Wine Time in the Willamette Valley What are you looking for in a wine tasting experience? Clearly, great wine tops the list. But there are other factors, too. What about quality of service? Sweeping vistas? Ambience? And that ever-elusive je ne sais quoi? In Oregon’s Willamette Valley, unique wineries and diverse identities abound— to such an extent it can be difficult to narrow down your tasting list. But on a weekend getaway when time is limited, choosing your top destinations is paramount. Here are five diverse establishments worth a visit on your next escape to the Willamette Valley. If you’re coming to sip wine while enjoying the idyllic views, there’s none better than Fairsing Vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains AVA. Fairsing means “bounty” in old Gaelic, and by any measure, Mary Ann and Mike McNally have a bounty of gifts to share. From its expansive view of the Cascades on the horizon to the high praise its wines have won in recent years, Fairsing is one of those lucky spots at the end of the rainbow. No appointment necessary— just drive up and enjoy. For the biodynamic crowd, Brick House Vineyard is a natural next stop. Located in the Ribbon Ridge AVA, tastings are by appointment only and the tasting room is closed on Sundays, so add this one to your itinerary several days in advance. As one of the earliest adopters of biodynamic vineyard practices and a consistent producer of top-tier wines, Doug Tunnell and his staff are capable of explaining the appeal and delight of the biodynamic style. Ready for a quick break from fermented grape juice? Spend an evening at the old wood barn in Newberg better known as Wolves & People Farmhouse Brewery, one of this state’s most Oregonian establishments. With a diehard commitment to wild, farmhousestyle ales, its brews are among the most innovative in the country. Also on offer: live music, an exuberant crowd, and a gorgeous old-world setting nestled in the 62 1859 OREGON’S MAGAZINE
FROM TOP Fairsing Vineyard has a labyrinth, plus views of the Cascades. Brick House practices biodynamic winemaking. Botanist focuses on gin and on-tap cocktails.
trees. Wolves & People will cleanse your palate and nourish your soul. Start the next day in Carlton, where winemaker Patrick Reuter and viticulturalist Leigh Bartholomew, also biodynamic practitioners, have recently opened a tasting room in a renovated red barn for their label Dominio IV. With some of the coolest wine labels in the business— colorful illustrations hand-drawn to depict the changing flavors and palate shape of the wine over time, like sheet music— they’re going a long way toward making wine more fun and accessible for all. Finish where the Oregon wine industry began—at The Eyrie Vineyards tasting room in downtown McMinnville. In 1965, Oregon wine godfather David Lett of The Eyrie planted his first vines in the Dundee Hills. With other big names taking up a
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fair share of the limelight, it can be easy to forget about the quiet revolutionaries who have been there since the beginning. Pay homage to one of those who started it all and taste through The Eyrie’s impressive collection before you hit the road bound for home. Man cannot live on wine alone: Enjoy a candlelit dinner at Tina’s in Dundee, or opt for the fresh, vegetableforward Latin cuisine at Pura Vida in McMinnville. The burgers at Carlton Corners are unbeatable, as is breakfast at Valley Commissary in McMinnville. For lodging, The Allison Hotel & Spa outside of Newberg will drop jaws and inspire many an Instaphoto shoot, but those who prefer to be in the heart of it all will opt for McMinnville, where The Atticus or McMenamins are centrally located in downtown.
