If you’re following the Perfect Oregon Road Trip Itinerary, the perfect pairing to Portland and the Oregon Coast is a trip to Willamette Valley: Oregon’s wine country. If you’re on the fence, this is your sign that it is 100% worth it to fit two days in Willamette Valley into your vacation itinerary.
Located less than an hour away from Portland, Willamette Valley is an easy (and beautiful!) drive.
the itinerary
TWO DAYS IN WILLAMETTE VALLEY
- Day One – Downtown Dundee, Newburg, the Setting Inn
- Day Two – Full day of wine tasting: Penner Ash, L’Angolo Estate
The best advice you can take is to find a home base that is part of the experience. The Setting Inn is exactly that. Located in Newberg, OR, the property itself is centrally located to many of the most popular vineyards. From the locally curated breakfast boxes delivered every morning to the stunning balcony views, I cannot say enough good things about this boutique inn.
If you’re looking into visiting Willamette Valley, you’re likely interested in some wine tasting. To maximize your time, I generally recommend sticking two to three tastings. That might not seem like many, but you don’t want to feel rushed. Each tasting will take at least 60 minutes. Assuming you sleep in until 9 am, eat breakfast and are out the door by 10:30 am, you could start your first tasting around 11 am. For us, this was Penner Ash. Most tastings do not have food so you will want to buffer in a break for lunch. The Red Hills Market in Dundee had delicious pizza and a welcoming, casual outdoor area to sit and eat. After lunch, you could comfortably make it to your second tasting by 2:30 pm. Our second tasting at L’Angolo was 90 minutes, leaving enough time to go back and change before heading to dinner.
Two Days in Willamette Valley: General Tips
Keep in mind, there is no one way to experience Willamette Valley. Some might prefer trying more wine and squeezing in a third option. This is totally doable, but we were driving ourselves and wanted to have a more relaxed experience. If you’re planning to drive, I would recommend spreading out the tastings and/or having a designated driver. If you’re dying to try more but don’t have time for another tasting, another tip is to pick a lunch or dinner spot that features wine from vineyards you didn’t try. This allows you to experience more of the fabulous wine from the region without a formal tasting.
Finally, the best part of a vacation is leaving with a desire for more. After just two days in Willamette Valley, I already had a list full of places I want to come back and try.
Let me know if you have any specific questions about the region! What’s your favorite Pinot from Oregon?
Marin Olivia
Owner & Founder
My name is Marin and I am a twenty-something living in Milwaukee. My day job is as an advertising Account Supervisor managing my portfolio of clients’ plans and business goals. In my free time I am growing and pursuing my passion for content creation, training and loving my pup, Jarvis, and planning my next adventure.
