Why should you visit Oregon’s Willamette Valley?
This blog post covers the best wineries in the Willamette Valley in Oregon State.
The Willamette Valley is the heart of Oregon wine country. It’s a beautiful region that produces excellent wines. In this blog post I’ll discuss the best Willamette Valley wineries for a wine tasting in 2024.
First I’ll explain general information to know before you visit the Willamette Valley such as its geography, accessibility, and grape varieties.
Then I’ll list the specific Willamette Valley wineries that offer an enjoyable wine tasting experience. Many of these wineries have a lovely tasting room indoors, a spacious patio outdoors, or a gorgeous panoramic view of vineyards. Sometimes, they have all three!
In this blog post I focus solely on conventional wineries. Conventional wineries may use chemicals while organic wineries do not. Both methods can produce exceptional wines.
What to know before you visit the Willamette Valley wine region
Where is Oregon’s Willamette Valley?
The Willamette Valley is located in Oregon State, within the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. This valley is a verdant, fruitful area hydrated by the Willamette River, which flows into the mighty Columbia River. The Willamette Valley contains Oregon’s three largest urban centers: Portland, Salem, and Eugene. Among all of the wonderful wine-growing regions in Oregon, the Willamette Valley is arguably the heart of Oregon wine country.
What is the Willamette Valley AVA?
The Willamette Valley AVA is an established wine-growing region with a specific geography and climate; it was established in 1983. Over the last forty years the large Willamette Valley area has been divided into smaller areas. Today the Willamette Valley AVA is comprised of eleven smaller AVAs: Chehalem Mountains AVA, Dundee Hills AVA, Eola-Amity Hills AVA, McMinnville AVA, Ribbon Ridge AVA, Van Duzer Corridor AVA, Yamhill-Carlton AVA, Lower Long Tom AVA, Tualatin Hills AVA, Laurelwood District AVA, and Mount Pisgah AVA.
The acronym “AVA” stands for “American Viticultural Area.” In the United States, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) manages the establishment of new AVAs and the modification of existing AVAs. According to the TTB, “An American Viticultural Area, or AVA, is a specific type of appellation of origin used on wine labels. An AVA is a delimited grape-growing region with specific geographic or climatic features that distinguish it from the surrounding regions and affect how grapes are grown.”
Which grape varieties are popular in the Willamette Valley?
It’s no secret that Willamette Valley wineries produce world-class Pinot noir. Although Willamette Valley Pinot noirs are considered classic Oregon wines, the area is also known for Pinot gris and Chardonnay. Other wine grapes such as Riesling, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot blanc, Sauvignon blanc (and many more varieties) contribute to the excellent reputation of Willamette Valley wines.
How do you access the Willamette Valley wine region?
Two commercial airports serve the Willamette Valley. There’s Portland International Airport (PDX) to the north and Eugene Airport (EUG) to the south. Portland Airport is about fifty miles from downtown McMinnville whereas Eugene Airport is eighty miles away. The Portland Airport is closer to downtown McMinnville and it also offers more flights and car rental companies. You must rent a car in order to explore the Willamette Valley wine region. I cannot stress this enough! All of the top Willamette Valley wineries are easily accessible by car.
When should you visit Willamette Valley vineyards?
Autumn is the best time of year to visit Willamette Valley vineyards. Fall means harvest season is in full swing, and Willamette Valley vineyards are buzzing with energy. But autumn is also the most popular season for wine tourism, which may mean long lines at restaurants or tasting rooms. Summer is the second best time of the year to visit. Summer in the Willamette Valley is ideal if you enjoy warm days full of wine tastings, live music, and plenty of outdoor seating.
But any time of year is a good time to drink wine! The Willamette Valley wine region is beautiful year-round thanks to its warm summers, moderate autumns, mild winters, and rainy springs. So long as you pack waterproof shoes and lots of layers you can traipse through vineyards any day.
Where should you stay?
The cutest towns in the Willamette Valley wine region are McMinnville, Newberg, and Dundee. Between these three towns I highly suggest you stay in McMinnville. We really enjoyed this stylish Airbnb, which was a quick walk to downtown McMinnville and the delightful bakery and jam shop Alchemist’s Jam. If you like fine dining visit Okta restaurant, which offers a tasting menu of delicious wine and food pairings in their beautiful dining room. If you’re looking for a luxury hotel, the Tributary Hotel in downtown McMinnville is an upscale Relais & Châteaux property.
The best Willamette Valley wineries for a wine tasting
These are the best Willamette Valley wineries for a wine tasting in 2024.
These wineries offer an attractive tasting room indoors, or a lovely patio outdoors, or a beautiful panoramic view of vineyards. Sometimes they have all three!
Willamette Valley wineries that offer lots of space and panoramic views are often the wineries founded in the 1960s, 1970s, or 1980s. These well-established wineries sometimes produce excellent wine and sometimes they produce wine that leaves something to be desired. Remember that longevity doesn’t equal quality. Also, taste is subjective.
One thing that’s not subjective is whether a wine is organic or not. Chemicals either touched the vineyard or they did not. That’s why I’ve split my list of Willamette Valley wineries into two groups: conventional wineries and organic wineries. Conventional wineries can use chemical products (such as pesticides) in the vineyard and additives (such as selected yeasts) in the wine cellar. Organic wineries are chemical-free. The wineries I’ve listed below produce conventional wine.
Adelsheim Vineyard
The Adelsheim family established their winery in 1971 in the Chehalem Mountains when the Oregon wine industry was getting started. Their family winery produces exemplary Willamette Valley Pinot Noirs.
Adelsheim boasts a nicely furnished tasting room. Their outdoor area overlooking vineyards is ideal for outdoor wine tastings on warm days. According to their website, reservations are recommended but walk-ins are allowed.
Archery Summit
Archery Summit produces mostly Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. They have a beautiful location in the Dundee Hills.
Archery Summit is open by appointment daily. They built a wine cave fifty feet below ground that serves as a members-only tasting room.
Argyle Winery
Argyle Winery is known for its sparkling wines, although they also produce Rosé, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir.
You can visit the Argyle Winery Tasting House in Dundee. Reservations are recommended for seated tastings and seating is first come, first served. You can enjoy a tasting or a glass of wine. They currently offer a flight of five sparkling wines called the “Best Oregon Bubbles Trail.”
Domaine Drouhin
The Oregon-based Domaine Drouhin is an offshoot of Maison Joseph Drouhin, based in Burgundy, France. Their clever tagline “French Soul, Oregon Soil,” shows how much they embrace their French roots. Domaine Drouhin is known for Pinot Noir.
The Domaine Drouhin tasting room is open for indoor and outdoor tastings by appointment only. The outdoor patio features expansive vineyard views.
Durant Vineyards Tasting Room
Durant is several businesses in one — it’s a wine tasting room, an olive oil mill, a garden nursery, and a Farm Shop. When you stop for a glass of wine you might as well pick up some olive oil too.
The Durant Vineyards Tasting Room has incredible views of Mount Hood and Mount Jefferson. Their Dundee Hills tasting room is open by reservation only.
Domaine Serene
Domaine Serene wines have received high scores from both the International Wine Report and JamesSuckling.com
The Domaine Serene tasting room is modeled after a Tuscan Villa. The Clubhouse at Domaine Serene includes multiple spaces including (but not limited to) a main tasting room, a cave, and a partially covered patio. Of course the patio features sweeping views of the valley.
Elk Cove Vineyards
Established during the 1970s, Elk Cove Vineyards was the first winery in what is now the Yamhill Carlton AVA. They specialize in both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
They offer seated tastings indoors in their spacious tasting room and outdoors on their large patio overlooking the vineyards. Reservations are preferred but they allow walk-ins.
Eyrie Vineyards
Eyrie Vineyards is known for pioneering Pinot Gris in the United States. Second generation winemaker Jason Lett leads the winery today.
Tastings are available by appointment only on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Gran Moraine
Gran Moraine produces Pinot Noir but they’re known for their Chardonnay. According to the Gran Moraine website, “the sun rises and sets with Chardonnay.”
Reservations are required to visit their tasting room.
Ken Wright Cellars
Ken Wright Cellars is a well-established winery that’s been around for 45 years. They produce three “tiers” of Pinot noir, which are meant to express specific microclimates, geology, and single vineyards.
Their tasting room is located in downtown Carlton.
King Estate
Founded in 1991 by the King family, King Estate is one of Oregon State’s largest wine producers. According to their website, between one-third to one-half of the grapes used to make King Estate Willamette Valley wines come from their estate-grown, certified Biodynamic fruit. They source any remaining wine grapes from other vineyards, which may or may not be biodynamic. King Estate is praised for its Pinot Gris.
Wine tastings are by reservation only.
Sokol Blosser
Sokol Blosser Winery is a family-run winery that planted their first vines in 1971.
There’s a beautiful wood-lined tasting room at Sokol Blosser and their patio offers plenty of outdoor seating. Their website states that reservations are required but walk-ins might be accommodated. They offer a special six-course tasting menu called “Farm & Forage.”
Stoller Family Estate
The Stoller Family Estate features a large patio, expansive lawn, and plenty of outdoor seating. This family farm turned estate vineyard produces award-winning wines. According to their website, Stoller winery was the first in the world to receive LEED Gold certification. This certification is awarded to buildings that are highly efficient, cost-saving, sustainably built, and environmentally friendly.
Reservations are recommended but not required at their Heritage Tasting Room. Visitors can choose between the Classic Flight and the Legacy Flight.
White Rose Estate
White Rose Estate offers panoramic views of the valley plus a quaint cabin for wine tasting.
Tastings are by appointment only.
Willamette Valley Vineyards
Founded in 1983, Willamette Valley Vineyards is one of Oregon’s largest producers.
Willamette Valley Vineyards has multiple tasting rooms across the Pacific Northwest. They have an Estate Tasting Room in Turner, OR as well as satellite locations across Oregon State in Dayton, Lake Oswego, Happy Valley, Bend, McMinnville, and Forest Grove.
WillaKenzie Estate
The WillaKenzie Estate features a large patio from which to enjoy its lovely views. They also have Pétanque courts.
In addition to the typical seated wine tastings, WillaKenzie also offers wine tours. The “Explore the Estate” tour allows guests to survey the estate vineyard from ATVs!
Youngberg Hill Inn & Winery
Youngberg Hill is both a winery and an inn. If you’re a fan of live music check out their “Summer Wine Wednesday Music Series,” which kicks off on June 5, 2024.
The Youngberg Hill tasting room is about a twelve minute drive from downtown McMinnville. Reservations are not required because they accept walk-ins.
Resources for additional information about Willamette Valley wineries
If you’re looking for more information on Willamette Valley wineries I suggest the following websites and publications:
- The Willamette Valley Wineries Association allows you to search for wineries by area, by AVA, or by variety.
- The Willamette Valley Visitors Association (WVVA) offers helpful guides for visitors like this list of the smaller AVAs that comprise the larger Willamette Valley AVA.
- The Oregon Wine website has a Tasting Room Directory map that pinpoints hundreds of Willamette Valley wineries.
- The Wine Enthusiast Magazine website has a wealth of knowledge.
- Food & Wine magazine
Similar wine regions to explore
Oregon wine destinations worth a trip
Hood River is a town best known for windsurfing and kiteboarding. But guess what – their wine is world-class too. Our list of Hood River wineries summarizes the best organic and biodynamic wineries in the area.
Ashland is another Oregon town worth a trip. Most people visit Ashland for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. But I’d argue the wineries are worth a trip too. Several Ashland wineries have gorgeous patios with great views of the nearby hills. One winery tasting room is located in central Ashland within walking distance of the theaters. It’s the perfect spot to sip some wine and discuss some plays.
Where to go in Napa Valley
In 2023 Time magazine named the Willamette Valley “the next Napa.” It makes sense. The Willamette Valley is Oregon’s most famous wine growing region. Much like Napa Valley is California’s most famous destination. But where should you go? We’ve got answers!
You should head straight to the heart of Napa. The town of Napa is awash with choices. You could stick to downtown Napa, where you could easily walk from one tasting room to the next. We’ve got a blog post that catalogues over two dozen downtown Napa wineries. But maybe you’d like to get out of town. We’ve also compiled a list of the best boutique Napa wineries that offer unique tasting experiences.
It takes about 12 minutes to drive from downtown Napa to Yountville. Yountville is known for great wine and fabulous food. It’d be a crime not to try both! Our list of the best Yountville wineries lists walkable wineries and drivable wineries.
