Pinot fans will need no introduction to the Willamette Valley -- a "V" shaped region extending south of the Oregon-Washington border near Portland to the city of Eugene in the south. The area is 100-miles long, 60-miles wide and more importantly, home to more than 200 wineries and a multitude of wine shops.
The region is split into zones centering on Yamhill County and Washington County and touring the area is a must for aficionados of fine wines and beautiful countryside. You can certainly tour the Willamette on your own, choose a designated driver and hope that they stick to the plan, but alternatively there are several tours that will give you best of the region without forcing you to get behind the wheel.
Perhaps it is divine intervention that someone named James Merlot is a personal chauffeur and guide for Willamette Tours (tel. 877/868-7295; www.willamettetours.com). These tours are private and can be tailored to suit your tasting needs. Depending on the size of your group, you'll be traveling in style in a town car, luxury van or coach. The five-hour Deluxe Wine Tour starts from $175 per person for a minimum of two passengers. As the number of participants goes up, the price per person goes down -- so three to four people pay $150, five to six pay $125 etc. For ten people or more, the cost is $100. The tour includes visits to several wineries (prestigious estates as well as small family wineries), a deli lunch, tasting fees, a tour gift and as a nice added touch, a free CD of photos taken of your group by the guide during your tour.
For a bird's eye view of the Willamette, try a balloon adventure. Vista Balloon (tel. 800/622-2309; www.vistaballoon.com) trips depart a half-hour before dawn from Newberg just south of Portland. Flights are about an hour, but the entire experience takes approximately three hours, concluding with the balloonist's traditional sparkling brunch and complimentary flight souvenir. Each balloon accommodates six to ten passengers and the trip is priced at $189 per person or $170 per person for a group of four or more. The balloon season runs from April 1 to October.
Grape Escape Winery Tours (tel. 503/283-3380; www.grapeescapetours.com) has personalized tours for two people including its Tour & Taste Package which features lodging for two in a queen European-style room at the beautiful Hotel Oregon in McMinnville (the heart of Oregon wine country), transportation to select wineries with Grape Escape Winery Tours, sampling and tours at each winery, a glass of Edgefield wine served in Hotel Oregon's Cellar Bar, dinner in McMenamin's Pub and breakfast the following morning. Guests must be 21 and over. This tour is available on May 12, June 9, July 21, August 18, September 22, October 20, November 17 and December 8, 2007 for $248 to $261 per couple. A similar package is available staying at McMenamin's stunning Grand Lodge (a converted 1920's Masonic Lodge) in Forest Grove with the same wine touring plus dinner in the Ironwork Grill or Yardhouse Pub and breakfast the following morning. This package is available May 20, June 17, July 15, August 26, September 16, October 14, November 25 and December 16, 2007 from $239 per couple.
Eco Tours of Oregon Day Tours (tel. 888/TOURS-33; www.ecotours-of-oregon.com) offers a Winery Tour in the Oregon Countryside which features visits to at least four wineries and a step-by-step tour of the wine-making process. This full-day tour is priced from $55 per person and starts with a pick-up service from your hotel in Portland before journeying to Yamhill and Washington county -- producers of a majority of Oregon's famous Pinot Noir. Depending on the season, wineries often include Rex Hill Vineyards, Sokol-Blosser Winery, Ponzi Vineyards, Erath Winery (Oregon's largest producer of Pinot Noir), the family owned Lange Winery and the Australian-owned Argyle Vineyards. The tour may also visit the Amity and Carlton areas plus other options include lunch at a local restaurant or picnic spot (additional), stops at local fruit and produce stands (Willamette is known for its hazelnuts and berries), visits to antique stores and local art galleries, bird watching in the surrounding wetlands and historic landmarks. Most wineries may have small charges (from $1 to $5) for tastings while some others may not.
My Chauffeur Wine Tours (tel. 877/692-4283; www.winetouroregon.com) has a selection of day tours of varying length -- from four hours to a full-day and prices are generally based on four to five people in a group. Tours visit vineyards in Yamhill County, Washington County and the Columbia River Gorge. They also offer a special Winery Tour for Two which is priced at $335 for a six-hour tour and features a chauffeur/tour guide, complete tour planning, complimentary beverages, a Town Car sedan, visits to three to six wineries and no travel date or time limitations. Lunches and winery tasting fees are additional. For major holidays (Memorial and Thanksgiving Day weekends for example) add 20%. Pick-up location charges of 10-25% apply outside of the Portland city limits, and add $79 for a stretch limousine. For the above-mentioned larger groups, a four hour tour is $59 per person, six-hours is $69 and eight-hours is $79 (plus 20% chauffeur gratuity). Their Lodging, Dinner & Tour Package includes one-way pick-up service from Portland, overnight accommodations and breakfast at the A'Tuscan Estate Bed & Breakfast in downtown McMinnville, a complete limousine wine tour visiting four to six local wineries, and dinner at either Bistro Maison or the A'Tuscan Estate B&B with renowned French chef Jacque Rolland. A facility tour at one of the wineries is an option. For one couple, this package is priced at $622 for one couple, $841 for two couples or $1253 for three couples. This package is available throughout the year with a nominal surcharge for holidays.
There are dozens of accommodation options ranging from campgrounds to bed and breakfasts, located throughout the Willamette or you can opt to stay in Portland or Eugene. Two properties mentioned briefly above -- The Grand Lodge (tel. 877/992-9533; www.thegrandlodge.com) in Forest Grove and Hotel Oregon (tel. 888/472-8427; www.hoteloregon.com) in McMinnville are particularly inviting historic sister hotels with room rates starting at $50 per night with shared bathroom and suites available from as low as $140 per night.
For more information to help you plan your Willamette Valley getaway visit www.countrysideofportland.com and www.willamettewines.com.
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