Best Wineries in Willamette Valley: A Wine Lovers Guide

How do you find the best wineries in Willamette Valley when the region has literally hundreds of wineries?

Leave it to the experts. I’m a travel planner that has visited the area countless times. Each time I do thorough research to find the best Willamette Valley wineries. Excellent wine is table stakes for making this list, but I’ve also found wineries that have incredible ambiance (secret conservatories!) and inspiring stories (the first Black-owned winery in Oregon!).

If you’re interested in visiting the best wineries in Willamette Valley according to a Pacific Northwest local instead of generic guide books, let this be your guide!

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The Willamette Valley is about a 4-hour drive from Seattle and 1-hour drive from Portland. Wine lovers flock from all over the world to visit because there are more than 700 vineyards and 500 wineries.

Oregon pinot noir and pinot gris are the predominant grape varietals, but most people don’t know chardonnay is also abundant in Willamette Valley. The wine region can be subdivided into 11 nested AVAs: Chehalem Mountains, Dundee Hills, Eola-Amity Hills, Laurelwood District, Lower Long Tom, McMinnville, Mount Pisgah, Ribbon Ridge, Tualatin Hills, Van Duzer Corridor, and Yamhill-Carlton.

To give you a sense of space, here’s an Oregon wine country map outlining the Willamette Valley AVAs (courtesy of Willamette Valley Wine Association).

The first pinot was planted in the Willamette Valley by David Lett of Eyrie Vineyards in 1965. The region has become one of the United States biggest (and arguably best) wine regions. In true Pacific Northwest fashion, 52% of the vineyards use sustainable farming practices and place a huge focus on the soil, or “terroir” as you’ll hear them say in the tasting rooms.

Best Wineries in Willamette Valley

Let’s dive in and start tasting! Overwhelmed wondering how to fit this all in? Let me plan you a custom itinerary to the Willamette Valley!

If you’d like to plan your own itinerary, here are my favorite wineries in Willamette Valley, Oregon.

Winderlea Vineyard & Winery

website | town: Dundee, OR (get directions) | hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily | tasting fee: ~$35+ pp | best for: exceptional, dry and clean pinot noirs

During one trip to Willamette Valley, we visit about 15 wineries over the course of a few days. Winderlea was the one I kept gushing about. In fact, I ended up subscribing to their wine club because I consider them one of the best wineries in the Pacific Northwest period.

The tasting room is modern with huge windows overlooking their vineyards located in the Dundee Hills. If it’s nice out, the garage door will be thrown open to provide great indoor-outdoor ambiance.

As far as wines go, you can choose between a classic or reserve flight. We did the classic and got 5 wines to try, one chardonnay and 4 pinot noirs. I was absolutely obsessed with the pinots here. They were all so interesting with really nuanced flavor.

The vintages we tried were on the dry, cooler side. Typically I love bigger red wines, so I lean toward pinots that are fruit forward. But Winderlea’s are more subtle, which really lets you appreciate the terroir. Because of this, I consider Winderlea among one of the best wineries in Willamette Valley.

What to taste: If available, don’t miss the Meredith Mitchell Pinot Noir. We tried the 2017 vintage and were blown away by the earthy, black tea quality that lingers on your palate.

If you’re more of a white wine person, they also make their Meredith Mitchell with a pinot blanc grape. This grape varietal originating in Alsace, France is rare in the Pacific Northwest and is known for being minerally. They weren’t pouring it when I visit, but if it’s available when you’re there give it a try!

Brittan Vineyards

website | town: McMinnville, OR (get directions) | hours: by appointment only 10 am – 4 pm Fri – Sun, 10 am – 12 pm Monday | tasting fee: ~$25 pp (waived with 2 bottle purchase) | best for: dry, minerally pinot noirs

Brittan Vineyards is in the Granary District of downtown McMinnville, an area not that much unlike the warehouse district of SODO where you’ll find some of the best Seattle wineries. They have a sleek space, equipped with a garage door that opens onto a parking lot.

They consulted Winderlea when they first started and now share a production space, so it’s no wonder I love them. You’ll find beautiful, structured pinot noirs that are quite different from J.L. Kiff. While it differs from warm to cool years, most of their pinots are drier. You could also taste the volcanic terroir of its vineyards, with an ash, mineral-like taste. If you’re looking for wineries near McMinnville, this is your place!

What to taste: The Cygnus Block that lets you taste wine made with grapes from a single vineyard. It’s often dry and has great minerality, but with a deep complexity you might find in a fuller, jammier wine. But don’t worry, this one isn’t sweet!

J.L. Kiff Vineyard

website | town: McMinnville, OR (get directions) | hours: by appointment only | tasting fee: ~$45 pp (waived with purchase) | best for: beautiful pinot noirs from a small, family-owned operation

J.L. Kiff Vineyards is a gem of a winery near McMinnville. It’s owned by husband and wife, Joel and Laurie, arguably the sweetest couple in the valley. Joel is originally from California and grew up in the wine industry. When they decided to move up to Oregon where Laurie is from, he knew he needed to recreate the vineyards he grew up.

They make beautiful pinot noirs and a smaller selection of rosé, chardonnay, and sometimes pinot gris. You taste right in their facility, overlooking their vines and cows meandering in the fields. They’ll talk through each vintage enthusiastically, maybe even offering you tastes from the barrel as they relive the year they made the wine you’re drinking. This is honestly one of my favorites on my list of best wineries in Willamette Valley, so I highly recommend you give it a try!

What to taste: Their pinot noir. Your flight will include a comparison of a few different vintages. The last time I went they were pouring a 2014, 2015, and 2016, all of which were fruity and refreshing.

Eyrie Vineyards

website | town: McMinnville, OR (get directions) | hours: Fri – Sun 11 am – 4 pm by appointment only | tasting fee: ~$40 pp (waived with $120 purchase or wine club sign up) | best for: whites

Eyrie Vineyards is hands down one of the best wineries in Willamette Valley. Every wine enthusiast will tell you to go here. I mean…just look at the winemaking process they describe on their website. It’s super detailed, borderline geeky, and describes a complex process of minimal intervention using indigenous yeasts. Plus, remember they planted the first grapes in Willamette Valley, so they know their stuff!

The result of their obsession with winemaking? Incredible, award-winning, world class wines. I’ve had red wines here I love, but the whites are where Eyrie blows my mind. The fact that they can turn a typical red wine drinker into a convert speaks volumes to their talent. That’s why they’re making some of the best Oregon wines you have to try in your lifetime.

What to taste: If available, try their pinot gris. The vintage I had was buttercup yellow. It smelled floral, but tasted of melon. It drank like a champagne thanks to its tingling, yet was buttery…but only enough to give it a heft. And it was still quite acidic. If this description tells you anything, it’s that Eyrie makes some damn complex and excellent wines.

Antiquum Farm

website | town: Junction City, OR (get directions) | hours: 11 am or 3:30 pm Sat & Sun by appointment only, but they often run out of wine and close for tastings | best for: sustainable wine

Antiquum Farm is one of the few natural wines that I absolutely love without fail. In fact, they are one of the few wineries producing bottles using a process they say is better than organic called grazing-based viniculture. Basically it strategically rotates complimentary farm animals through the vineyards to naturally support the grapes and soil. I love this because it means their Instagram feed is mostly full of animals I just can’t get enough of.

Word of warning: It’s really hard to visit their winery. Tasting reservations sell out regularly and they often run out of wine and close up shop. This is a testament to how good they are, so it’s worth the effort trying to visit. Your best bet of being able to taste is booking a stay at their farmhouse cottage and seeing if they offer wine for guests.

What to taste: If available, try their Juel Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. The 2017 vintage was ruby colored and had a light, zippy viscosity at the end of a sip. It smelled of raspberries on the nose, but as it washes over your tongue I tasted tobacco and plum. It’s not a fizzy wine, but it had that vibe, which makes it a beautiful wine to sip during summer.

Carlton Winemakers Studio

website | town: Carlton, OR (get directions) | hours: 11am – 5pm daily | tasting fee: ~$45 pp | best for: a lot of great winemakers under one roof

I consider Carlton Winemakers Studio one of the best wineries in Willamette Valley because it’s like visiting ~15 wineries in one…meaning you’ll find one winemaking facility shared by multiple winemakers.

I met with the general manager, Anthony King, and he described it like an incubator for Oregon wines. It was started in 2002 by winemaker Eric Hamacher, his wife Luisa Ponzi (yes, of that Ponzi winery), and growers Ned and Kirsten Lumpkin.

They realized up-and-coming Oregon winemakers needed a place to make wine without being shut out of the race before they even tried because they couldn’t afford or sustain the facilities. So they developed what’s called a “custom crush” space where micro wineries could share equipment.

A lot of great wineries started in Carlton Winemakers Studio, such as Ayoub Wines and Utopia Vineyard. There’s still some very prestigious winemakers working out of Carlton, too, such as Isabelle Meunier who started smaller Lavinea Winery but still makes wine for giants like Willamette Valley Vineyards and Megan Anne, which is owned by the Mark Ryan (which has a tasting room in Woodinville, WA).

What to taste: I love pretty much everything Andrew Rich produces. I particularly love that he makes wine with gamay, one of my favorite pinot noir like grapes.

Cramoisi Vineyard

website | town: Dundee, OR (get directions) | hours: 10:30 am – 4:30 pm daily by appointment only (no appointments Sunday) | tasting fee: ~$40 pp (waived if you buy 2 bottles) | best for: exceptional small lot wine

Cramoisi was a late discovery, but I’m so happy I learned about them. This boutique winery is owned by a Mexican-American family that lives on the property. They have just 7 acres of pinot noir and chardonnay under vine and they farm it using biodynamic and organic practices.

Owners Ryan and Sofia started their career in IT and were living in BC when they discovered property in the Dundee Hills of Willamette Valley. Ryan is from Oregon and had always wanted to move back, so they decided to take a chance on owning a winery. They brought on Drew Voit to be the winemaker and the rest is history.

You definitely feel like you’re wine tasting at someone’s home. The tasting room is cozy and sits upon a hill with lovely views of the valley. It has a modern farmhouse vibe with an impressive fireplace and stunning tile work. The wines are on the pricier side at $60-$80 per bottle, but it feels as if a host pulled out their best wine collection to let you sip on their deck.

What to taste: I love pretty much anything Craimoisi produces, but don’t miss the chardonnay. The 2021 vintage I last had was slightly oaked and complex. We went to 12 wineries that trip and it was the glass I couldn’t stop thinking about.

Alloro Vineyard

website | town: Sherwood, OR (get directions) | hours: 11 am – 4 pm daily | tasting fee: ~$45 pp (waived if you buy 4 bottles) | best for: stunning ambiance

Alloro Vineyard is a working farm in the Tualatin Valley, an AVA at the northernmost part of the Willamette Valley and closest to Portland. The grounds are absolutely stunning. They just built a new tasting room with a ton of natural light overlooking the vineyard, with the owner’s home just visible through a picture window. There are also 2 tiers of outdoor patio with steps leading down to the vines inviting you to explore.

They also specialize in chardonnay and pinot noirs. I liked how the pinots I tried were all a bit different. Some were more dry while others had the heft of of a grape like Malbec.

What to taste: If available, try the Resilienza Pinot Noir. I tried the 2020 vintage and loved the fruitier flavor profile. It’s an everyday wine that would go beautifully with a pizza. Plus, it’s one of the most affordable on their menu.

Saffron Fields Vineyard

website | town: Yamhill, OR (get directions) | hours: 11 am – 4 pm daily | tasting fee: ~$55 pp (waived if you buy 2 bottles) | best for: incredible grounds

Saffron Fields may take the award for the most beautiful winery in Willamette Valley. It sits on 35 acres perched on a gentle slope with great views. But the best part is that they have landscaping that would fit in a botanical garden.

There are two koi ponds, sculptures, and a path you can walk around the property. You’ll see bees buzzing around a long row of lavender, which makes for lovely photos in the summer. There’s also plenty of outdoor seating with umbrellas and fire pits, so this winery is good for big groups.

Saffron Fields isn’t all looks. They make about 3,000 cases a year of exceptional wines. Their pinot noirs are particularly good, as they tend to be earthy compared to the more fruit forward varietals in other areas of the valley.

Owners Sanjeev Lahoti and Angela Summers started with a dream of being grape farmers, but after a local winery produced wine using their grapes, they know they had to hone their winemaking craft. I’m so happy they did, as we wouldn’t be able to visit their lovely property if they hadn’t made that decision!

What to taste: If it’s available, get the Heritage Pinot Noir. The 2019 vintage I last tried was peppery with a deep dark fruit finish.

Iris Vineyards

website | town: Springfield, OR (get directions) | hours: 12:30 am – 8 pm Thurs – Sun | tasting fee: ~$15+ pp (waived if you buy bottles) | best for: affordable, consistently excellent wines

Iris Vineyards is one of the best wineries in Eugene, OR because it’s right in downtown Springfield, the area that inspired The Simpsons. They used to offer tastings at their gorgeous winery, but they closed that and now have a downtown tasting room perfect for sipping after visiting the popular 5th Street Public Market in nearby Eugene.

Iris of course grows a lot of pinot noir like the rest of the valley, but I love how they source some grapes from southern Oregon to offer a wider range of varietals.

Their wines are affordable and consistently good year after year. Plus they’re doing really interesting things with wine cocktails where they infuse their wines to make it taste like spirits. For example, last time I went we had a Negroni that had no gin — instead it was their chardonnay infused with botanicals!

What to taste: Besides their wine cocktails, get the GSM if it’s available. This popular varietal is made with grenache, syrah, and mourvedre. The 2018 varietal was earthy and spicy, but finishes with nice notes of ripe blackberries.

Compris Vineyard

website | town: Newberg, OR (get directions) | hours: 11 am, 1 pm, or 3 pm Fri – Sun by appointment only | tasting fee: ~$30 pp (waived if you buy 3 bottles) | best for: minimal intervention winemaking

Compris Vineyard (previously called Vidon Vineyard) was purchased by Dru, it’s winemaker who worked at the winery before taking it over. The tasting area is right near the production facility, so you’re really immersed in the winemaking process.

Compris has a few different tasting areas. We sat on their covered patio overlooking the Willamette Valley. All of the wines we tried were excellent, and I appreciated how they had different varietals like tempranillo and syrah in addition to the classic pinot noir found everywhere in Oregon Wine Country.

I also appreciated that their president is Tiquette Bramlett, a Black female representing the very few Black winemakers and leaders in the Pacific Northwest.

What to taste: If available, try the Mélange pinot noir. We had the 2017 vintage and loved the dark blackberry and currant flavors.

Brigadoon Wine Co.

website | town: Junction City, OR (get directions) | hours: 12 pm – 5 pm Wed – Sun by appointment only (Fri – Sun only Dec – March) | tasting fee: ~$10 pp | best for: small batch, family-made sustainable wines

Brigadoon is a truly family-owned business. Chris and Sheree Shown purchased land in 1991 and started planting about 1/2 acre a year. They grew it into a 66-acre biodynamic farm and vineyard dotted with wildflowers and apple orchards. You’ll find plenty of outdoor seating perfect for appreciating all the hard work they put into their property.

Once their son Matt was old enough, he took over the winemaking duties. He produces ~1,500 cases of acidic, not-too-sweet wines. Him and his dad tend the farm together using sustainable techniques, but Matt’s the boss when it comes to winemaking. His goal is to be more of a guide, helping each bottle become the perfect expression of that year’s harvest.

Sheree is the brainchild of the focused food menu available at the tasting room. She’s passionate about food and wine pairing, which is evident by the exceptional charcuterie platters available while you taste. You’ll find an ever-changing rotation of local cheese’s, jam, hazelnuts, and her famous rosemary Parmesan crisps. Don’t skip these because they are the best I’ve ever had!

What to taste: If it’s available, get the Lylee Pinot Noir that blends pinot grapes from all the blocks on their property to give you a true taste of place. The 2019 vintage was dry, but had a deep blackberry finish.

Bryn Mawr Vineyards

website | town: Salem, OR (get directions) | hours: 11 am – 5 pm daily by appointment | tasting fee: ~$25 pp | best for: consistently good wines and epic views

Bryn Mawr is a vineyard perched on top of a hill with stunning views of the Willamette Valley. The location is fitting, considering “bryn mawr” is Welsh for “high hill”.

Their higher elevation gives them an advantage over other Willamette Valley wineries. First, they benefit from the coastal winds that make their way to the inland via the Van Duzer Corridor. The result is grapes with thicker skin that can sustain warm days that swing to cooler nights.

Since their property is on a hill, they’re able to grow a variety of grapes that other vineyards find difficult to match. For example, they have your typical pinot noir and chardonnay, but they also have generally warmer-climate grapes like tempranillo and dolcetto. That means you’ll find more variety on their tasting menu than you typically find at other area wineries.

Their lead winemaker, Rachel Rose, uses LIVE-certified sustainable practices to coax out the best version of each vintage. She rarely makes wine the same way every year, but instead uses her biotech background to adapt to the conditions.

What to taste: If available, try the Rosé of Pinot Noir. The 2021 version I tasted was on the skin for four days, which produced a darker and juicier rosé than you typically find in the valley.

Pro tip: Bryn Mawr has an apartment you can rent right on their vineyard! I stayed there and it was an absolute dream thanks to the epic views and modern amenities. It’s one of the most unique places to stay in Oregon, so consider booking and using it as your home base for exploring the best Willamette Valley wineries.

Bethel Heights Vineyard

website | town: Salem, OR (get directions) | hours: 11 am – 5 pm daily by appointment only | tasting fee: ~$20 pp | best for: elegant wines and an intimate tasting room

I think Bethel Heights is one of the best wineries in Willamette Valley that no one is talking about. Yet people should considering they literally started the LIVE-certified sustainable wine program in Oregon.

Bethel Heights was the 38th winery in Oregon. As such it’s considered one of the state’s medium-sized wineries, producing 10,000 – 12,000 cases a year using mostly grapes from their 115 acre property. Expect to find cooler, acidic wines with minerality and earthiness as opposed to heavy or zippy wines often found in other areas of the Pacific Northwest.

What to taste: If available, try the pinot blanc. The 2020 vintage I had was acidic and refreshing on a warm day.

Domaine Roy & fils

website | town: Dundee, OR (get directions) | hours: 11 am – 5 pm daily | tasting fee: ~$40 pp (waived if you buy 2 bottles) | best for: food while you taste

Domaine Roy & fils is a must visit if you want to try the wines from Willamette Valley royalty. Marc-André Roy and winemaker Jared Etzel started Domaine Roy & fils to continue the winemaking legacy of their fathers, Robert Roy and Michael Etzel, who founded the popular Beaux Frères (another one of the best wineries in Willamette Valley to consider visiting).

They produce 5,000 cases of organic-certified wine and I’d say they made a name for themselves outside the shadow of their dads.

What to taste: All of their pinot noirs are delicate and balance. But besides making really good wines at different price points, I absolutely love that they serve a hefty charcuterie board. It features the most delicious goat cheese from Briar Rose Creamery down the road. Definitely order it as part of your wine tasting experience!

Arborbrook

website | town: Newberg, OR (get directions) | hours: Wed – Sun 11 am – 4:30 pm, Mon & Tues by appointment | tasting fee: ~$30 pp waived with $100 purchase | best for: light-to-medium bodied, dry wines

Arborbrook is a small winery that produces ~3,500 cases of wine a year. It’ll stay that way, even though they were purchased by the medium-sized winery Cooper Mountain Vineyard. Cooper Mountain owners, Bob and Barb, are committed to Arborbrook’s focus on elegant and light Burgundian-style wines. But now Arborbrook will have the resources to do things like get biodynamic and organic certified.

Another change Arborbrook went through was creating a beautiful new tasting room. They transformed their historic barn into a bright and modern space that would be the envy of any HGTV enthusiast. You can reserve private tastings or experience artist popups in the back where there were once horse stables.

What to taste: If it’s available, try their Tocai Friulano. It’s a traditional Italian varietal that offers a lot of complexity. The 2021 vintage I tasted was dry and floral to start, but finished with tropical citrus notes.

Nicolas-Jay

website | town: Newberg, OR (get directions) | hours: 10 am – 4 pm daily by appointment except Wed | tasting fee: ~$40 pp | best for: beautiful Burgundian-style wine

Nicolas-Jay is the brainchild of two friends you’d never expect to cross paths: Burgundian winemaker Jean-Nicolas Méo and music entrepreneur Jay Boberg. They met in 1988 when Nicolas was studying abroad in the US, but neither imagined they’d go into business together. Nicolas went on to start a winery in Burgundy while Jay created a popular record label from California.

Yet in 2011 they decided to team up and create a winery bringing French winemaking sensibilities to the Willamette Valley. Nicolas still lives in France and tends to his main winery, but he’s very hands on with the winemaking process at Nicolas-Jay. He Zooms the team daily during harvest season and visits twice a year to ensure the wine is handled minimally and with care.

You’ll find record labels lining the wall of a modern tasting room overlooking their estate vineyard. Music is a big part of the experience, so expect great tunes while they take you on a guided tasting. You’ll also have the chance to pair their elegant and dry wines with local cheeses and hazelnuts that they toast right in front of you.

What to taste: If it’s available, get the Nysa Vineyard Dundee Hills Pinot Noir. The 2019 was fresh and bright, with a lot of acidity and a viscosity reminiscent of cherry cola.

Penner-Ash Wine Cellars

website | town: Newberg, OR (get directions) | hours: 11 am – 5 pm daily by appointment only | tasting fee: ~$40 pp | best for: exceptional pinot noirs

Penner-Ash is a female-owned winery with a pretty extensive female staff, an uncommon sight in the wine industry. Lead winemaker and owner Lynn created a winery along with her husband on a hill overlooking rows of their estate vines. Visiting not only provides excellent wines, but breathtaking views of the valley.

What to taste: If it’s available, try the Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. It smells smoky, but has vanilla and dried fruit flavors. This wine is savory and medium bodied, with a finish that lasts for quite some time on the palate.

Raptor Ridge Vineyards

website | town: Newberg, OR (get directions) | hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily by appointment | tasting fee: ~$30 pp (waived if buy $50 worth of wine) | best for: wine on tap

Raptor Ridge is a small winery just on the edge of Tualatin Valley. They have an outdoor deck with pretty views of their estate and umbrellas to block the sun. You’ll find chardonnay and pinot noir produced in small batches, plus wine on tap (which isn’t very common in Willamette Valley).

What to taste: If available, get the Vineyard Select Pinot Noir. I had the 2020 vintage on tap and it was excellent. It has a light, zippy flavor and was an easy porch pounder. They only sell it by the glass or growler, so go here last so you can take a growler home!

Ruby Vineyard

website | town: Hillsboro, OR (get directions) | hours: 11 am – 5 pm daily | tasting fee: ~$30 pp (waived if you buy $100 worth of wine) | best for: Beaujolais-style wines

Ruby Vineyard’s winemaker, Andrew Kirkland, has worked at some of my favorite wineries, including Carlton Winemakers Studio and Brittan Vineyards. He also studied in my favorite wine producing region of the world, Beaujolais in France. As such, he makes excellent pinot noir. You’ll even find Beaujolais style on the menu!

What to taste: If available, definitely try whatever Beaujolais is one the menu. It’s made with the gamay grape, the cousin of pinot noir, and tastes light and acidic with low tannins.

Furioso Vineyards

website | town: Dundee, OR (get directions) | hours: 11 am – 4:30 pm for wine tasting, 5 – 7 pm wine bar daily | tasting fee: ~$40 pp (waived if you buy 2 bottles) | best for: air conditioned views

Furioso is another one of the most beautiful wineries in the Willamette Valley. It’s owned by Italian-born Giorgio Furioso who started his career in art. He’s created and collected beautiful works over the course of his life. In fact, he even ran the art department of the University of Ohio by age 30.

He was inspired to get into the wine business by his father and grandfather who always made wine in their basement for friends back in Italy. But he’s still active in the art world, whether it’s collecting stunning pieces to display in Furioso Vineyards or operating art galleries in addition to owning a winery.

Given Furioso’s background, it’s not surprising that the tasting room is breathtaking. You need to sit outside to enjoy the ambiance at most wineries. While Furioso has a quaint courtyard with great views, the best seat in the house is actually inside the air-conditioned tasting room. It features large floor-to-ceiling windows steps away from the vines, so you feel immersed in the vineyard.

Besides making excellent wines, Furioso Vineyards is an all around great place to hang. You can enjoy wood-fired pizza Thursdays through Sundays, or stay after hours to enjoy curated wines from both Furioso and friends by the glass and bottle.

What to taste: If available, try the melon de bourgogne. It’s a Loire Valley French varietal you don’t see that often in Willamette Valley, so now’s your chance to try it. The 2022 vintage I tried was a bright fruit bomb at the start, but then slightly briny to finish. It’s acidic, energetic, and interesting, all adjectives I love to experience in my wine.

Belle Pente Vineyard & Winery

website | town: Carlton, OR (get directions) | hours: by appointment only | tasting fee: none, but they ask you buy 6 bottles | best for: an intimate tasting with the winemaker

Belle Pente Vineyard & Winery is where you go to really connect with the winemaker. It’s owned by husband-and-wife, Brian and Jill O’Donnell, who grew up in New York state making wine out of their basement until it “got out of control,” as Brian describes it.

All of their wines are estate grown and they focus on pinot gris, pinot noir, and chardonnay. While the tasting area isn’t as grand as other wineries, it makes up for it with the scenic farmland views and beautiful Scottish highland cows on the premise.

Because of its intimate nature and focus on truly outstanding wines, I had to include them on my list of the best wineries in Willamette Valley. Brian will pour you wines and take you through how each is made. Since it’ll be a one on one experience, you can ask him questions to your heart’s content and truly geek out over what you’re drinking.

What to taste: If it’s available, try the pinot gris. The 2013 vintage I tried smelled like blue cheese, but tasted thick and sweet (not too sweet!). It changed flavors in your mouth over time, which is amazing for a wine variety that can often be more delicate!

De Ponte Cellars

website | town: Dayton, OR (get directions) | hours: 11 am – 5 pm daily | tasting fee: ~$20 pp | best for: rare grape varietals

De Ponte Cellars is a laid back winery located right next to the famous Domaine Drouhin Winery. It has a nice outdoor patio filled with Adirondack chairs made of wine barrels. They serve great, Burgundian-style wines that are known for being dry. You’ll taste wines made with grapes from some of the oldest vines in Oregon. In fact, Dundee Hills was Oregon’s first AVA.

What to taste: If available, definitely try their wine using the melon de bourgogne grape. It’s rare in the US, but it makes an interesting white wine and De Ponte and Furioso are the only two spots I’ve seen it in Willamette Valley.

ROCO Winery

website | town: Newberg, OR (get directions) | hours: 10 am – 5 pm daily | tasting fee: ~$40 pp (waived if you buy 3 bottles) | best for: bubbly and pinot noir

ROCO is owned by husband and wine, Rollin and Corby. Rollin got his start working at Archery Summit and Argyle Winery, which are known for bubbly. While Rollin doesn’t focus on sparkling wine anymore, you can always find some on the menu. But my favorites are his beautiful, structured red wines.

What to taste: If it’s available, try the Grand Road Pinot Noir. The 2018 vintage was bright and acidic, with a fizzy quality on the palate that makes you pucker. It has notes of strawberry and rose petal, making it a fun summer wine.

Villa Catalana Cellars

website | town: Oregon City, OR (get directions) | hours: 1 – 4 pm Sat by appointment only | tasting fee: ~$15 pp | best for: ambiance and proximity to Portland

Villa Catalana Cellars is one of the closest wineries to Portland, but most people don’t talk about it because it’s to the east instead of the west near all the other Willamette Valley wineries. Plus, it’s really small, making only 500 cases of wine a year.

A husband and wife team created their home and tasting room inspired by San Clemente de Tahull, a 12th century romanesque church in Catalonia, Spain. The grounds are absolutely stunning, with different pockets of lush landscaping perfect for lounging.

They make solid wines perfect for sipping with friends. But my favorite part besides the stunning grounds? The plant conservatory with tropical plants! The owners actually raise exotic plants in their nursery.

What to taste: If available, try their estate grown pinot gris. The 2018 vintage was crisp and refreshing, perfect for sipping in the sun.

Abbey Road Farm

website | town: Carlton, OR (get directions) | hours: 11 am – 5 pm daily | tasting fee: varies based on experience | best for: a full sip and stay experience

Abbey Road Farm is an 82-acre farm, bed and breakfast, and dining experience in the heart of Oregon Wine Country. I’d say they’re similar to the popular Youngberg Hill winery in McMinnville, but 30 minutes closer to Portland. So it’s one of the most unique places to stay in Oregon if you want to book a stay and be more centrally located in the valley.

One visit and you’ll understand why so many people want to have their wedding here. The grounds are stunning and they have a ton of outdoor seating for taking in the views. There’s also an onsite chef who used to work in Portland making an exceptional multi-course lunch for ~$150 per person. We did this and, while we thought the price was a bit steep, we were blown away by the food. We did not expect to get those kinds of dishes at a winery.

You’ll find a lot of estate grown wines produced by Abbey Road Farm. They grow the typical pinot grapes, but also some more obscure varietals like trousseau, grüner veltliner, mondeuse, mencia, and godello. But what’s really interesting is that they also sell wine produced under separate labels by their staff.

For example, the director of winemaking, James Rahn, produces James Rahn Wine Co., associate winemaker Luke Wylde makes Lares Wines, and cellarmaster Meredith Bell collaborates with Statera Cellars. So visiting Abbey Road Farms is kind of like visiting multiple wineries at once.

What to taste: If available, try the James Rahn Pinot Meunier. I loved how the 2018 had bold fruit notes but was medium-bodied on the palate.

My Willamette Valley wineries map

I go to Willamette Valley at least once a year so I’m constantly exploring the area to find the best wineries to visit. I keep it all organized on my Willamette Valley wineries map, which you can see here.

As you can see, there are a ton of wineries on there (and restaurants, shops, and breweries too!). As I fall in love with more, I’ll add them to this list of the best wineries in Willamette Valley.

More to do near Oregon Wine Country

Most people come to Willamette Valley wine country for the wineries, which I highly recommend should be a priority because…wine. But there’s also a lot to do besides drinking, which is especially important if you have young ones in tow. Here are ideas of what to do between wine tastes:

• Must Try Eats at the Best Restaurants in Willamette Valley
• Best Things to Do in Oregon Wine Country Besides Drink Wine
• Magical Places to Go Glamping in Oregon Wine Country
• Best Columbia River Gorge Wineries
• Take a Day Trip to the Oregon Coast
• Best Things to Do in Eugene, Oregon
• Boutique Hotels in Eugene Near South Willamette Valley
• Everything You Must Do in Portland
• Fun Places to Eat in Portland
• The Ultimate Guide to Visiting the Columbia Gorge

Disclaimer: Willamette Valley Wine Country and Taste Newberg provided me with free wine tasting, accommodations, and meals in exchange for a review of some wineries on past trips to the valley. I included the places that I would recommend if I found them on my own, but they weren’t guaranteed placement. Plus, a lot of the wineries featured here are ones I found on my own during other trips. Thank you for supporting the brands that help make The Emerald Palate possible!