Where To
in the Willamette Valley
Here's a curated list of where to eat, go wine tasting, shop and more in Oregon's wine country: our personal travel guide to the places we love most in Willamette Valley (including Newberg, Dundee, Carlton, McMinnville and Amity) and Portland metro areas.
Eat
Pinch
A total gem of a restaurant on Third Street from the chef/owner of Newberg’s Recipe and Bar Deux, our favorite hang “back in the day” (you know, pre-covid). The space is cozy and beautiful, and the dishes are creative and fun, with... [read more]
Wooden Heart Kitchen
We’ve been enjoying Wooden Heart pizza and other wood-fired goodness from their food truck for years, so I was beyond excited about the opening of their new brick & mortar restaurant in Dundee!... [read more]
Pizza Capo
Our favorite pizza in McMinnville, but so much more than that. Insanely good arancini, seasonal veggie dishes from local farms, a lovely wine list and a beautiful and comfortable dining room with... [read more]
The Newbergundian
Delicious French-inspired options at approachable prices with warm, efficient and friendly hospitality. The wine by the glass list has lots of fun options at equally fun prices, so you can try a few new things. Our go-tos:... [read more]
Barley & Vine Tavern
One of our fave casual spots in downtown Newberg with a nice selection of craft beer pours, affordable wines by the glass and bottle, and bar bites (think nachos, soft pretzels and crostini). It’s a local and industry hang, too, so a great opportunity to experience more of this great community.... [read more]
Rosmarino Osteria Italiana
After moving from their first location, Agrivino in Carlton, Chef Dario has set up in downtown Newberg and is serving up absolutely delicious Northern-Italian dishes. Lunch, dinner, and five course tasting menus are served, and they have fun pizza & gnocchi days on Sundays that are... [read more]
Ruddick/Wood
A dose of the Portland hip vibe right in downtown Newberg, with interesting and creative dishes with a local focus. We’re partial to the casual vibe of the tavern (head around the left side of the building to the back bar) and the Oregon wines on tap.... [read more]
Red Hills Market
This is the place you will wish you had one of back home. Casual, delicious breakfast and lunches with the wine country farm feel that we love most about this area. Also a great spot to grab provisions for a winery lunch: local cheeses, charcuterie, breads, desserts, wine, cider and beer.... [read more]
Jory (at the Allison)
Fine dining, but still relaxed and comfortable. Rather than a table reservation, we prefer cozying up in the lounge near the fireplace (where their over-the-top burger is on the menu) or grabbing a stool at the chef’s bar with a view of all the kitchen action. The dishes... [read more]
Dundee Bistro
Casually elegant restaurant in the heart of Dundee, next to Red Hills Market. Their fish & chips are to die for, the wine list superb, and the housemade pastas and woodfired pizzas are always on point. In terms of atmosphere, they have a beautiful patio for warm days... [read more]
Brooks
If riesling is your thing, Brooks can’t be missed, but they have a full lineup of pinot noir and other whites, too. They also have a really fun tasting room team, a great food menu, a stunner of a view, and a constant calendar of events. It’s always a really fun time there, making it... [read more]
Thistle
Equally good for the bar (Patrick mixes up classic + creative cocktails) as it is for a date night-worthy dinner in the dining room. Make sure to call for reservations and to check nights that full dinner will be served (sometimes, only on the weekends): (503) 472-9623.... [read more]
Pura Vida
Fresh and delicious latin-american cuisine on Third Street. We love the tacos, taquitos, and pollo en aji (for dinner). They’re also now serving breakfast, which is much needed on Third Street! Indoor and outdoor seating, family-friendly vibe.... [read more]
La Rambla
An extensive tapas/small plates menu and a great wine list with an upscale but not stuffy atmosphere. The happy hour (at the bar only) is a great bet for pre-dinner bites or an early dinner. Our favorite dishes: coffee-rubbed steak,... [read more]
Experience
Serendipity Wine Tours
Holly is knowledgeable, kind, flexible and fun to be around, and her luxe new Expedition very comfortably seats six guests. You can check availability online (“Book Now” button, pick a tour option) and reach out to book; she can surprise you with an itinerary, or make appointments based upon your input – I’m happy to […]... [read more]
Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge
About 15 minutes north of our homes in Newberg, the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge is a close-by, calm oasis filled with birds and other wildlife. It’s a nice little spot to go for a nature walk and get some exercise and fresh air without the long drive. The walks are flat... [read more]
Miller Woods
Having a beautiful nature walk within 15 minutes of downtown McMinnville is a gift, and Miller Woods is a total local treasure: 130 acres of woodlands, with a 3.7 loop hike (easy with small hills, and runnable), two ponds, picnic areas and wildlife viewing opportunities. Day use donation... [read more]
Shop
Left By West
Don’t miss this highly curated, zen-like Third Street shop from our friends Meg and Zach, a thoughtful and creative couple with impeccable taste. Equal parts lifestyle boutique and art gallery, they offer a collection of... [read more]
Pulp & Circumstance
This gem of a gift shop in downtown Newberg carries a great selection of cards, local pottery, art, jewelry, and other gifts in a sweet little house at College + 2nd Street, just a couple blocks down from our Cottage and Bungalow.... [read more]
Red Ridge Farms
Tucked away up in the Dundee Hills, this is our favorite home goods, nursery and high-end gifting shop in the valley. Try the olive oil, and try your best to not buy every tea towel and beautiful handmade wood bowl in the shop.... [read more]
Art Elements
Upscale gallery featuring local artists and art-related events.... [read more]
Red Hills Market
This is the place you will wish you had one of back home. Casual, delicious breakfast and lunches with the wine country farm feel that we love most about this area. Also a great spot to grab provisions for a winery lunch: local cheeses, charcuterie, breads, desserts, wine, cider and beer.... [read more]
Third Street Books
The perfect little independent bookstore with lots of local reads, especially food/drink related, and a mix of used/vintage finds within the stacks. Great for gifts and for the littles.... [read more]
The Merri Artist
Charming art supply store on Third Street with a great selection and friendly, knowledgeable service.... [read more]
Mes Amies
My go-to boutique – I think half my wardrobe is now from this fab shop! There’s a ton of variety of style and price, a great selection of accessories for completing your outfits, and a treasure trove of thoughtful gifts. I also love their good mix of Portland, PNW and west coast designers and makers.... [read more]
McMinnville Farmer's Market
Open May – Oct on Thursdays, with local produce, meat, cheese, flowers and dry goods.... [read more]
Flag & Wire
A third gen coffee spot in the Granary District, roasting our favorite beans in the area. Try the Woodsman (a killer cappuccino lightly sweetened with maple), or a pourover Ethiopian.... [read more]
Harvest Fresh
We do all our grocery shopping here at this convenient spot on Third Street, within walking distance to The Park House. Lots of organic and local produce, fresh meats, cheeses, and dry goods in the bulk bins. For a quick, short-wait lunch, grab a sandwich or salad from the deli eat at their outside tables.... [read more]
Sip
Rodeo Hills
While as impressive and upscale as his other projects, this newest venture from winemaker Jared Etzel (also the winemaker at Domaine Roy and Lenné) feels much more personal. It’s a family collaboration with his wife Erica and brother-in-law Eugene Labunsky, and the tasting room reads more like a cozy modern home rather a commercial space.... [read more]
Sequitur
Whether or not you are a lover of Beaux Frères, Sequitur – the “it follows” project of Michael Etzel and his wife, Carey – deserves a place on your must-visit list. It checks all my boxes: story/history, aesthetics of the winery and tasting room, beauty of the land, and (most important) the wine is stellar.... [read more]
Anacréon Winery
Owner/Operators Danell and Kipp have created something beautiful at their home and vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains. You can enjoy two different tasting experiences – both with food to accompany the wines – while taking in a view of their vineyard, the future tasting room site, and a stunning look up into Ribbon Ridge.... [read more]
Sealionne
Piper and Ben, the husband and wife founders/winemakers behind Sealione (and Privé), craft adventurous and totally delicious wines from their Ribbon Ridge estate vineyard and select sites in Oregon and Washington – I’m obsessed with their amphora Chard and gorgeously earthy Cab Franc.... [read more]
Varnum Vintners
Cyler and Taralyn will make you feel right at home at their homestead winery and tasting room in the Eola Amity Hills AVA. They produce lovely small production wines and specialize in Riesling and sparkling varieties – we stock up on their 375ml bubbles that are perfect for easy summertime deck sippin’.... [read more]
Furioso
One of our favorite places to taste in the valley! Beautiful wine, stunning view, friendly and knowledgeable people in the tasting room. Our favorite patio for the summer months.... [read more]
Domaine Divio
A gorgeously positioned cabin amidst the vines makes for the perfect tasting spot. We love that there’s lots of outdoor seating, a fireplace for rainy days, a perfect 10 of a cheese/charcuterie plate, a friendly hospitality team – and the wines are beautiful, too.... [read more]
Barley & Vine Tavern
One of our fave casual spots in downtown Newberg with a nice selection of craft beer pours, affordable wines by the glass and bottle, and bar bites (think nachos, soft pretzels and crostini). It’s a local and industry hang, too, so a great opportunity to experience more of this great community.... [read more]
Eminent Domaine
Located near the northern end of Ribbon Ridge, this perfectly situated winery is producing elegant and beautiful Chardonnay and estate Pinot Noir. They have one of the best views in the valley, and a large picnic area where you can bring a meal, buy a bottle, relax and soak it all up.... [read more]
The Bitter Monk
Probably the best beer bar we’ve been to, anywhere. It’s a locals hangout but very friendly to visitors, too, with a great staff (say hi to Becky for us!), always a couple of cider options, and great people watching. No food served, but you’re welcome to bring your own in from... [read more]
Ruddick/Wood
A dose of the Portland hip vibe right in downtown Newberg, with interesting and creative dishes with a local focus. We’re partial to the casual vibe of the tavern (head around the left side of the building to the back bar) and the Oregon wines on tap.... [read more]
Winderlea
Pretty much every winery along the Dundee Hills’ Worden Hill Road is worth a visit – the views are stunning and the pinot pitch-perfect – but Winderlea is one of our favorites: a beautiful floor-to-ceiling windowed tasting room, stunning views of the Dundee Hills... [read more]
Soter (Mineral Springs Ranch)
One of the best views you’ll find in the valley, along with some of the most beautiful wines, and a truly stunning biodynamic estate. They have a cozy fireplace and host some of the best can’t-miss events.... [read more]
Stoller
For those looking to connect with the history of wine production in the Willamette Valley, Stoller always has a place on our list. A former turkey farm, they have deep local roots, lovely wines, a stunner of a modern tasting room (LEED certified)... [read more]
Hazelfern
To-die-for delicious wines (especially the rosé and Gamay, my favorites), a beautiful barn-turned-tasting room, and a really fun family & team making it all happen: Hazelfern is one of our absolute favorite places to visit, and always... [read more]
Flaneur
Our go-to recommendation for tasting in Carlton with high-quality, low intervention Pinot, Chardonnay and sparkling and one of our favorite winemakers, Grant Coulter managing the vintages. Founder Marty is an architect, and their restoration of Carlton’s grain elevator is a must-see... [read more]
Brooks
If riesling is your thing, Brooks can’t be missed, but they have a full lineup of pinot noir and other whites, too. They also have a really fun tasting room team, a great food menu, a stunner of a view, and a constant calendar of events. It’s always a really fun time there, making it... [read more]
Bethel Heights
Stunning views, friendly people, beautifully designed tasting room and of course, lovely wines. Their estate chardonnay is one of our favorites – whole cluster, mostly neutral oak, unfined. LIVE certified sustainable.... [read more]
Thistle
Equally good for the bar (Patrick mixes up classic + creative cocktails) as it is for a date night-worthy dinner in the dining room. Make sure to call for reservations and to check nights that full dinner will be served (sometimes, only on the weekends): (503) 472-9623.... [read more]
Flag & Wire
A third gen coffee spot in the Granary District, roasting our favorite beans in the area. Try the Woodsman (a killer cappuccino lightly sweetened with maple), or a pourover Ethiopian.... [read more]
Wolves and People Farmhouse Brewery
If you’re a craft beer lover, this place can’t be missed. Wood-aged, wild yeast, farmhouse style beers made in an old wooden barn on a working family farm in Newberg. Seating is outside in their charming beer garden, but they have cover and heaters... [read more]
Work
The Bitter Monk
Probably the best beer bar we’ve been to, anywhere. It’s a locals hangout but very friendly to visitors, too, with a great staff (say hi to Becky for us!), always a couple of cider options, and great people watching. No food served, but you’re welcome to bring your own in from... [read more]
Flag & Wire
A third gen coffee spot in the Granary District, roasting our favorite beans in the area. Try the Woodsman (a killer cappuccino lightly sweetened with maple), or a pourover Ethiopian.... [read more]
