Willamette Valley might be my favorite place to wine taste. I have always joked that I will get married in Oregon to be the black sheep because my mother and sister were married around Sonoma, CA. I was introduced to Willamette from the old Somm at Coltivare in Houston, TX after I butchered the city's pronunciation. I have never forgotten how to say it, nor have I forgotten how delicious their pinot noir is. My two favorite types of wine are pinot noir and chardonnay. All you chardonnay haters out there, before you hate on chardonnay, give Oregon Chardonnays a chance!
Tips: Willamette is pronounced will-am-it, it rhymes with damn-it! Ubers are hard to grab, hire a driver. We used Mark from Cellar Door Wine Tours Places to Stay: The Vintages- if you stay here note its is a mile away from town, however to walk anywhere you have to walk on the highway. The Atticus- located in the town, McMinnville. Easy to walk to the main street for dining. The restaurant downstairs has great food & cocktails. We loved our stay here. The room is big- had a sitting area and had enough room for two girls to get ready comfortably. Wineries worth visiting: Domaine Serene- large winery located on the top of a hill in Willamette. The patio offers gorgeous views. Best way to end a day of wine touring with a cheeseboard overlooking Oregon. Shea Bergstrom- My favorite place to taste. I am a wine club member here. I cant put into words how fabulous this place is. The staff is fantastic, the setting is adorable and the wine is fabulous. White Rose Estate- this is one of the wineries that we visited on the Equestrian Wine Tour mentioned below. Domaine de Broglie- similar to the above. This winery has a wide variety of wines to try. This winery has a very modern setting- great patio and indoor space. They are known for hosting weddings & events. Resonance Argyle- Two options for tasting- sparkling or regular tasting. This was one of our first stops. Great dog friendly tasting room. Day Camp- A tasting room for day wines. If you have extra time you should pop in here. It is newer to the Willamette Scene and features lots of "natural wines". Places to Eat: Joel Palmer- restaurant in a gorgeous old house. JP serves a four course meal. If you are a fan of mushrooms this is a must. The Painted Lady- tasting menu experience in the city of Newberg. Recipe- I didn't have the chance to go here but it was recommended by numerous locals Activities: Silver Falls State Park- a moderate hike with 10 waterfalls along the way. Lots of paths to take. About an hour drive from Willamette Valley. Horseback Ride- we used Equestrian Wine Tours which took us on a fun ride through 3 wineries. One of our favorite experiences of the whole trip. Boho Yoga- located in McMinnville Check out my instagram story for more. |