opportunity to sample several different pinot noirs from a couple of vintages. Grapes… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Montinore Vineyards
This is another of Oregon's big wineries, and as at several other of the state's large wineries, the wines are often somewhat lacking. White wines are the specialty, and prices are quite reasonable. The vineyard setting, with an old farmhouse that seems straight out of the antebellum… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Mystic Wines
This little winery on the north side of the Eola Hills bucks the Oregon pinot noir trend by producing excellent Syrah, zinfandel, cabernet sauvignon, and merlot with grapes that come from near the Oregon town of The Dalles, as well as from Washington state. Prices are mostly in the… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Oak Knoll Winery
Although the only grape they actually grow here is a Niagara, from which they make a fruity but very drinkable wine, Oak Knoll also purchases grapes from area vineyards. Many of the wines here sell for under $15, so if you're wine touring on a tight budget, be sure to stop here. Oak… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Panther Creek Cellars
To find out just how different pinot noirs from different vineyards can be, stop in at Panther Creek's facility in downtown McMinnville. In any given year, this winery produces four or more vineyard-designate pinot noirs, and some of these wines have been rated among the best in the… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Patton Valley Vineyard
Using only estate-grown grapes, this small winery produces exclusively pinot noir and usually has four different pinots to taste. My personal preference is West Block pinots, which can be decidedly different from this winery's East Block wines. The prices run from $20 to around $50,… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Penner-Ash Wine Cellars
Winemaker Lynn Penner-Ash has been on the Oregon wine scene for years, and her winery between Newberg and Yamhill is one of the more impressive wineries in the area. Set high on a hill with a stupendous view, it would be worth a visit even if Penner-Ash didn't produce such excellent… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Plum Hill Vineyards
If you've been looking for reasonably priced wine ($16 and under) or are a fan of white wines, be sure to check out this little family winery south of Forest Grove. - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Ponzi Tasting Room & Wine Bar
Ponzi Vineyards was one of the Oregon wine pioneers, and though it has its winery north of here near Beaverton, this tasting room and wine bar is a more convenient place to sample Ponzi wines. Expect excellent pinot gris and chardonnay, and be sure to sample the arneis, an Italian… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Ponzi Vineyards
Although Ponzi Tasting Room & Wine Bar on Ore. 99W in Dundee is more convenient for most people touring wine country, it is also possible to taste wines here at the winery. Although there are no views, the quiet setting and old shade trees make this a good spot for a picnic. - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Rex Hill Vineyards
Set amid mature vineyards on the outskirts of Newberg, Rex Hill is a good first stop in wine country. One of the oldest wineries in Oregon, Rex Hill focuses on higher end pinot noir, which can be outstanding. Also look for good and reasonably priced chardonnay and pinot gris. - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Shafer Vineyard Cellars
Small enough that the owners still work the tasting room but large enough to have a dozen or more wines available for tasting on any given day, this winery is strong on white wines, which it sells at very reasonable prices. Expect good Müller-Thurgaus and Gewürztraminers; Rieslings… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Sokol Blosser Winery
Another of the big Oregon wineries, Sokol Blosser sits high on the slopes above the west end of Dundee. Off-dry whites are a strong point here, and the Evolution, a blend of nine different grapes, shouldn't be missed. A walk-through showcase vineyard provides an opportunity to learn… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Soléna Cellars
Can you say inky? Highly extracted pinot noirs that look more like Syrah than pinot are the hallmark of this husband-and-wife winery. Along with that deep, dark color comes plenty of tannin, which means these are wines for your cellar. In addition to the usual Willamette Valley… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
St. Innocent Winery
This large and impressive winery produces very drinkable white wines as well as some excellent pinot noirs. The latter are made with grapes from some of the most prestigious vineyards in Oregon. It is also one of the few wineries in the state to produce sparkling wines. - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Stangeland Vineyards
With an attractive stone-walled tasting room, this small family-owned winery north of Salem is a good place to start a wine tour of the Eola Hills. Stangeland produces some excellent fruit-forward pinot noirs in a variety of price ranges and has won numerous national and… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Stoller Vineyards
This large, LEED-certified winery produces not only good chardonnay and pinot noir, but with an array of photovoltaic panels on the roof of the winery, it also produces electricity. The owners of this winery are also co-owners of Chehalem Winery, one of the most highly respected… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
The Eyrie Vineyards
This winery is the oldest producer of pinot noir in Oregon and was responsible for putting Oregon on the international wine map when its 1975 pinot noir won major competitions in France in 1979 and 1980. Pinot noirs here are done in a Burgundian style and are often held back for… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
The Four Graces
With vineyards that stretch up the hill from the highway and a tasting room in a little cottage, this winery is conveniently located and does an excellent job with pinot gris, pinot blanc, and pinot noir. White wines are under $20, while pinot noirs are in the $30 to $40 range. - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Torii Mor Winery
With the Japanese-inspired name (torii means "gate" in Japanese) and Japanese gardens outside the tasting room, you might expect this winery to produce sake, but Torii Mor actually produces some of the region's best pinot noirs. Expect to pay between $45 and $75 for one of this… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Trisaetum Vineyards
Few Willamette Valley wineries produce Riesling, but here at Trisaetum, it's one of the specialties. In any given vintage, the winery will produce several styles of Riesling, from dry to sweet. Good pinot noir is also produced. Try to get a look at the winery's impressive barrel… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Tyrus Evan/The Depot
Located in Carlton's old railroad depot and operated by the celebrated Ken Wright Cellars winery, Tyrus Evan specializes in bordeaux blends (here referred to as clarets) and Syrahs. These wines tend to be big and juicy, and the winery is a must for anyone who is not a fan of pinot… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Walnut City WineWorks
This winemaking facility near downtown McMinnville houses four separate wineries, and in the little tasting room, you can sample wines from all of these wineries. The best part of a stop here is that you'll be able to taste the different winemaking styles of the various winemakers… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Willakenzie Estate
Situated on a 400-acre estate above the Chehalem Valley, this winery produces primarily pinot noir, pinot gris, pinot blanc, and pinot meunier, plus a bit of chardonnay in its gravity-fed facility. There's a nice picnic area with good views. This is one of the prettiest spots in all… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Winderlea Vineyard & Winery
Set high in the Red Hills of Dundee, this winery is one of the newer players in the neighborhood, though the vineyard that surrounds the winery is one of the oldest in the area. The grapes from this vineyard are much coveted by area winemakers, and after tasting what Winderlea does… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Wine Works Oregon
This little wine-making facility near downtown McMinnville houses four separate wineries, and in the little tasting room, you can sample wines from all of these wineries. The best part of a stop here is that you'll be able to taste the different wine-making styles of the various… - Winery/Brewery/Distillery
Witness Tree Vineyard
Named for a tree used by surveyors in the 19th century, this unpretentious winery produces estate-grown chardonnays and pinot noirs. In a region of high-priced pinots, Witness Tree is noteworthy for offering very drinkable bottles at around $20 (though they also produce pricier…
More About North Willamette Valley Wine Country Attractions
North Willamette Valley Wine Country Shopping
The Willamette Valley wine country is not just about wine. It also produces quite a few other crops, and a tour of this region can include stops at a variety of interesting roadside stands and farms.
South of Hillsboro there is a wonderful grouping of farms in the community of Scholls. To reach this area, which is on the northern edge of wine country, take U.S. 26 west from Portland, go south on Ore. 217 and then take the Scholls Ferry Road (Ore. 210) exit and drive southwest for about 8 miles. Here you'll find the Hoffman Farms Store, 22242 SW Scholls Ferry Rd. (tel. 503/628-5418; www.hoffmanfarmsstore.com), where in the summer you can buy fresh berries. Across the road from this farm stand you'll find Oregon Heritage Farms, 22801 SW Scholls Ferry Rd. (tel. 503/628-2775), which sells apples and cider in the autumn months. During the summer -- peak season is the month of July -- you can pick your own berries at Rowell Brothers U-Pick, 24050 SW Scholls Ferry Rd. (tel. 503/628-0431; www.rowellbros.com). This farm also sells pre-picked berries. More berries, plus gourmet foods and lots more, can be found at Smith Berry Barn Farm and Garden Market, 24500 SW Scholls Ferry Rd. (tel. 503/628-2172; www.smithberrybarn.com). Across the street from this big red barn, you'll find the South Store Café, my favorite area lunch spot. Scholls Ferry Road becomes Hillsboro Highway (Ore. 219) at this point and leads over Chehalem Mountain to the heart of the wine country. A little ways up this road, you'll come to Mountainside Lavender Farm, 17805 SW Hillsboro Hwy. (tel. 503/936-6744; www.mountainsidelavender.com), where you can pick your own lavender during the summer. The little shop here sells lots of lavender products. In early July, this farm participates in the Oregon Lavender Festival.
Between Dundee and McMinnville, there are several other good places to stop. Firestone Farms, 18400 N. Ore. 99W, Dayton (tel. 503/864-2672), just west of Dundee, sells a wide selection of local produce, wines, and gourmet foods. For fresh local fruit, don't miss Sweet Oregon Berry Farm (tel. 503/864-2897), which is at the junction of Ore. 18 and Ore. 99W, between Dundee and Lafayette. Dried flowers, herbs, soaps, and other garden-related gifts can also be found at the beautiful Red Ridge Farms, 5510 NE Breyman Orchards Rd., Dayton (tel. 503/864-8502; www.redridgefarms.com), a nursery and gift shop high in the hills west of Dundee and near Domaine Drouhin Oregon and Domain Serene. Call for directions and hours. Red Ridge Farms is also home to the Oregon Olive Mill, which produces olive oil from olive trees growing here at the farm.
Southwest of McMinnville, off Ore. 18, you can buy fresh produce spring through fall at Farmer John's Produce & Nursery, 15000 SW Oldsville Rd., McMinnville (tel. 503/474-3514; www.farmerjohnsproduce.com). If you like chocolate, head to nearby Amity and stop in at the Brigittine Monastery, 23300 Walker Lane (tel. 503/835-8080; www.brigittine.org), which is known for its heavenly fudge. The fudge and truffles are for sale at the guest reception area, which is open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm and Sunday from 1 to 5pm.
On the western edge of wine country, 7 miles west of McMinnville near Sheridan, you can shop for art at the Lawrence Gallery, 19700 SW Ore. 18 (tel. 503/843-3633; www.lawrencegallery.net). This large art gallery features regional artists and has a sculpture garden and a water garden.
