Oregon's Willamette Valley Wineries

If you want to go wine tasting at the greatest number of Oregon wineries, head to the Willamette Valley -- it's the largest wine-producing region in the state, and home to more than 200 wineries, or more than two-thirds of the state's total.

The area is huge, 150 miles long and up to 60 miles wide, including more than 12,000 acres of wine grapes, and six sub-AVAs: Chehalem Mountains Dundee Hills Eola-Amity Hills, McMinnville, Ribbon Ridge and Yamhill Carlton . Not bad, considering that wine making only arrived in this area during the mid-to-late 1960s.

The grape that made this area (and Oregon) famous is pinot noir. Wineries here also grow other grapes and produce other wines, including pinot gris, chardonnay, and riesling. In fitting with the Oregon vibe, most wineries here have a laid-back and friendly vibe, there's not a lot of pretension.

Plan Your Willamette Valley Wine Tour

• Willamette Valley Winery Map
• Contact Willamette Valley Wineries: (503)646-2985.

Willamette Valley Highlights, Wineries and Restaurants:

• Visiting McMinnville.
• Two wineries to visit near Carlton, Oregon.
• Forest Grove, convenient to Portland.
• David Hill, home to the Valley's oldest Pinot Noir vines.
• Apolloni's Italian family vineyard.
• Sample Willamette Valley-brewed sake

Take it Further

Although the Willamette Valley can keep you plenty busy, there's much more to Oregon wine country.

Just 60 miles from Portland is the dramatic Columbia Gorge, which encompasses the Oregon and Washington sides of the Columbia River.

South of the Willamette Valley are the warmer-climate AVAs of Oregon, producing high quality tempranillo, syrah, merlot and other big bodied wines. You might not have heard of the Umqua Valley, Rogue Valley or the Applegate Valley before visiting the state, but serious wine enthusiasts will be glad they made the trip.