With more than 200 wineries and a location less than an hour’s drive from downtown Portland, the Willamette Valley is a prime wine tasting destination in Oregon. Here’s everything you need to know about sampling the region’s best wines on a tour.
Highlights
Visit a handful of wineries and get the chance to meet with winemakers or have a sommelier as your guide, depending on the tour you choose.
Some wine tours from Portland offer hotel pickup and drop-off, and all provide transportation from the city to the wineries so you can relax and enjoy the ride.
Tours may include snacks or a full lunch along with wine tastings, while some provide lunch but you’ll need to pay for your own tasting fees. Inclusions vary, though in most cases, wine tastings are included.
Some tours combine wine tasting with other experiences, such as a visit to see waterfalls or taking a taking an early morning hot-air balloon ride over Oregon wine country.
Things to Know
Dundee and Newberg, two popular Willamette Valley towns, are each located about 28 miles (45 kilometers) from Portland.
The most famous varietal in the Willamette Valley is pinot noir, but it’s by no means the only great wine in the region. Others to try include chardonnay, pinot gris, riesling, cabernet franc, and viognier.
Tours typically last between five and nine hours, depending on the distance traveled and number of wineries visited in a day.
Not every tour includes water or snacks, so it’s a good idea to be prepared with your own.
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