Willamette Valley Travel Guide

After doing so many trips to Napa and Sonoma, we figured it was about time to get outside our comfort zone and visit a new wine region. We really started falling in love with Pinot Noir in 2018, so we figured it was about time we experience the Oregon Wine Country. I had heard a lot of good things about Willamette Valley, but for me, I really had to see it to believe it. I was completely blown away by the area and it far exceeded any expectations I had. I now have a new favorite Pinot Noir, and I am still dreaming about some of the restaurants we dined at during our stay. If you are looking for your next wino weekend getaway, Willamette Valley is the perfect destination!

Where to Wine Taste

• White Rose Estate
  • White Rose was by far my favorite stop of the entire weekend. I thought they had the best wine out of anywhere we went. Their Pinot Noir is to die for. Sure, it’s a little expensive, but it is worth every penny. The tasting experience is $25 per person and they were very generous with the pours. If you’ve been tasting all day, I would recommend splitting a tasting. The winery itself is absolutely adorable, and it almost feels like you are inside a dwarf cottage.

• Argyle
  • If you are wanting to try some bubbles during your weekend in Willamette Valley, you must stop at Argyle. I didn’t see many wineries in the area producing a sparkling wine, so I thought it was interesting that Argyle was doing something different. Of course, they also make Pinot Noir like most of the region, but I think I enjoyed their sparkling wine the best. They are located right in the heart of downtown Dundee, so it’s a convenient stop. The tasting flight is $20, and I felt like it was worth every penny! They have a huge outdoor area, so this would be the perfect place to hang out with a group during the warmer months.

• Stoller Family Estate
  • We had a great tasting experience at Stoller and we loved learning about the history of this property. The Stoller Family has owned this land since the 1940s, and it used to be a turkey farm until they started planting grapes in the mid-90s. We enjoyed several of their wines accompanied by an amazing charcuterie board with local cheeses and nuts. The host at Stoller was extremely knowledgable and was able to teach us a lot about Oregon wines. Also, I appreciated that Stoller was making some varietals other than Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. If you are looking to branch out from the standard Oregon Pinot Noir, this might be your place!

• Vista Hills
  • Vista Hills was probably the most unique winery of the bunch. The flavor profile of the wines here was a little different and it didn’t really taste like most of the other Pinot Noir we had throughout the weekend. Their tasting room is actually in a treehouse, so it’s a really unique experience. They have a few different tasting options, but the standard tasting flight is $20.

• Domaine Drouhin
  • We went to Domaine Drouhin because we have tasted some of the Drouhin wines out of France and have loved them all. I thought it would be interesting to try an Oregon winery with French inspiration behind it. We loved all of their wines and they make some really nice Pinot Noir from several different vineyards in the area. They also have an amazing patio that overlooks the hills of Dundee, so it’s worth a visit even just for the view!

Where to Eat

• Rosmarino (formerly AgriVino)
  • If you are looking for an authentic Italian dining experience, look no further than Rosmarino. We had dinner here on a Friday night and everything was fantastic. We enjoyed a five course meal and each dish was paired with amazing Italian wines. Honestly, this place was so unexpected, but I loved it! Dario, the owner, talks to every table about each dish and pours the wine for each course. We learned so much about Italian food and his heritage. If you dine here for dinner, you will want to book a trip to Italy ASAP!
• Red Hills Market
  • Everyone must stop at Red Hills Market during their time in Willamette Valley. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner in addition to having a little market with fresh cheeses and wine. They serve a wide variety of food, but pizza definitely seemed to be a popular menu item. Also, make sure to try one of their freshly baked cookies! We had the monster cookie and it was to die for. I would say they are splittable because they are so large, but trust me, you will want your own cookie.
• Painted Lady
  • We did not have enough time during our stay to make it to the Painted Lady, but everyone had recommended it to us. If you love a good tasting menu, this place is for you! We do love experiences like this, so we will try to book a table here on our next visit to Willamette Valley.

Where to Stay

We stayed at the Black Walnut Inn & Vineyard which is set in the Red Hills of Dundee. The location was great and we weren’t far from downtown Dundee. It was super easy to get to all the shops and restaurants, so I would definitely stay here again. Overall, this was place was extremely luxurious and it felt like were staying in the middle of Tuscany. Everything about the room was top notch and the property itself was beautiful.

They make a fresh breakfast every morning and they even offer wine tastings. There are several heaters and a fire pit out back so you can sit outside and soak in the breathtaking views of the vineyard. Again, I would definitely recommend this place if you are looking to splurge during your stay in Willamette Valley.

If you don’t want to stay at Black Walnut Inn & Vineyard, there are several other options for lodging in the area. It seems like Bed and Breakfasts are the most popular type of accommodation, but you could always find something on Airbnb as well.

Other Tips and Recommendations

• Breweries are really popular in this part of the country, so if you get sick of wine after a couple of days, check out a local craft brewery. We went to Barn Door Brewing in downtown Dundee and it did not disappoint. They had tons of options to choose from and everything we tasted was delicious.
• In terms of transportation, we drove around in our own car, but you could always hire a driver or use Uber/Lyft. I thought everything was really close together compared to a Napa or Sonoma, so you won’t be driving all over timbuktu.
• We didn’t really book reservations for the wine tastings and most places (if not all) allow walk-ins. I think this worked for us because we went in the off-season, but I have a feeling the spring and summer would be a different story. If you do choose to go in the busy season, I would try to pre-book a few wine tastings just to be safe!
• Most tastings were about $20 in price and we were always poured a generous amount of wine. Don’t be afraid to split your tastings! This is totally normally and reasonable. Also, most places will waive your tasting fee(s) if you purchase wine or join the wine club.
• We didn’t get a ton of variety in the wines we tasted, so just keep that in mind. Full Disclosure: If you don’t really like Chardonnay or Pinot Noir, this might not be the place for you. Of course, I would always say to go and venture outside your comfort zone, but it’s good to know what you are getting yourself into.

Overall, we had a lovely trip to Willamette and I would love to visit again in the summertime. I was surprised at how beautiful the area was and how many wineries were in the area. Willamette Valley has much more to offer than I originally thought!

Have y’all been to Willamette? If so, what were some of your favorites from the area? Did you fall in love with Oregon Pinot Noir?