Oregon has long been a darling among wine lovers, celebrated for its incredible terroirs, world-class food scene, and gorgeous landscapes with rolling vineyard-lined hills and groves of towering old-growth trees. While it’s easy to think of Oregon as a monolith, this massive state is quite diverse, with numerous microclimates and mineral-rich soils that result in a huge variety of distinct wines. Although each of Oregon’s wine regions has its own special appeal, the Willamette Valley — famous for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay — is the best place to get a feel for the state’s wine scene. Here are some suggestions to make the most out of your trip to Oregon.
WillaKenzie Estate
Start at WillaKenzie Estate in the Yamhill-Carlton sub-AVA. The estate is spread over 420 acres, only 125 of which are planted with vines. The rest of the land consists of coniferous forests and grazing lands, part of a concerted effort to protect the area’s biodiversity. The winery was also the first in the Pacific Northwest to become Low Input Viticulture and Enology (LIVE) Certified.
At the tasting room, you can sample single-vineyard Pinot Noir and Chardonnay created by hydrogeologist-turned-winemaker Erik Kramer. Take in bucolic views while sampling five estate-grown wines (including single-vineyard Pinot Noirs) with an Al Fresco Patio Tasting, or cozy up by the fireplace for a Casual Fireplace Tasting, which includes three curated wine pours for you to enjoy at your leisure.
For an extra-thrilling experience, join a seasonal Vines to Wines Tour: it takes ATVs out into the sprawling estate, through pastures and past plantings, stopping en route to taste wines next to the blocks from which they hail. Check out all of these tours and more at the link here.
Gran Moraine Estate and Zena Crown Vineyard
From WillaKenzie, it’s only a five-minute drive to your next stop: Gran Moraine Estate, where Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are grown in soil containing deposits of decomposed sedimentary rocks. Wines here are crafted by Shane Moore, who has experience making wines all over the world. Along with making Gran Moraine’s classic wines, Moore heads up Flavorscape, an unconventional project that mixes tried-and-true techniques with experimental approaches to create some really fantastic wines, including a very popular LASOW (Low Alcohol Sparkling Orange Wine). Moore is also the winemaker for Zena Crown Vineyard, a 48-block Pinot Noir vineyard in the breezy Eola-Amity Hills sub-AVA, about 25 miles to the south. Tasting experiences for both wineries take place at Gran Moraine.
The Gran Moraine Estate Flight starts with a Brut Rosé before leading guests through a sampling of estate wines, paired with tasty truffle popcorn. The Zena Crown 750/45 Experience pays homage to the vineyard’s position on the 45th parallel and includes a few creative twists, including a music pairing that matches each wine with a 45-rpm vinyl record that reflects the wine’s character.
Penner-Ash Wine Cellars
Wrap your tasting journey up down the road at Penner-Ash Wine Cellars. Winemaker Kate Ayres sources grapes from some of the finest vineyards in the Willamette Valley, making it an excellent spot to familiarize yourself with the distinct characteristics of many of the region’s sub AVAs. This is made possible thanks to Penner Ash’s enduring and cherished relationships with farmers and other community members. Soak in views of the estate’s gardens with a host-guided tasting at the winery’s Pavilion, or learn more about gravity-flow winemaking on the Estate Vineyard Tour and Tasting. Book your tours at the link here!
Stay the Night
While plenty of people visit the Willamette Valley on a day trip from Portland, it’s worth spending a few nights if you want to really get a feel for the region and its wine scene. For a luxurious stay, check in at The Allison Inn & Spa, a swanky spot set on a 35-acre property on the outskirts of Newberg and a mere 15-minute drive east of Penner-Ash. The on-site restaurant, Jory, serves beautifully plated Pacific Northwest fare made from locally sourced ingredients (many of which are grown in the chef’s on-site garden). The spa is equally fantastic and offers a range of stress-melting massages and refreshing facials in a quiet, soothing space.
For a cozy, low-key place to stay, head to the Silo Suites B&B at Abbey Road Farm, 10 minutes south of both Gran Moraine and Penner-Ash. This intimate farm-stay property has only five rooms, all spread across a trio of converted grain silos. While the novelty of sleeping in a luxed-up silo is certainly part of the fun, Abbey Road’s innovative, multicourse breakfast — crafted with seasonally grown and foraged ingredients — is the real show-stealer.
Natural Beauty
Come for the wine (and food) and stay for the beauty of Oregon’s great outdoors. Don’t miss the Oregon Garden, an 80-acre botanical garden that showcases flowers, trees, and shrubs from across the Willamette Valley and beyond, with special themed gardens focused on everything from Pacific Northwest foliage to miniature conifers.
From the garden, it’s only about a 25-minute drive to Silver Falls State Park, a quintessential Willamette Valley forest complete with towering Douglas firs and fragrant western red cedars. Don’t miss the chance to hike the Trail of Ten Falls, a 7.2-mile hike that weaves through the woods and past (and, in some cases, under) 10 different misty waterfalls. The trail takes three to four hours to complete, but you can also walk shorter segments, some of which are around a mile long.
A Perfect Visit
With a couple of days in Oregon’s Willamette Valley wine country, you’ll have enough time to try out delicious food and enjoy Oregon’s natural beauty, while still having plenty of time for the region’s biggest draw: its world-class wine. After ATVing through WillaKenzie Estate, pairing wine with music at Gran Moraine, and learning about winemaking at Penner-Ash, you’ll be sure to understand what makes Oregon wine country — and Oregon wine — so special.
This article is sponsored by Jackson Family Wines.
