Long Weekend in Oregon Wine Country

Wineries to visit

• Penner-Ash Wine Cellars: Experience the high-quality wines at this gorgeous tasting room that sits on a hill with views of Chehalem Valley, Cascade Mountains and Mt. Hood. Penner-Ash has a history of female wine-makers, which is unique in the industry, first led by founder Lynn Penner-Ash and now carried on by Kate Ayres. In addition to lovely pinot noirs from different American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), they offer chardonnay, viognier and rose. If you’re lucky, the friendly staff may also offer a taste of the exquisite Pas de Nom, their premier pinot noir featuring the best grapes of the season.

• Soter Vineyards: Soter Vineyards at Mineral Springs Ranch focuses on sustainability, from biodynamic grape growing to a LIVE-certified production facility. The winery sits on a working ranch and offers a range of pinot noir across three wine brands as well as fantastic sparkling options.

• White Rose Estate: A small winery on a beautiful estate with a hip, friendly staff that offers sparkling water and fresh espresso, in addition to their wine selection. They produce “whole cluster” pinot noirs that are unique and delightful.

• Shiba Wichern Cellars: A small, boutique winery that is a contrast to many of the larger wineries and estates in the area. It is run by a husband and wife who blend Japanese, American and German influences into their wine making. There was an instant charm in my visit here. We were the only guests, and the owners took a break from labeling bottles to pull up a barrel and walk us through their selection.

• Sokol Blosser: A visit to Oregon Wine Country is not complete without a visit to Sokol Blosser, one of the first wineries in the region. They have a beautiful tasting room and a wide range of wines to sample. My personal favorite is a bluebird cuvée brut sparkling. It’s not always available but an excellent choice if you have the chance.

• Argyle Winery: If you enjoy sparkling wines, this is a must-visit. Argyle is known for their sparkling wines, which they have been producing in the Willamette Valley since 1987. They also offer chardonnay, riesling, rose and pinot noir and are likely to have something for every wine lover’s palate.

• Domain Serene: This is a renowned, award-winning winery with excellent pinot noir and chardonnay. They offer several different tasting experiences and a food menu. It’s worth spending some time here to enjoy the estate and the views.

• Domain Drouhin: Old world meets new world in this Oregon winery with roots in Burgundy, France. Their pinot noirs are great, and the tasting is educational for those interested in understanding wine history and the innovations of today.

• Rex Hill: REX Hill offers some of the best pinot noir in Oregon. They are a certified B-Corp and commit to sustainability and biodynamic farming. The tasting room is modern and beautiful and it’s a great visit for anyone that wants to experience some of the best pinot noir the region has to offer.

Places to eat between wine tastings:

• MSR Provisions Tasting at Soter Vineyards: I highly recommend doing the MSR Provisions Tasting at Soter Vineyards as a key event during your visit. You’ll enjoy a seasonal farm-to-table menu featuring restaurants from the property, coupled with a tasting of Soter wines. They were great at accommodating dietary restrictions we shared in advance so everyone in our party was able to fully enjoy the lunch.

• Dos Mundos: What’s better than a taco truck? This one is great, serving a-la carte tacos and burritos. You can make it a quick stop or sit outside and enjoy. We accidentally arrived 15 minutes before closing and the staff were so friendly to still help our group — including a hungry toddler — get some food.

• Storrs Smokehouse: A casual lunch option in downtown Newberg if you need a break between tastings. The brisket, sausage and BBQ sauce and mac and cheese are great options.

Dinner options:

• JORY: If you opt to stay at The Allison Inn & Spa, JORY is a great option on-site for with options for breakfast, lunch and dinner, along with great wine options, of course! They are fine-dining and feature local ingredients from the Oregon area. A highlight was the unique “Celebration of Bees” honey tasting from the bees in the property's garden.

• Honey Pie: This is a great casual dinner option that’s good for a group. They have great salads and unique pizzas. The fermented honey and Honey Pie pizza are highlights.

• Newbergundian Bistro: Classic bistro in downtown Newburg with a great croque monsieur and fish and chips.