WILLAMETTE VALLEY WINERIES in Oregon
More than 500 wineries in the Willamette Valley produce a plethora of excellent pinot noir, pinot gris, and riesling. But this region also grows hops and fresh produce galore (think hazelnuts, cherries, and olives, as well as grass seed and Christmas trees), offers fine dining, and also presents varied recreational opportunities. The 150-mile-long valley is surrounded by mountains on three sides–the Cascade Range to the east, the Oregon Coast Range to the west, and the Calapooya Mountains to the south, and the Willamette River flows through the entire length,
The valley runs runs from Eugene to Portland, but its heart is in the area immediately surrounding Salem in the Dundee Hills and is best seen along Highway 99 West. Beautiful at any time of year, it is stunning in fall when the grape leaves turn mustard-yellow and the trees burst into seasonal color. It was a Reserve Pinot Noir from Eyrie Vineyards in McMinnville that shocked the wine world in 1979 by placing in the top 10 of pinot noirs in a blind tasting at the Gault-Millau French Wine Olympiad in Paris.
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| colorful fall scenic of Willamette Valley in Oregon |
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| colorful pinot noir grapes on the vine in Willamette Valley in Oregon |
WINERIES
McMinnville
935 NE 10th Ave., (888) 472-5124, (503) 472-6315. Daily, Noon to 5pm. Tasting fee $10 & $20, waived with wine purchase.
It was the Eyrie Vineyards Reserve Pinot Noir that shocked the wine world by placing in the top 10 of pinot noirs in a blind tasting at the 1979 Gault-Millau French Wine Olympiad in Paris.
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| colorful pinot noir grapes on the vine at Eyrie Vineyards in McMinnville in Willamette Valley in Oregon |
Dundee Hills AVA
The lovely Dundee Hills AVA (Americn Viticulture Area) is the epicenter of Oregon’s acclaimed wine country, and its red volcanic soil produces particularly excellent pinot noir grapes and wines. The first vines were planted more than 50 years ago, and today the area is home to more than 50 vineyards and wineries. The streets in the one-stoplight town of Dundee are lined with tasting rooms, and it is known for having the area’s highest concentration of wine-tasting facilities.Coelho Winery tasting room
111 5th St., Amity, (503) 835-9305.
In informal surroundings, enjoy tasting single-vineyard Willamette Valley wines with a Portuguese flair.
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| interior of Coelho Winery tasting room in Amity in Willamette Valley in Oregon |
Domaine Serene
6555 NE Hilltop Lane, Dayton, (866) 864-6555, (503) 864-4600. Tasting W-M 11-4.
This 42-acre hilltop estate property produces exclusively pinot noir in their five-level, gravity-flow winery. A new state-of-the-art visitor center and tasting room, built in Old World style, offers a stellar experience, and food and wine pairing events are held in a cave-like subterranean warren of rooms. Sparkling wine and Chardonnay will soon be produced in Oregon’s first dedicated white winery, opening here in summer of 2018.
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| exterior of Domaine Serene in Dayton in Willamette Valley in Oregon |
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| cellar tasting room at Domaine Serene in Dayton in Willamette Valley in Oregon |
Dusky Goose
8355 NE Warren Rd., Dundee, (503) 857-5776.
This tiny little winery recently opened a fabulous new tasting room. It specializes in small production of great pinot noirs.
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| bottle of pinot noir at Dusky Goose in Dundee in Willamette Valley in Oregon |
Elk Cove Vineyards
27751 NW Olson Rd., Gaston, (877) ELK-COVE. Daily 10am-5pm.
The family of the winery owners has farmed in Oregon for five generations and has been growing pinot noir grapes for more than four decades. The wines are top-rated (I can attest to the deliciousness of the 2015, Willamette Valley, Estate Pinot Noir), and the tsting room has a view of the Coast Range Mountains.
Lady Hill Winery
8400 Champoeg Rd NE, St. Paul, (503) 678-1240.
Enjoy an elaborate tasting in a beautiful tasting room with a stellar view.
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| tasting room at Lady Hill Winery in St. Paul in Willamette Valley in Oregon |
Winter’s Hill
6451 NE Hilltop Ln., Dayton, (503) 864-4592. W-M 11am-5pm.
Part of a 150-acre farm with 35 acres of vineyards, this winery tasting rooms offers a stellar view and is known for its pinot noir, pinot gris, and pinot blanc.
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| tasting room at Winter's Hill in Dayton in Willamette Valley in Oregon |
OTHER
Red Ridge Farms
5510 NE Breyman Orchards Rd., Dayton, 503-864-8502.
Established in 2008, this family-owned destination is the first commercial olive mill in the Northwest. Oregon Olive Mill oils can be tasted in the the venue’s nursery and garden shop. It is interesting to sample the five varietals--Arbequina, Koroneiki, Frantoio, Tuscan, and Mission--to determine which is your own favorite. This pastoral spot also has expansive lavender fields and grows grapes for Durant Vineyards. An annual Lavender Extravaganza is held in July.
Two lodging accommodations are also available--a one-bedroom guest suite overlooking the valley and a two-bedroom Stoneycrest cottage, which overlooks Durant Vineyards. Both properties are available to rent by the night, weekend or week and feature full kitchens and breathtaking views.
Two lodging accommodations are also available--a one-bedroom guest suite overlooking the valley and a two-bedroom Stoneycrest cottage, which overlooks Durant Vineyards. Both properties are available to rent by the night, weekend or week and feature full kitchens and breathtaking views.
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| olive oil tasting bar at Red Ridge Farms in Dayton in Willamette Valley in Oregon |
Wheatland Ferry
$2.
The Willamette river has several cable-pulled car ferries. It is worth going out of your way to experience this one, but it very well might turn out to be on your way.
Willamette Valley Cheese Co.
8105 Wallace Rd. NW, (503) 399-9806, Salem. Tu-Sat 10-5.
The dairy cows here have been moved to another location but are still the source of fresh milk for more than 35 kinds of award-winning hand-crafted arisan cheeses.
More things to do in Oregon's Willamette Valley.
images ©2018 Carole Terwilliger Meyers
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| cheese tasting at Willamette Valley Cheese Co. in Salem in Willamette Valley in Oregon |
More things to do in Oregon's Willamette Valley.
More things to do along Highway 5 in Oregon.
images ©2018 Carole Terwilliger Meyers
Thanks for sharing this list of nine wineries that can be found in the Williamette Valley. We have discussed a trip to Oregon, and this adds one more good reason to plan it.
ReplyDeleteOregon is one of my favourite US states and I love a good winery tour. I like the idea of the car ferries too. Nothing like a slow trip across a river to put you in the mood for good food and drink.
ReplyDeleteWe haven't made it to the Williamette Valley yet but it looks like a great destination for wine lovers!
ReplyDeleteI was in the Willamette Valley last fall. It's such a beautiful part of the country. Looks like you went to some different wineries than I did. I really liked the Ponzi winery and just bought some bottles to give as a gift.
ReplyDeletePinot Noir is, by far, my favorite red wine and I would LOVE visiting all these Oregon wineries in the Willamette Valley! I will make it there eventually! Thanks for sharing...
ReplyDeleteDidn't know Williamette Valley is such a great wine region, known for pinot noir. My hubby loves all kinds of red wine and his son attended law school here!
ReplyDeleteWineries can be so much fun. I love walking through the vineyards, but have to admit I've never seen leaves as beautiful as those on the pinot noir grapevines!
ReplyDeleteThey were spectacularly gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteI was shocked to learn that there are more than 500 wineries in the Willamette Valley! I knew that Oregon and Washington state are producing some good wines. But I had no idea that the wine industry was so developed on the North Pacific Coast!
ReplyDeleteyes, indeedy.
DeleteFor anyone who enjoys wine and wineries, this would be a fantastic destination!! I had no idea there were that many wineries in the Willameete Valley in Oregon!
ReplyDeleteOuch! This brought on a pang of homesickness for the Pacific Northwest. Love this area of Oregon. The wine industry in Washington and Oregon has exploded in the last couple of decades, hasn't it!?
ReplyDelete