Willamette Valley Wineries and Tasting Rooms

Areas in Willamette Valley

• Chehalem Mountains

  Hills about 20 miles southwest of Portland, holding the smaller Ribbon Ridge and Laurelwood District AVAs. Nearby Newberg has wine and art in its historic downtown.

  85+ places in Cruv

• Dundee Hills

  Volcanic hills planted mostly to Pinot Noir, about 30 miles southwest of Portland. In the town of Dundee, tasting rooms line the main street.

  55+ places in Cruv

• Yamhill-Carlton

  A horseshoe of low ridges around Carlton and Yamhill, sheltered from extreme weather, so it runs warmer and harvests early. The town of Carlton has many tasting rooms.

  50+ places in Cruv

• Eola-Amity Hills

  Hills northwest of Salem, about an hour from Portland, cooled by ocean air through the Van Duzer Corridor, a gap in the Coast Range. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay lead.

  40+ places in Cruv

• Salem

  Oregon's capital, with wineries, places to eat, and hotels and B&Bs if you want to stay over.

  40+ places in Cruv

• McMinnville

  Coast Range foothills west of McMinnville, with vineyards up to about 1,000 feet. The city's historic downtown has walkable tasting rooms along Third Street and boutique places to stay.

  30+ places in Cruv

• South Willamette Valley

  The valley's southern end, around Eugene and Corvallis. Between the two cities is the Lower Long Tom AVA, where Pinot Noir leads on shallow soils over sandstone.

  30+ places in Cruv

• Tualatin Hills

  The valley's northwest corner, with vineyards from 200 to 1,000 feet on windblown Laurelwood-series soil.

  25+ places in Cruv

Also in Willamette Valley: Ribbon Ridge, Laurelwood District, Van Duzer Corridor, Mount Pisgah, Polk County, North Willamette Valley (Clackamas).

Know before you go

Reservations

Many valley wineries take reservations, and some welcome walk-ins. Check with each winery, and book weekend visits early.

Tasting fees

Budget for tasting fees. On McMinnville's Third Street they're often waived if you buy a minimum number of bottles, and some wineries elsewhere waive or refund them with a purchase.

Getting there

Head out from Portland for the northern hills, or from Eugene for the south end. Dundee, in the north, is about 40 miles from Portland International Airport.

Best time to visit

May is Oregon Wine Month, and harvest falls in September and October. Summers are warm and many wineries have patios; midweek is quieter than weekends.

Getting around

The valley is long, so pick one cluster of wineries a day, give each tasting at least 90 minutes and expect spotty cell service. Plan a designated driver, a rideshare or a tour.

Oregon Wine Month in May brings release events, live music and classes, and wine events continue through harvest in September and October.

Nearby wine regions

• Columbia Gorge

  Two states, one river: tasting rooms sit on both banks of the Columbia, about an hour east of Portland.

  40+ places in Cruv · 5 upcoming events

• Southwest Washington

  Wineries from across the Northwest have tasting rooms on Vancouver's riverfront, with more out in the Clark County countryside toward Ridgefield and Battle Ground.

  25+ places in Cruv · 25+ upcoming events

• Umpqua Valley

  From cool, wet Elkton to warmer, drier Roseburg, the Umpqua Valley grows Pinot Noir alongside Syrah and Tempranillo, about three hours south of Portland.

  25+ places in Cruv · 5 upcoming events