Where to Stay and What Vineyards to Visit in Oregon’s Willamette Valley
This is a post I’ve been wanting to write for a while. We love visiting Napa Valley in California. It’s my number-one, but I could write a love story about Willamette (Will-aaam-it). The two places could not be more different. Oregon’s Pinot country is cool, laid back, and has an overall more agrarian feel while Napa is cool and chic.
You can find some of our Napa Valley guides here:
The Gardens and Grounds of Napa
I should caveat this by saying that we visited in 2020, during the global health pandemic, so several of the vineyards on our list were closed to visitors. Despite that, we came away with vineyards that we fell in LOVE with and several we ended up bringing bottles home from. We spent a total of five days in the Valley and it will definitely be on our list to come back to.
Our biggest surprise coming out of it was how much we actually enjoyed some of the whites – even Chardonnay’s. To be an area known for its Pinot Noir, Willamette was full of surprises.
Where We Stayed
We spent the majority of our time in McMinnville at Third Street Flats. It was a little 1-bedroom apartment with a kitchen, fridge, living area, and bathroom. Located right downtown, it was across the street from a grocery store called Harvest Fresh, which was supplied by lots of local farmers. They had the best freshly squeezed juices and smoothies. Also, a perfect spot to pick up a few happy hour bites in between tastings and dinner.
It was also focused around sustainability, which was something really cool to see. The floors were woven bamboo, kitchen counters were made of Paperstone (100% post consumer recycled paper and resin from cashew shells).
The second place we stayed is The Dundee Hotel for its proximity along our route of vineyards. Great location. It has a more modern feel but still retains a sense of homeiness. Definitely plenty of space to spread out your bottles and start the game of tetris on the ones you’re not having shipped from the vineyards themselves. There are also five tasting rooms on-site. We ended up visiting one before we left for the airport.
Where We Ate
Our first stop was Tina’s in Dundee. It was so good we ate their twice. They do a fabulous job showcasing two of Oregon’s best: blackberries and mushrooms. They are truly out of this world.
The Painted Lady in Newberg was delicious. Recommended to us by our friends, Lindsay and Ryan, it did not disappoint. We did the tasting menu and highly recommend.
Red Hills Market in Dundee was another great spot for lunch. Sadly, they closed their doors. It reminded us of Oakville Grocery in Napa, similar feel and atmosphere. Everything was delicious. We ate here more than once on our trip. We wish them the very best.
Dundee Bistro is another good lunch spot with both indoor and outdoor seating. Everything was fresh and delicious and the atmosphere was very cafe/bistro.
Trellis Kitchen was another dinner spot for us. It’s more casual, with outdoor seating in a patio out back. Run by locals, Trellis has a great vibe and a solid menu. We ordered cocktails here to take a break from wine and weren’t disappointed.
Lunch at The Jory at The Allison Inn & Spa was also a treat. If you’re looking for a comfortable place to stay with rooms with a view and an excellent spa (so I’ve heard), this is it. Lunch was delicious.
The Vineyards and Wineries We Visited
1. Cristom Vineyards, Salem, OR
We flew into PHX and drove from there up to Eugene, so Cristom was our first stop. The garden was beautiful and it was a nice, relaxing way to kick off our trip. We tasted outdoors on the patio.
2. Antica Terra, Dundee, OR
A favorite. We did the cheese and charcuterie pairing.
Quick note on this: You guys know my rule – if they offer a pairing, always do it. Vineyards offer them for a reason (and it isn’t so you have something on your stomach when you’re drinking). The different cheeses, spreads, meats, and fruits – even chocolates – they select bring out different notes in different wines you’re tasting. Trust me, don’t skip these.
All practical purposes aside, this pairing was also culinarily delicious. I’m not sure if that’s a real descriptor, but I’m using it anyway because it was great. This pairing was at a nearby vineyard. Tasting these wines overlooking the vineyard was nothing short of beautiful.
Our schedule didn’t allow us to do their full lunch and tour of their vineyard, so we opted for this choice. We will absolutely do their full lunch at their vineyard when we go back.
3. Ayoub, Dundee, OR
Having drinks with Mo on his deck was a total highlight. This tasting is by appointment only and worth it if you can get in.
4. Argyle, Dundee, OR
We opted for a nice palette cleanser to break up our days of tastings: sparkling wine. Argyle was the place to get it. They had a great outdoor tasting area that loosely reminded me of Alpha Omega in Napa but without the water features. Great spot to spend some time between tastings and dinner.
5. Patricia Green Cellars, Newberg, OR
The customer service was wonderful and if you’re a pet lover, this is the place for you. Dogs and cats have free reign and pop in to visit tasters on the back porch overlooking the vines. We did the basic tasting here and weren’t blown away. We will definitely spring for the premium tasting when we go back. I’ve heard from others who did rave about their wines.
6. Domaine Serene, Dayton, OR
The views here are hard to find anywhere else. The wines are lovely and the atmosphere is terrific. Our host for the day was incredibly knowledgable and shared that the family has a vineyard in Burgundy, France as well. You can taste that influence. Definitely worth a visit.
7. Beaux Freres, Newberg, OR
A smaller, family owned vineyard. We fell in love with the wines. This is another favorite. You can tell the meticulous care that went into each one. Great, casual vibe. Highly recommend trying to be seated underneath the sprawling tree at the front if you can.
8. Evening Land Vineyards, Dundee, OR
We happened to sleep right above Evening Land’s tasting room at the Dundee Hotel, so we were able to squeeze them in as one final tasting before we left. We flew out of Seattle into IAD. Their hospitality was great and we loved their sparkling wine and bought a few bottles that we had shipped.
Pro tip: Note that shipping can be tricky from west coast to east since they only ship during certain times of the year so that the wines remain their ideal temperature. If you want them immediately, it’s best to check them. Wine flies free on Alaska.
Visting the Coast
Another surprise to us was how close we were to the coast! So much so that we went in and out of tsunami zones as we drove to it. It was wild. The drive from Willamette to the coast is a beautiful one and I can’t recommend it more. Aim to get to the coast for seafood before sunset and you won’t be disappointed.
What We Wore
No surprise here: layers, layers, layers. I packed loads of midi dresses and sweaters to wear over them. Mornings are chilly, afternoons are mild, and evenings tend to drop once again. Similar to Napa, it is a valley, after all.
I hope this inspired you to take a trip out West! Leave me a comment with your thoughts, if there’s anything I missed that you’d recommend, or if you have a question we didn’t get to!
Cheers and happy traveling!
