Guide to Planning a Willamette Valley Trip
Overview
Willamette Valley has quietly become one of the most compelling wine regions in the world. Pinot Noir is king, supported by dramatic landscapes, thoughtful producers, and a pace that invites you to slow down rather than rush between tastings.
This guide is built around a relaxed three or four-day (depending on whether you start in Portland or skip this part) itinerary that balances winery visits with good food, scenic drives, and time to simply be in the valley. You’ll ease in through Portland, spend your days exploring different AVAs, and base yourself in Dundee — close to the heart of the action but surrounded by vineyards and open sky.
While wine anchors the trip, Willamette Valley is just as rewarding for travelers who care about where their food comes from, how things are made, and leaving space for unplanned moments. Use this itinerary as a flexible framework, adjusting tasting counts, meals, and downtime to match your pace.
Trellis at Baptista Maresh Vineyard - our rental home in the vineyards
Day 1: Central Willamette Tastings
We arrived at our rental home at Trellis at Baptista Maresh Vineyard the night before so we were ready to rock first thing in the morning. The house we stayed in was perfect for this stay. It was a modern, single-level home set within a gorgeous vineyard, with panoramic views and a quiet, restorative feel that makes staying in just as appealing as going out.
Spend your first full day among the central AVAs, keeping the pace relaxed. Below are the places we went, but you can plug in your own choices in the area. Of these, Penner-Ash was the favorite.
Penner-Ash Winery — start your day with elegant Pinot Noirs and gorgeous vineyard views. A great start to the day.
Gran Moraine — a last-minute add-on, set up by our Penner-Ash host. Great sparkling wines, relaxed setting, and a change of pace.
Lunch at Red Hills Market — this became the go-to spot for breakfast, lunch, picnic materials - it’s got it all!
Dusky Goose or Winderlea (Optional) — if you’d like to add one more tasting, choose between Dusky Goose’s refined tasting experience or Winderlea’s welcoming vibe and estate-focused wines.
Furioso Winery for pizza dinner — wrap the day with a casual pizza dinner on-site, paired with their stellar wines. They weren’t serving pizza the day we visited, but the spot is still worth considering if you plan ahead or head into town for a casual meal.
Day 2: Northern AVA Tastings + Optional Brewery
Explore the northern AVAs, focusing on terroir and approachable estates. Again, plug in the wineries and activities your most excited about.
Breakfast at Red Hills Market
Sequitur — This was a wonderful way to kick-off our day. Sequitur offers some modern-scandi vibes, biodynamic practices, friendly staff, and the wine is excellent. Highly recommend.
Patricia Green Cellars — known for stellar Pinot Noirs and a thoughtful approach to sustainable farming. Not flashy, but the wines are solid and worth visiting if you’re a wine geek.
Soter Vineyards — This was a standout experience. The wine and food pairing in a spacious tasting room made the stop memorable. Highly accommodating for dietary needs.
Optional: stop at Root & Rye Brewery or try sparkling wines at Argyle. A quiet evening stroll or casual dinner rounds out the day.
Day 3: Southern AVA Tastings + Local Delights
Antica Terra — This was the most unique and elevated tasting of the trip, and worth the splurge if you’re serious about wine. We tasted 8 wines - a mix of their own wine and some old world wines - served with seasonal snacks.
Durant Olive Oil Tasting — commercial spot, but a nice break between wineries and a fun foodie stop.
Bergström Wines — scenic views and solid Pinots, a good way to finish tasting.
Optional Stopover in Portland
Depending what time you arrive (we flew into PDX), it’s worth considering checking out Portland before heading down to wine country. For us, most wineries were going to be closed by the time we arrived, plus we had a few Portland items we were excited to check off. Here’s what we did:
Arrive at PDX in the morning — pick up your rental car and get ready to ease into your trip.
Explore Portland’s brewery scene — tap into the city’s famed craft beer culture with a visit to a local brewery or two. We went to Wayfinder, which had a beer and food menu and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating to ease into the trip.
Early dinner at Kann — Dinner at Kann was worth the hype. Gregory Gourdet’s dishes are bold and flavorful. I had been cooking from his cookbook for years, so finally trying the restaurant was a highlight.
Head to your rental house in Dundee — unwind and prep for the tasting adventures ahead.
Closing Thoughts & Tips
Willamette Valley is a place to slow down. From vineyard mornings to casual dinners and scenic drives, it’s rewarding even if wine isn’t your main focus. Use this guide as a starting point and let the valley’s quiet charm shape your experience.
Tips:
Most wineries can accommodate dietary requests if mentioned in advance.
Keep flexibility: swap in favorites and leave space for wandering.
Dundee is well located for Yamhill-Carlton, McMinnville, and Eola-Amity Hills.
Don’t overbook: part of the valley’s charm is its relaxed pace.
What I’d Do Again
Blend a mix of winery styles - some for the killer views, others for the beautiful tasting room, and, of course, prioritize best-in-class wines.
Soter, Sequitur, and Antica Terra.
Rental house in the vineyards.
What I’ll Skip (or Reconsider)
Furioso. Planning dinner around winery pizza when the pizza people weren’t there was a major bummer. I still think this would be a great way to end the day though.
Booking based purely on hype rather than location and flow.
Cheers!
