As one of the world’s top pinot noir producing regions, and with nearly 700 wineries to choose from, it’s no wonder Willamette Valley is on every wine lover’s radar. Encompassing over two-thirds of Oregon’s wineries, this renowned wine region is also known for producing exceptional chardonnay, riesling, pinot gris, pinot blanc and cabernet sauvignon.
Not only is the valley’s cool climate ideal for grape production, but it also provides the perfect setting for visitors to experience all that this beautiful region has to offer.
Of course, with so many options, you may be wondering how to narrow down which wineries to visit? If this is you, don’t fret! I’ve compiled a list of some of the best wineries in Willamette Valley, so the research is already done for you!
From jaw dropping hillside vineyard views to beautiful, family-owned estates, there’s no shortage of reasons why you should already be exploring the best wines in Willamette Valley!
✨ See also: ✨
☞ A Weekend Guide + The Best Wineries in Fredericksburg, Texas
☞ Why You Need To Be Drinking Clean-Crafted Wine
One of my absolute favorite wineries in the region (although, it’s so hard to narrow down), Cristom Vineyards, should definitely be at the top of your list for one of the best wineries in Willamette Valley.
Cristom Vineyards is a family-owned winery in Salem that produces exceptional quality wines with respect to the land and estate vines. As a Certified Sustainable vineyard (in both the winery and the fields), the wines crafted by the Cristom family are an honest representation of both the vineyard and the vintage–as all wines should be!
Recognized globally as a leading producer of pinot noir in Willamette Valley, their wines continue to uphold the highest of standards and quality with every glass.
Cristom Vineyards
6905 Spring Valley Road NW, Salem OR 97304
Tasting Room open daily, 11am – 4pm
Reservations only – Call 503-375-3068 or email hospitality@cristomvineyards.com to book
Bergström Winery is a family-run operation that has been producing natural and responsibly farmed wines since 1999. The family business traces it’s roots to John Bergström’s Swedish heritage and the love he developed for this region in the Pacific Northwest.
It takes them 3 years to farm, ferment, age and complete every single bottle before the wine can be distributed! The wines are hand-crafted by a small, simple process that showcases the wine’s authenticity, allowing only the finest of wines to be hand-bottled and donned with the family crest.
It’s no wonder Bergström is one of the best wineries in the Willamette Valley (and another one of my personal favorites)!
Bergström Winery
8115 NE Worden Hill Rd, Dundee, OR 97115
Reservations only – Call 503-554-0468 or email reservations@bergstromwines.com to book your tasting experience
Planted in 1980 to own-rooted Pommard (iconic Burgundy region in eastern France famous for its wine production) clone pinot noir, White Rose’s 10-acre vineyard is undoubtedly one of the best wineries in Willamette Valley.
Specializing in growing and producing, artisanal, small batch Pinot Noir, their wines are an “expression of elegance and clarity that only great vineyards can achieve.”
Also, White Rose has one of the most stunning views in Willamette Valley! The estate is situated at the top of a hill at 870 feet elevation, showcasing incredible views over much the of Willamette Valley.
Not only does this hilltop location offer gorgeous scenery and a relaxing atmosphere, but it also results in greater flavor development of the fruit! Being situated on a hill maximizes “hang time,” which is the length of time the grape clusters are maturing on the plant. Ultimately, this results in distinguished flavor intensity while maintaining balanced sugars and acid.
The winemaker, Greg, produces “Neo-classical” wines by having vines old enough to make age-worthy wines, in the correct location, and hand-picking quality fruit. The main objective is crafting wine that is good and drinkable from day one, yet will still undergo a “metamorphosis” over time.
The tasting room is currently open for outdoor tastings (per state mandate) by appointment only from 11am to 3pm, every day. Call 503-864-2328 or email tastingroom@whiteroseestate.com to book a tasting.
White Rose Estate
6250 NE Hilltop Ln
Dayton, OR 97114
Mentally transport to Burgundy, France with a visit to Domain Drouhin, another one of the top wineries in Willamette Valley.
Operating under the motto “French soul – Oregon soul,” Domaine Drouhin is considered the closest you can get to French wine in the state of Oregon (yes, please)!
Although the Oregon estate was established in the 1980s, the Drouhin family’s wine-making roots trace back more than a century ago, having started in Burgundy’s best vineyards.
The estate winery creates elegant Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines forged from the family’s tradition of fine winemaking in France. Their methods tend to create a darker and earthier style of Pinot Noir than you will find anywhere else in the state!
Currently, Domain Drouhin’s tasting room is open for outdoor tastings by appointment only from 10am to 2pm, daily. Call (503) 864-2700 to make reservations or for any questions!
Domain Drouhin
6750 NE Breyman Orchards Rd
Dayton, OR 97114
One of the most beautiful and majestic wineries in the region, Domaine Serene’s award winning wines should not be missed when visiting Willamette Valley!
The Evenstad family has been running the winery for over 30 years, ever since purchasing the 42-acre hilltop estate in 1989. Additionally, the family was at the forefront of the luxury wine industry in Oregon!
Domaine Serene, named after their daughter, produces wines from their 6 individual vineyard estates, which are planted exclusively to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Each vineyard estate offers a diversity of soil, microclimate, elevation, slopes and clones that add unique complexities to each wine–which is exactly how and should be and what makes wine production so fascinating!
Be sure and plan to taste these award-winning wines (and sparkling wines!) for yourself to see why it has been named one of the best wineries in Willamette Valley!
The local artisan bread with fleur de sel cultured butter, along with these delectable cheese and charcuterie boards, were the PERFECT addition to our wine tasting experience! I highly recommend ordering some for yourself! (We had to order a second round of bread because it was THAT good…and because we needed to soak up a lot of wine! Hehe.)
As one of the most elegant wineries I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing in Oregon, I can tell you with 100% certainty that you will feel like royalty when visiting!
Domaine Serene is currently welcoming guests for outdoor tasting experiences by reservation only. Open Thursday through Sunday, 11:00am – 4:00pm, Reservations can be made by phone at (503) 864-4600 or email at hospitality@domaineserene.com.
Domaine Serene
6555 NE Hilltop Ln
Dayton, OR 97114
Another winery with one of the best views in Willamette Valley is Durant Vineyards.
In 1973 the Durant family was among the first in Oregon to attempt growing wine grapes in the Dundee Hills. Now spanning 5 generations, the family history in Willamette Valley began with English Walnuts, Italian Prunes, Hazelnuts and Cherries!
The wines of Durant Vineyards reflect the true nature of each vintage, the unique terroir of the Dundee Hills, and the family’s meticulous farming methods.
I absolutely loved how Durant Farms is not only a winery and vineyard, but also an award-winning extra virgin olive oil mill! Durant Olive Mill is the first and only (to date) commercial olive mill in Oregon, and they handcraft their signature olive oils while honoring the Old World tradition of olive oil production.
As I’m sure you know, once you’ve had a taste of true, fine wine and olive oil, you can never go back! Rest assured, though, Durant Farms does it right!
In addition, Durant Farms also includes: Durant Culinary, Durant Body & Spa, a specialty plant nursery, gift shop (which I loved!), overnight lodging, expansive gardens and even the Durant Nature Trail!
It’s no wonder Durant at Red Ridge Farms is one of the best Willamette Valley vineyards.
Durant at Red Ridge Farm’s Tasting Room is open daily from 11:00am – 4:00pm and tastings are $20 per person (includes four Durant Vineyards estate grown and crafted wines). For Reservations, click here.
Durant at Red Ridge Farms
5510 NE Breyman Orchards Rd
Dayton, OR 97114
(503) 864-2000
info@durantoregon.com
“Oregon’s best-known Champagne-method sparkling wine house”
– Lettie Teague, Wall Street Journal
The sparkling wine house of Argyle Winery is a must-visit spot, especially if you are in to sparkling wines!
In my opinion, a sparkling wine tasting is the perfect way to start the day, and Argyle is so easy to access when driving through Dundee.
Argyle put Willamette Valley on the map for sparkling wines, and it has established a reputation as an Oregon icon.
Thanks to winemaker Nate Klostermann, Argyle’s bubbles has ranked among the highest for New World Sparkling wines. Once you have a taste, you will see why Argyle Winery hosts some of the best wines in Willamette Valley!
My first experience that made me fall in love with Argyle’s wines was from a glass of this 2014 Brut Rosé that I had the pleasure of tasting at one of my favorite New Orleans restaurants, Restaurant R’evolution.
⚜️To read more about this incredible restaurant and some of the best places to visit in New Orleans, check out my blog post, “The Perfect Itinerary for a Luxurious New Orleans Weekend Getaway.”⚜️
Reservations required. Click here to book a reservation, or call the winery at 503-538-8520.
Argyle Winery
691 OR-99W, Dundee, OR 97115
“I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery–air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, ‘This is what it is to be happy.'”
Sylvia Plath
Situated in a wooded hilltop outside of Newberg, Parrett Mountain Cellars is a cozy winery that specializes in bold reds (such as Barbera, Tempranillo & Sangiovese), along with Pinot Noir.
I’ve had the pleasure of visiting this tasting room twice now, and the setting (plus, of course, the wine) truly makes the experience!
The inviting, lodge/cabin style atmosphere, surrounded by a wooded forrest and beautiful trees, really plays in to the alluring ambiance.
My first visit to Parrett Mountain Cellars was spent on their back porch, sitting by the fire, surrounded by close friends.
We watched the sun set behind the trees, sipped some great wine and made memories that I won’t soon forget!
My second visit to Parrett Mountain Cellars was with a big group of people for a friends’ wedding rehearsal “dinner.”
Instead of doing the traditional rehearsal dinner, they rented out the entire tasting room and had a huge bonfire down in the backyard area of the property! It was such a fun time!
To make a reservation, click here.
Parrett Mountain Cellars
33434 NE Haugen Rd
Newberg, OR 97132
(503) 807–4061
Located in the Dundee Hills, Winter’s Hill Estate Winery’s 35 acres of vineyards are settled into a 150 acre farm.
The Gladhart family, who own and operate Winter’s Hill, have been following sustainable farming practices since they planted their first vines in 1990.
Their production has steadily grown over the years, as wine lovers continue to discover their tasteful Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc (plus some great dessert wines!).
I just loved the open-air atmosphere and laid back vibes at this beautiful estate!
If the weather is nice, grab an outdoor table, a glass (or bottle) of some great wine and enjoy!
Winter’s Hill
6451 Hilltop Lane
Dayton OR 97114
(503) 864-4592
Zenith Vineyard is known not only for their wine, but also as being a prime space for weddings and events in Willamette Valley.
I had the pleasure of visiting this beautiful winery for a close friends’ wedding, and the incredible rolling hill views of the Eola-Amity Hills, along with their custom-designed ballroom, did not disappoint!
Plus, of course, the wine was incredible! (Yeah…this most certainly wasn’t your average house wine that is typically served at weddings!)
To produce incredible wines, I truly believe sustainable farming is key–and Zenith Vineyards is no exception!
As Zenith is well aware, the fruit for outstanding wines can only come from beautiful origins out of respect for the land, the vineyards and, of course, the grapes.
The wines you can expect to find at this vineyard are Pinot Noir, Tempranillo, Chardonnay, Auxerrois, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc—none of which will disappoint!
Whether you’re planning an event, or just want some great wine in a beautiful setting, Zenith Vineyards is the place to be!
Zenith Vineyard
5657 Zena Rd NW
Salem, OR 97304
(503) 932-3540
For these next few winery recommendations, I wanted to disclose that I haven’t yet had the pleasure of visiting myself; however, they came highly recommended as some of the best wineries in Willamette Valley by some of my close friends who happen to be sommelier’s!
As we all know, a sommelier is a an expert in wine. Therefore, as several of these other wineries I visited above were first recommended by them, I know (without a doubt) that these other wineries will be just as amazing!
I will definitely be visiting these wineries on my next trip to the Willamette Valley–if only I had time to squeeze them all in on previous trips!
Did you know, Adelsheim is also considered one of the pioneers of Oregon winemaking?
The winery was founded with one goal in mind: “To create world-class wines in an undiscovered wine region, the Chehalem Mountain’s of Oregon’s Willamette Valley.”
The first 19 acres were purchased in 1971 where their first rows of Pinot Noir were planted, ultimately establishing what would become the Chehalem Mountain’s first-ever winery in 1978!
In addition, Adelsheim is also a local leader in sustainability, consistently striving to be wise stewards of the land (while encouraging the rest of the community to do the same). In fact, they are a LIVE (Low Input Viticulture and Enology) certified sustainable winery!
With that kind of history, it’s no wonder Adelsheim is considered one of the best wineries in Willamette Valley!
This renowned winery in Dundee Hills is known for their single-vineyard Pinot Noirs and a progressive approach to white wines.
Ever since Chehalem Winery released their first bottle in 1990, they operate under the belief that outstanding wine should accompany every course of a meal.
In addition, they understand that the terroir should speak for itself, while the winemaker imprint should be as transparent as possible. This is what truly makes an outstanding wine, reflective of the climate, soil and land!
You can sample their wines at the tasting room and wine bar in Newberg, or at the winery itself.
Per the website, their doors remain open daily from 11 am – 5 pm for outdoor tastings, in-person shopping and curbside pickup. All tastings will be conducted outside in an open tent on our patio, and reservations are encouraged.
Chehalem Winery
106 S Center St
Newberg, OR 97132
(503) 538-4700
With their motto, “Oregon wine by essence, Burgundian wine by style,” Domaine Divio is another winery recommended to me that is high on my list of wineries to visit upon my return to Willamette!
If you know me, you know my love for French (and Italian!) wines, and I love finding and supporting French winemakers in the States!
☞(Check out my, “Best Wineries in Fredericksburg“ blog post to learn about another French winemaker I love who is changing up the game with Bordeaux style wines made from all Texas-grown grapes!)☜
Winemaker Bruno Corneaux applies his traditional Burgundian crafting skills to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, all achieved through minimal intervention and sustainability in respect to the land.
Thus, these wines offer a graceful tasting experience through the delicious fragrance and complexity of each bottle.
I can’t wait to visit on my next trip!
Reservations required in advance. Outdoor tastings only at this time.
Domaine Divio
16435 NE Lewis Rogers Ln
Newberg, OR 97132
503-334-0903
As another LIVE certified sustainable vineyard and winery, Vidon Vineyard, located in the countryside of Newberg, Oregon, is another one of the best wineries in Willamette Valley that came highly recommended by several people!
Vicki Lewis and her husband Don Hagge (a Ph.D., and former NASA physicist) purchased what is now Vidon Vineyard (pronounced “VEE-dawn”) in 1999 in pursuit of their love for Pinot Noir.
The founding winemaker, Don, along with head winemaker David Bellows, who has a Ph.D. with a background in molecular biology, craft exceptional wines that are worthy of praise.
What’s so interesting and cool, to me, is that their exceptional scientific backgrounds contribute to virtually every part of the enterprise–from vineyard management to winemaking to the production line.
A fun quote from the winemaker, Don, I found was: “You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to make good wine, but it doesn’t hurt if you are.”
Be sure and plan to visit this winery on your visit to the Willamette Valley! Reservations are recommended before visiting the winery.
VIDON Vineyards
17425 NE Hillside Dr
Newberg, OR 97132
503-538-4092
Tucked away in the peaceful, rolling landscapes of the Eola-Amity Hills, Bethel Heights Vineyard offers incredible views, warm hospitality and delicious wines that express the unique character of their 40-year-old family estate Vineyard.
Their vineyard is located pretty close to Cristom Vineyards (listed at #1 on the list), so it be would be great to pair these two wineries together! I didn’t have time to add this winery after my visit to Cristom Vineyards, but I can assure you I will be visiting on my next trip!
Furthermore, Bethel Heights farms sustainably grown wines, of course! If you’ve noticed one trend in my wine blog post(s), it’s the importance of sustainably grown and produced wines!
Bethel Heights seeks to grow and produce wines without diminishing the vibrant life of their flourishing ecosystem. Again, this is what true winemaking is!
I also love that this is another winery who has joined forces with their neighbors and colleagues to promote sustainability in the Willamette Valley landscape!
Due to current statewide mandates, wine tastings at Bethel Heights are currently being held outdoors on Saturdays and Sundays only–the tasting room is temporarily closed.
To make a reservation, click here, or call the winery directly.
Bethel Heights Vineyard
6060 Bethel Heights Rd NW
Salem, OR 97304
(503) 581-2262
Patricia Green Cellars mission is to “produce uniquely special Pinot Noirs, and to continually evolve, adapt and grow as a winery, winemakers and winery owners.”
Situated on a 52-acre property in the Ribbon Ridge AVA, all of Patricia Green Cellars vineyards are either organically or sustainably farmed to produce delectable wines specific to the land in which they were born.
They are currently open for outdoor tastings by reservation.
Patricia Green Cellars
15225 NE North Valley Rd
Newberg, OR 97132
tasting@patriciagreencellars.com
(503) 554-0821
With nearly 700 wineries to choose from, it’s hard to narrow down which ones to visit on your trip to Willamette Valley.
I know this list doesn’t even begin to cover all the incredible wineries in the area, so please don’t hesitate to share the wineries you’ve visited that should be added to the list!
If I missed any of your favorite wineries I should know about, let me know in the comments below!
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