The only real way to explore Willamette Valley, Oregon’s premier wine region, is by car (although you’ll need a designated driver!). Portland is only an hour’s drive from the main swathe of vineyards and home to an international airport making this your easiest way to get to the Willamette Valley. If you’d rather not drive there are buses from Portland to some of the main towns including Salem or you can arrange a shuttle with your accommodation.
The rolling hills of wine country and its quaint towns dotted throughout have a wonderful selection of places to stay. In McMinnville, A’Tuscan Estate is a charming Italian-influenced B&B just a few minutes from downtown, with delightful rooms, great service and a delicious breakfast. If you’d rather be out amongst the vineyards, Bella Collina is a lovely boutique B&B, with a hot tub on the balcony of one room!
There are lots of great options for fantastic food around the Willamette Valley, from fine dining to a more casual vibe. Joel Palmer House, in between McMinnville and Dundee, is a historic building now operating as a restaurant with a huge passion for mushrooms. Back in McMinnville, Thistle offers great farm to table dining with dishes such as cod with crayfish and lobster mushrooms.
Naturally whilst you’re in wine country, there’s only one thing you can drink… and of course that’s wine. There are a huge amount of wineries that you can visit, without the crowds that Napa suffers from, such as Bergstrom, Bethel Heights and Adelsheim. If you want to learn more about the area and meet some of the area’s best winemakers, join a tour with Helen and Mark at Cellar Door Wine Tours.
Away from wine, there are some great things to see around the valley. There are some beautiful hiking trails to be explored such as those at the Sahalie and Koosah Falls, which is also very close to Clear Lake, a result of volcanic activity which you can kayak or canoe round.
The Best Wineries in Willamette Valley
The rolling hills of the Willamette Valley, Oregon are famous for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, read about the best wineries to explore from Dundee Hills to Chehalem Mountains.
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