With more than 600 wineries, welcoming locals, and high quality wines, Willamette is a must-visit destination for any fan of pinot noir or chardonnay.
Drink
Because the number of wineries from which to choose is vast, the initial step is establishing criteria. A clear option for us was selecting Resonance due to its #9 placement on Wine Spectator's 2023 top 100 list. To fill the rest of our dance card, we primarily concentrated on wines not readily available outside of Oregon. Since pinot noir is a delicate grape that is challenging to grow, it is unlikely to find bargains ($50 as the minimum). Regardless, the quality is high and our experience left us with a profound new admiration for the grape.
Resonance
Resonance won our best wines award. And, yes, that #9 Wine Spectator 2021 pinot noir did not disappoint. This winery is owned by the large Burgundy producer, Louis Jadot and the tasting included their Santenay (white burgundy).
Domaine Roy & Fils
Domaine Roy & Fils was recently purchased by the Frescobaldi family, so naturally its Italian ownership ensured a slot in our ItaliAndrea lineup.
Stangeland (Norwegian owned thus earning its spot for my Norwegian husband)
This one wins for top experience! Robert, the winemaker, took time to introduce us to his wines while continuing to carry out his harvest duties. He's a one man show so we helped him test samples from 2 pinot vineyards to evaluate the ripeness and sweetness levels (brix) before determining harvest time. We were even invited back for crushing of today's delivery (which he does the old fashioned way with his feet 👏), but alas, there was no time. More wineries to visit...
Bjornson
Again, excellent quality and limited production.
Adelsheim
Adelsheim proudly holds the distinction of being the first winery in the Chehalem Mountains. Its grounds are quite picturesque and afforded my huspand the opportunity to try out his new toy, a self-flying drone (video footage below). As a way of giving back to the community the winery organizes an annual art competition open to local up-and-coming artists to design the annual label of their rosé wine, beautiful and philanthropic!
Domaine Divio
It was interesting to see the myraid soil types in these hills and what impact the terroir has on the final product
Sleep
In order to avoid night driving, we gravitate toward staying in a town or a countryside hotel with a good restaurant. For our Willamette trip, we chose the quaint town of McMinnville, roughly 15 minutes from the wineries which are located both north and south of town.
Atticus Hotel- I highly recommend the Atticus for serveral reasons. First, the staff members were quick to offer copious suggestions, plot out directions, froth up a cappucino and much more! There is a "boutique"-style vibe throughout. The rooms were spacious and included remote controlled electric fireplaces for mood and/or heat. The location is in the middle of town and walkable to more than a dozen restaurants, including the middle-eastern inspired, Cypress, inside the hotel. Parking is a breeze, paid valet or free on the street.
Eat
Restaurants in this area benefit greatly from the close proximity to food-centric Portland. There is a strong emphasis on supporting local farms, "food at 0 kilometer", as it's called in Italy.
Humble Spirt, McMinnville- locally sourced ingredients with a short but interesting seasonal menu
Las Ramblas, McMinnville- Spanish tapas and main course offerings
Bistro Maison, McMinnville- all the French classics: tartare, cassoulet, coq au vin and more- portions are quite large
Pura Vida, McMinnville- excellent "fresh Mex" with items on the lighter side like local greens with salmon from the nearby river dressed with salsa
Cypress, Hotel Atticus- nice ambiance, modern Mediterranean
Park and Main, Carlton- wood fired pizza, creative and traditional varieties on offer
Drive
The wine country is an hour south of Portland. The wineries are very close to one another.
Other items of interest
Tip to blend in with the locals- don't succumb to the temptation to pronounce Willamette the way it looks. The final "e" should be treated as if it were absent. Oregonians say Will-AM-it (rhymes with dammit).
Gardening enthusiasts will enjoy seeing the Monrovia farm that stretches for miles. I have never seen so many Japanese Maples in my life!
Aviation enthusiasts should plan a stop to the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum.
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