Willamette Valley
Oregon pinot noir country south of Portland, planted from 1965 by people told the grape would not ripen here.
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David Lett planted pinot noir in the Dundee Hills in 1965 against the advice of nearly everyone, on the argument that the valley's latitude and cool marine climate resembled Burgundy more than California did. The 1979 showing of an Oregon pinot against French wines in a Paris tasting settled the argument publicly. The valley now holds several hundred wineries across a set of sub-appellations, and pinot noir dominates, with pinot gris and chardonnay behind it. The soils differ enough between the Dundee Hills, Ribbon Ridge and the Eola-Amity Hills to be tasted. Many producers are small and family-run, and tasting rooms are correspondingly informal by California standards.
What you actually see
- Pinot noir planted from 1965 - against the prevailing advice.
- Sub-appellations with different soils - Dundee Hills, Ribbon Ridge, Eola-Amity.
- Small family producers - informal tasting rooms.
- A cool marine climate - the Burgundy comparison the valley was founded on.
When to go
May to October; harvest is September into October. A full day.
Honest expectations
Many small wineries are appointment-only. Rain is frequent outside high summer. Tasting fees add up. Roads through the hills are narrow and a designated driver matters.
Nearby
Portland is north-east; the Oregon coast is west over the range.
What to pack for Willamette Valley
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
