Area Attractions

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The Heart of the Willamette Valley

Yamhill Carlton District - MAP

North of McMinnville, Oregon, in the Northern Willamette Valley, the land slowly rises to the hamlets of Carlton and Yamhill. Low ridges surround the two communities in a horseshoe shape. The free-flowing North Yamhill River courses through the center of a lush patchwork quilt of nurseries, grain fields and orchards. The neatly combed benchlands and hillsides of the Yamhill-Carlton District, an AVA established in 2004, are home to some of the finest Pinot Noir vineyards in the world.

Historically nourished by forestry and farming, this area is rapidly emerging as a global center of Pinot Noir production. This pastoral corner of Oregon’s northern Willamette Valley was the final destination for many of the early Oregon Trail pioneers. It is now being revitalized by a new wave of pioneers: committed, passionate winegrowers drawn to the area's unique set of growing conditions. The Coast Range to the west soars to nearly 3500 feet (1200m), establishing a rain ‘shadow’ over the entire district. Additional protection is afforded by Chehalem Mountain to the north and the Dundee Hills to the east.

The coarse-grained, ancient marine sediments native to the area are among the oldest soils in the Willamette Valley. These soils drain quickly, making them ideal for viticulture. Thus, the vines stop growing shoots and leaves earlier here than elsewhere, leading to more complete ripening, even in cooler growing seasons. This allows Pinot Noir to develop deep ruby colors and broad, silky tannins. The mouth-filling wines exude powerful fruit aromas of raspberry, blackberry and black cherries, framed by minerality reminiscent of pipe tobacco, espresso, clove and dark chocolate and accented by scents of rose, violet, lavender and sweet wood smoke. These are alluring, complex, supple gems of Pinot Noir to sip and savor.

Chehalem Mountains - MAP

In Portland’s Backyard!
Encompassing over 100 square miles, our AVA touches 3 counties (Yamhill, Washington and Clackamas) and yet is only 19 miles from the heart of Portland.

Head southwest out of Portland on nearly any major road and you soon find yourself in the Chehalem Mountains.

More than any other grape varietal, Pinot Noir reflects where it is grown. The diverse topography of the Chehalem Mountains provides a wide variety of opportunities for Pinot to express itself. Mountains set our AVAs apart from others and pull together a variety of unique conditions that influence our wines.

While best known for Pinot Noir, the Chehalem Mountains are also ideal for other cool climate wine grape varieties such as Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Gamay Noir and Gewurztraminer. Many of our wineries also select and import choice grapes from warmer regions in Washington and Oregon and offer special Bordeaux blends - Syrahs, Barberas, Sangioveses and more.

Mother Nature gets a helping hand from grape growers and wine makers who embrace the unique bounty of the Chehalem Mountains. You'll find singular personalities pursuing their dreams of growing fabulous grapes from which great wines are crafted.

Family-owned vineyards are nurtured with knowledge and care. During harvest, you'll likely find winery crews enthusiastically aided by family, friends and neighbors working together to pick and sort the grapes by hand. If you happen to be up at 5 a.m. or still up at 10 p.m. you will surely find tireless winemakers balancing on the edges of large vats, punching down the grape skins so their color and flavors can be extracted into the juice as it becomes wine.

Here, great wines are made with pride and passion.

Dundee Hills - MAP

The Dundee Hills is the heart and soil of Oregon wines. Home to Oregon's earliest Pinot noir growing history, it is also fast becoming a fine-wine destination reminiscent of Burgundy, France.

Located just 28 miles southwest of Portland, and 40 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean, the Dundee Hills appellation is situated within an irregular circle of about 6,490 acres in total, of which more than 1,264 acres of vineyards are planted. This region is unique for its higher elevation, warmer nighttime temperatures, less low-elevation fog and frost, and lava-based Jory soil series of reddish silt, clay and loam soils. The red hills showcase some of the most spectacular views of the northern Willamette Valley and beyond, with the Chehalem Mountains to the north, the Cascade Mountains, including the breath-taking snow-peaked Mt. Hood and Mt. Jefferson to the east, and the Coastal Range to the west.

In Dundee, Pinot noir is king. Our wines are made with terroir in mind, showcasing equivalent pedigree as the finest Burgundies in France. We also offer an exceptional selection of other cool-climate varietals like Chardonnay, Pinot gris and Pinot blanc.

With a wonderful diversity of wineries ranging from the rustic and state-of-the-art to grand Domaines, the Dundee Hills offers some of the most extraordinary, elegant and sought-after Pinot noir in the world. We cordially invite you to come and taste for yourself.

Willamette Valley - MAP

The Willamette Valley, Oregon's leading wine region has two-thirds of the state's wineries and vineyards and is home to more than 200 wineries. It has been recognized as one of the premier Pinot noir producing areas in the world.

The Willamette Valley is a huge and varied appellation that includes six sub-appellations; Chehalem Mountains, Dundee Hills, Eola-Amity Hills, McMinnville, Ribbon Ridge & Yamhill Carlton.

Buffered from Pacific storms on the west by the Coast Range, the valley follows the Willamette River north to south for more than a hundred miles from the Columbia River near Portland to just south of Eugene. To the east, the Cascade Ranges draws the boundary between the Willamette Valley’s misty, cool climate and the drier, more extreme climate of eastern Oregon.

At its widest point, this long, broad valley spans sixty miles. Overall, the climate boasts a long, gentle growing season. In this matter the Willamette Valley compares favorably with the Burgundy and Alsace regions of France. And, like it or not, the often finicky Willamette Valley climate is the promised land for Pinot Noir in America. Wineries also produce Pinot gris, Pinot blanc, Chardonnay, Melon, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, sparkling wine, Sauvignon Blanc, and some Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah.