12 Best Oregon Wineries to Put on Your Must-Visit List
Updated: Feb. 01, 2024
Producing quality pinot noirs and picturesque views, these Oregon wineries have earned their world-class status
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Destination wineries in the Pacific Northwest
When considering the best wineries in the U.S., it’s typically California that takes the cork, er, cake. Between Napa Valley wineries, Temecula Valley, Paso Robles and Sonoma, you’d think the Golden State had the American wine market cornered. But one visit to the Pacific Northwest may change your mind. With more than 900 Oregon wineries to choose from, the region is showcasing its ability to produce a bottle worth savoring.
Wineries in Oregon provide a different experience than the wine-centered California weekend getaways you might be used to taking. Oregon wineries tend to focus more on artisanal and handcrafted offerings. They also tend to be more affordable and approachable, even if you don’t know all the proper wine terms. Some of the region’s vineyards will wow you with the delicious pinot noirs they produce, while others will have you in awe of the surrounding landscape—some sure to rival the most gorgeous wineries in the world.
Whether you want to discover a new red blend, find the ultimate food-and-wine pairing or just hope to make your way through the country’s best vineyards (New York’s Finger Lakes wineries and Virginia’s best wineries should be next!), let’s raise a glass to these 12 must-see Oregon wineries.
What is the best wine region in Oregon?
Hands down, the best wine region in Oregon is also its oldest: Willamette Valley. The 150-mile-long valley is home to more than 700 wineries and has become a popular tourist destination. Set in an idyllic countryside of farms, vineyards and forests, it’s also bounded by the Oregon Coast Range to the west and the Cascade Mountain Range to the east. So why is the Willamette Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA) so ideal for growing grapes? It’s a fertile region with an elongated growing season thanks to mild and wet winters and warm summers with cool evenings.
In this area recognized for its premier pinot noirs, visitors will also find plenty of places to stay—from luxury hotels and quaint bed-and-breakfasts to boutique properties with high-quality restaurants. It’s perfect for the next couples trip or girls weekend getaway. Taking a road trip there? Check out our Oregon Trail road trip guide.
What wine is famous in Oregon?
If you’re a pinot noir lover, you’re in luck. Oregon is pinot noir central (it’s also home to one of our favorite hidden gems in America). In fact, it’s the preeminent variety in the region because the area’s soils, climate and topography are similar to that of Burgundy, France (from which the world’s most sought-after pinot noirs hail). Of course, that’s not all that’s produced here, so be on the lookout for pinot gris, chardonnay, riesling and cabernet sauvignon too.
How we chose the best wineries in Oregon
With more than 900 wineries in the state, narrowing down our selection to the top dozen was no easy feat. We zeroed in on Oregon wineries that featured excellent wines, impressive scenery, sustainable farming practices, hospitable staff, great customer reviews and unique food pairings. There’s a winery for every palate and every mini vacation, and with a glass of wine in your hand, you really can’t go wrong with any of these experiences.
Soter Vineyards
Best for: Fine-dining foodies and sparkling-wine enthusiasts
Looking for an elevated tasting experience that’s a skosh more formal than most Oregon wineries? Perfect for a romantic weekend getaway, Soter Vineyards in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA (located in the northern part of Willamette Valley) features a rustic tasting room with a farm-to-table focus, thanks to the vegetables, fruits and berries grown onsite at Mineral Springs Ranch, Soter’s 240-acre working biodynamic farm and vineyard. Guided lunch tastings are available Friday through Monday, with an advance reservation. The property is also home to Scottish highland cattle, chickens and heritage breed pigs, so plan to spend some extra time exploring the grounds.
And while Soter is known for its sparkling-wine program, you shouldn’t miss out on its 2018 Mineral Springs White Label Pinot Noir, which received much attention in 2022.
Best time of year to visit: Spring (for the wildflowers and baby animals)
Tasting prices: $45 for the Classic Tasting; $150 for the Provisions Tasting
Hero wine: 2019 Mineral Springs Ranch Pinot Noir
Villa Catalana Cellars
Best for: European castle vibes and gorgeous fairy-tale scenery
Who would have thought you’d find a castle just 30 minutes south of Portland (in east Willamette Valley)? The beautiful Villa Catalana was designed in the style of Romanesque architecture inspired by San Clemente de Tahull, a 12th-century church in Catalonia, Spain. Plan on having a bite to eat while you enjoy your wine tasting, as there’s plenty of inviting seating, a beautiful picnic area and wood-fired pizzas.
The tasting flight includes six wines, and between pours, you should be sure to walk the property, explore the water fountains and duck ponds and check out all the plants in the atrium. Plus, you can pick up a few extra bottles on your visit, which make the best gifts for wine lovers.
Best time of year to visit: Summer
Tasting prices: $15 per person reservation fee
Hero wine: 2016 Pinot Noir
Brooks Wine
Best for: Amazing views and riesling flights
In central Willamette Valley lies Brooks Wine. Perched at the crest of the Eola-Amity Hills AVA, the winery has beautiful views of the peaks of Mount Hood, Mount St. Helens and even Mount Jefferson on a clear day. In 2019, it was named one of the top 100 wineries in the world by Wine & Spirits magazine. Visitors can sit back and enjoy pinot noir and riesling flights, as well as other aromatic white wines, at this ridge-top tasting room. Need a nosh? The seasonal, sustainable food menu features ingredients sourced locally and from the estate garden.
With a focus on sustainability, Brooks was the first winery in the world to hold all three of the following memberships: Demeter-certified (biodynamic agriculture), B-Corp certified and member of One Percent for the Planet.
Best time of year to visit: Summer (for the patio seating and pollinator-paradise garden views)
Tasting prices: $40 reservation fee (refunded during your visit)
Hero wine: 2021 Amycas
Dobbes Family Estate
Best for: Large groups and anyone traveling with their dog
Some wineries can’t accommodate a large group of tasters, but Dobbes Family Estate welcomes groups of any size with inviting indoor-outdoor spaces. As one of the best Oregon wineries to have on your bucket list, this urban winery and tasting room welcomes guests year-round with geodesic domes furnished with colorful lounge seating. The Hideaway is an indoor and outdoor tasting lounge with translucent tent walls and a collection of furnished conversation corners and wooden tables for larger groups.
This winery specializes in traditional Burgundian-inspired pinot noir, like the Grand Assemblage Pinot Noir, which is a blend of sourced fruit from the winery’s top vineyard partners.
Best time of year to visit: Spring and summer (for the outdoor seating, picnic tables and lawn chairs)
Tasting prices: $25 for a flight; elevated tasting experiences are available
Hero wine: Grand Assemblage Pinot Noir
Ghost Hill Cellars
Best for: Wine drinkers craving a peaceful setting
Since 1906, the Bayliss family has farmed on 235 acres of land in Carlton, Oregon. The fifth-generation farm has overcome fires, droughts and even the Great Depression. Today, it’s homesteaded by Daniel Bayliss and his brother and houses Ghost Hill Cellars. (Why “Ghost Hill?” There’s a longstanding legend of a ghost who resides on the Bayliss farm hill, of course.)
The hand-built tasting room resembles a prospector’s shack, as an homage to the area’s gold rush history. And as for the wines? Ghost Hill Cellars produces more than 1,000 cases a year of wines that are made by highly respected Oregon winemaker Eric Hamacher at the historic Ponzi Estate Winery in Beaverton, Oregon (an underrated travel destination).
Best time of year to visit: Fall (for the colorful foliage)
Tasting prices: $20 per person (fee is waived with the purchase of four or more bottles)
Hero wine: Bayliss-Bower Pinot Noir
Archery Summit
Best for: Pinot noir aficionados
Archery Summit crafts pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot gris on a hilltop in Willamette Valley in the Dundee Hills. Visitors will enjoy sprawling views of the picturesque vineyards (there are six of them across 120 estate acres), as well as the gravity-flow winery, as they wind through the Burgundian-inspired barrel caves and learn about the winemaking process.
Don’t miss the 2020 Dundee Hills Pinot Noir, a balanced and earthy medley of crushed red strawberries, allspice, cardamom and sandalwood. Want to spend some extra time here? The Red Hills Guest House is a unique hotel with three bedrooms, a wine fridge, jetted tub, fireplace, a spacious kitchen and a deck with gorgeous views of the vines and Mount Hood and Mount Jefferson in the distance.
Best time of year to visit: May to October
Tasting prices: $50 for the Estate Tasting; $80 for the Cave Tour and Tasting
Hero wine: 2020 Dundee Hills Pinot Noir
ROCO Winery
Best for: Anyone who appreciates elegantly crafted wines from a legendary maker
Founder and winemaker Rollin Soles has been crafting award-winning wines for more than 35 years—he’s Oregon’s original producer of sparkling wine. Visitors to ROCO Winery will get a front-row view of his masterful transformation of beautiful fruit to exquisite wine. The winery is known for its traditional-method sparkling wines, small-production pinot noir and cool-climate chardonnay. There’s an education vineyard onsite, as well as sprawling gardens for guests to explore.
The Stalker Pinot Noir (it refers to Soles’s time traveling in Australia, where they call grape stems “stalks”) is unique because he created his own fermentation style to develop richer flavors without adding heavy, over-the-top green tannins.
Best time of year to visit: Late summer and early fall (for the harvest excitement)
Tasting prices: $40 for the Terroir Experience; $50 for the Diamond Experience
Hero wine: The Stalker Pinot Noir
Yamhill Valley Vineyards
Best for: Casual wine tasters and aficionados alike
As the oldest winery in the McMinnville AVA, located just 10 minutes from downtown McMinnville, Yamhill Valley Vineyards makes 100% estate-grown wines. As you drive up through the vineyard, you’ll pass blocks of pinot noir, pinot blanc, pinot gris and riesling. Look for greetings from the friendly koi fish and Indy, the winery dog.
Aside from wine flights, you’ll also find a charcuterie board featuring local cheeses and samples of Yamhill’s tasty wholegrain mustard and delicious pinot noir marionberry jam. A top choice from the winery is the Pinot Noir Estate, a fruit-forward wine that pulls fruit from all the pinot noir blocks in the vineyard. It truly represents the Yamhill Valley’s distinctive terroir.
Best time of year to visit: Winter (for barrel tastings) or fall (to see picking and winemaking in action)
Tasting prices: $25 for Signature Flight; $30 for Reserve Flight
Hero wine: Pinot Noir Estate
Hiyu Wine Farm
Best for: Enjoying communal meals and playful wine dinners
Having just received a James Beard Foundation Award nomination for Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program, it’s no surprise that locals often name Hiyu Wine Farm as one of the best wineries in Oregon. Here, you won’t find a traditional tasting room. Instead, their Wine Tavern dining experiences feature seasonal dishes harvested onsite and served within a rustic farmhouse—choose from such options as communal feasts, Thursday supper and a farmer’s lunch. The grapes here are grown with a strong, nonintervention policy, resulting in the most natural wines from the alpine Hood River region (a mere 22 miles from Mount Hood).
Best time of year to visit: Spring (when the farms are bursting with life)
Tasting prices: $100–$250 for tasting paired with food
Hero wine: Wines change regularly
Rain Dance Vineyards
Best for: Classically produced wines in a historic setting
A trickling waterfall. A calming koi pond. Lush greenery. Lazy llamas. Welcome to Rain Dance Vineyards in Newberg, Oregon, the heart of the Willamette Valley (down the street from one of Oregon’s most romantic hotels). Its tasting room is housed in a 1916 farmhouse that’s been meticulously remodeled, and the carriage house serves as an additional gathering spot for wine tastings and private dinners. For a relaxing escape from city life, cozy up on the patio near the fire pit and sip your pinot noir rosé, French-style chardonnay or Gewürztraminer while overlooking the gardens, pond and vineyard.
Best time of year to visit: Spring or summer
Tasting prices: $35 per flight (waived with a three-bottle purchase)
Hero wine: 2020 Estate Pinot Noir
Et Fille Wines
Best for: Supporting woman-owned-and-operated wineries
Located in Newberg, Oregon, Et Fille (which means “and daughter”) was founded by father-and-daughter team Howard and Jessica Mozeico in 2003. Since her father’s death in 2017, Jessica runs the business with a sustainability focus: It’s one of the only B-Corp certified wineries in the state and gives back to the community by raising money for STEM education for girls and young women. If you’re looking for a winery that doesn’t require driving out to a vineyard, Et Fille is for you. The tasting room is located on Main Street for easy access to the area’s shops, hotels and restaurants.
Best time of year to visit: Year-round
Tasting prices: $25 per person (waived with a minimum purchase)
Hero wine: 2019 Heredity Pinot Noir
Cowhorn Vineyard & Garden
Best for: Anyone who appreciates holistic methods and biodynamic wines
Just a few miles north of California in Oregon’s fertile Applegate Valley, Cowhorn Vineyard & Garden is a 117-acre, Demeter-certified (biodynamic) and woman-owned vineyard and farm. It’s home to a vineyard, garden and beautifully designed, LEED-certified (sustainable) tasting room. If you appreciate eco-friendly living and making your next vacation more sustainable, Cowhorn specializes in growing and producing wines with as minimal intervention as possible and has received more than a hundred 90-plus scores over the years. Reserve a one-hour tasting experience, a pairing of wine and wood-fired pizza, or a picnic under the oak trees with a bottle and basket for two.
Best time of year to visit: Late September or early October (for the changing leaves)
Tasting prices: $20 per person
Hero wine: 2016 Syrah 6
Originally Published: February 14, 2023
