The Willamette Valley, Oregon's leading wine region, has two-thirds of the state's wineries and vineyards and is home to more than 200 wineries. It has been recognized as one of the premier Pinot Noir producing areas in the world.
Oregon’s wine country runs from the Columbia River in Portlandsouth through Salem to the Calapooya Mountains outside Eugene. Named for the river that flows through it, the Willamette Valley has the largest concentration of wineries and vineyards in Oregon and includes six sub-appellations: Dundee Hills, Eola-Amity Hills, McMinnville, Ribbon Ridge, Yamhill-Carlton District and the recently approved Chehalem Mountains.
Exploring these appellations and all of their 200 + wineries can be daunting, but thankfully, there are a number of ways to go about it. From Portland, tourists can visit the Willamette Valley winery of their choice in anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours. Either by mapping out a driving loop with a picnic lunch in the trunk, or hiring a tour company to do the driving for you, or (better yet) finding a hotel or Bed and Breakfast to rest your weary head; the choices are endless.
Before you head out, it’s best to check with the wineries you would like to visit, to be sure that they are open to the public. Some only open their doors for special events, Memorial Day and Thanksgiving weekends, or during harvest time.
My wife and I plus, family and friends have toured the wine country many different ways. Most recently, we spent the night at a new boutique hotel called the Red Hills Inn. We left Lake Oswego at 7:00 pm and were sitting at the main floor wine bar by 8:30 pm., sampling various Pinots and planning our route for the next day's tour. This facility is self-contained with restaurants for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Many of the wine country tasting rooms are still very basic as compared to Napa Valley, for example. This is part of the appeal. You will not only sample world-class wines, but quickly understand that for the most part this industry is in its infancy in Oregon.
My best general recommendation is to allow time to see and taste at a few wineries the day of arrival in Dundee (less than an hour south of Portland ) as an example. There are many terrific tasting rooms within a few miles of Highway 99, the main road through Newberg, McMinnville and Dundee. The next day it is easy to see 3 to 5 great sites and finish the day at your hotel room. Agree on a designated driver or rent a limo for the best overall safe experience.
http://www.willamettewines.com
http://www.oregonwine.org
http://www.touroregonwines.com/
http://www.grapeescapetours.com
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