Enjoy a Wine Country Vacation in Oregon

Are you looking for a wine country vacation that’s off the beaten path? If you are, you might enjoy a vacation in Willamette Valley, Oregon. The area is known for its family-owned wineries and amazing hospitality. Let’s take a look at what makes this area of Oregon so amazing for travelers.

Willamette Valley, Oregon

Willamette Valley, Oregon is known for its locally crafted Pinot noir. The grapes are sourced from local vineyards, some of which have been growing since 1965. In fact, that’s when the valley’s wine production began. David Left and Chuck Coury began planting the Pinot Noir wine grape as well as a few other cold-weather varieties.

By 1970, there were 35 acres in the valley that were dedicated to growing wine grapes and five TTB-permitted wineries. In 1975, the area reached another significant milestone. The L’Omelette Restaurant in Portland included a selection of Oregon wines in their wine list. It was the first time that Oregon wines had gotten their own section on a restaurant menu.

In 1984, Oregon State University held the first international symposium on cool climate wines. It was called the Cool Climate Wine Symposium, and today, it’s held in various countries each year. In 2026, the wine symposium will be held in New Zealand from January 26 to January 28.

By 1990, Willamette Valley had 70 commercial wineries, and the acreage used to grow the grapes had expanded to more than 5,600 acres. Of course, as the wine industry in Oregon continued to expand, so did their storage needs. Thankfully, the Abbey Wine Warehouse answered the call for more wine storage and opened in 1991.

By 1997, sustainable wine growing was catching on, and a group of wine growers in the valley decided to form the Low Input Viticulture and Enology (LIVE) group. The group was founded and led by Ted Casteel and Carmo Vasconcelos. The goal of LIVE was to help growers become good land stewards. Wineries that could prove that they were sustainably growing grapes could apply to become LIVE certified.

By the year 2,000, Willamette Valley had grown to more than 135 licensed wineries and more than 9,000 acres of vineyards. In that same year, the first Oregon Pinot Camp (OCP) was announced. The event was organized by 40 Oregon wineries. It was invitation-only and lauded for its ability to bring sommeliers and retailers to the valley from all over the United States. Today, the OCP is an annual event that attracts a variety of wine industry professionals.

By 2020, the valley had more than 676 wineries and an estimated 25,452 acres of vineyards. In 2021, the Willamette Valley wine region received its approval from the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), which means it’s formally recognized by the European Union.

Getting to Willamette Valley, Oregon

There are two main airports in the valley, including Portland International Airport (PDX) and Eugene Airport (EUG). Portland International Airport (PDX) is conveniently located at the north end of the valley in Portland, OR, while Eugene Airport (EUG) is located at the southern end in Eugene, OR.

You can fly into both airports in your private airplane or business jet, or you can take a commercial flight. Many airlines serve PDX, including Air Canada, Allegiant, American, British Airways, Frontier, Delta, and Alaska Airlines. In fact, if you choose to fly Alaska Airlines home, you can fly with your wine. That’s because Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan™ members can check up to one case of wine free if they’re flying domestic.

Airlines that operate out of Eugene Airport (EUG) include Allegiant, American, Avelo, Breeze, Delta, Southwest, United, and Alaska Airlines, which means that you can also check a case of wine at EUG if you have a mileage membership plan.

If you’re flying your private airplane or business jet into EUG, you might be interested to know that the FBO is Atlantic Aviation. Atlantic Aviation has a 5,500-square-foot heated hangar. They offer WiFi in their building and on their ramp. There’s a pilot’s lounge with showers and a snooze room, and they offer Part 145 aircraft maintenance.

Making the Most of Your Stay in Oregon Wine Country

Did you know that more than two-thirds of Oregon’s wineries are in the Willamette Valley? To date, there are more than 700 wineries and 800 vineyards, comprising 22,500 acres, operating in the valley. The vineyards primarily grow Pinot noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris, which are excellent cold-weather grapes. To make the most of your stay, consider choosing wineries that offer tours so that you can learn about the grape-growing process before you enjoy a glass of your favorite wine.

Choose the Right Place to Stay

Do you prefer staying in hotels, inns, bed and breakfasts, or vacation rentals? In Willamette Valley, all of these different types of accommodations are available. In fact, you may even be able to stay at a winery. A few guest favorites include The Allison Inn and Spa, The Setting Inn, and the Black Walnut Inn and Vineyard.

The Allison Inn and Spa

The Allison Inn and Spa is a lovely resort that’s located in Newberg, OR. The resort boasts 77 guest rooms and 8 suites. The room types include the Deluxe King, Deluxe Double Queen, Grand Deluxe King, One Bedroom Suite, Deluxe King Suite, and the Grand Penthouse Suite. The Grand Penthouse Suite boasts 1,500 square feet, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a large balcony. The resort amenities include a swimming pool, fitness center, valet, and concierge.

The Setting Inn

The Setting Inn in Newberg, OR, offers guests a choice between two types of rooms, including a 230-square-foot signature room or a 365-square-foot deluxe room. Amenities include a community lounge, fitness center, a courtyard, lawn games, and wireless internet. The property also has a boutique vineyard and garden, and they offer a wine-tasting experience.

Black Walnut Inn and Vineyard

The Black Walnut Inn and Vineyard is located in Dundee, OR. They offer several different room types, including Valley View Suites that overlook the valley, Vineyard Luxury Rooms that offer amazing views of the vineyards, and Wine Country Rooms that offer vineyard or mountain views. The inn and vineyard does offer wine tastings, and they sell their wine. They also offer several experiences, including Foraging with the Chef every Wednesday at 9 AM, Apiary ED on Thursdays at 11 AM, and Bottles and Bags (bean bags for cornhole) on Wednesdays at 5 PM.

Willamette Valley Wineries to Put on Your To-Visit List

With more than 700 wineries to choose from, you might have trouble paring down your list. Most travel sites and former guests recommend choosing wineries that are located in the area where you plan to stay. In our list of places to stay, two of them are located in Newberg, so let’s take a look at a few of the Newberg, Oregon, wineries.

Adelsheim Vineyard

Adelsheim Vineyard was founded in 1971. Their wines include Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, a variety of sparkling wines, and large-format bottles. They also offer limited production wines. Their current list of limited production wines includes 2023 Bryan Creek Vineyard Pinot Blanc, 2021 Calkins Lane Vineyard Syrah, and 2018 Staking Claim Chardonnay 375mL.

In addition to their wonderful wines, they also offer several different types of tastings. The Adelsheim Exploration Tasting lasts one hour and is offered during the week. The Self-Guided Willamette Flight tasting features three wines, and since it’s self-guided, guests can enjoy the wine at their leisure. The Cave Experience is available from December through April. The tasting lasts two hours and includes food pairings.

Lachini Vineyards

Lachini Vineyards was founded in 1998 when they planted their first grape vines, and just three years later, they produced their first batch of wines. This winery is known for its amazing Pinot Noir, but that’s not the only type of wine they sell. They also sell Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and red blends. They offer tastings by reservation and have a wine club that provides members with free tastings, discounts on wine, shipping, and VIP events.

Rain Dance Vineyards

Rain Dance Vineyards is a family-owned winery. The founders planted their first grapes in 2009, and their first vintage wine was brought to market in 2015. Today, the winery is known for its wonderful variety of wines. They sell rose wine, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, Gamay Noir, and Pinot Noir. The winery welcomes walk-ins and has tastings from Thursday to Monday. Tastings are not available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Natalie’s Estate Winery

Natalie’s Estate Winery is another wonderful, family-owned winery in Newberg. It was founded in 1999, and today, they produce about 2,000 cases of wine annually. Their wines include Merlot, Petit Verdot, Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Zinfandel, among other amazing wines. Guests can enjoy their tasting experiences, including the “Big Reds” Barrel & Wine Tasting with the Winemaker, which includes a variety of hand-picked wines and food pairings, like salami, cheese and olives, the Vineyard and Winery Tour & Wine Tasting, which includes a tour of the winery and vineyard, and the Traditional Seated Tasting, which includes hand-selected wines and a cheese and meat board.

All of these wineries would be excellent choices for a week or two-week vacation. Just imagine visiting a new winery every day, observing the vineyards, and enjoying a great glass of wine or two. You could even bring a case home with you to enjoy with your next home-cooked meal, and if you run out, many of the wineries offer shipping.