We are very blessed in the Pacific Northwest with some of the finest wines in the world, especially Pinot Noir. What started as a few determined wine makers in the 1960′s has turned into 200 wineries, on over 12,000 acres. The Willamette Valley compares in many ways with the Burgundy and Alsace regions of France, making it ideal for Pinot Noir. In the late 1970′s David Lett entered his Oregon Pinot noir in the Gault-Millau French Wine Olympiades and won top Pinot noir honors against France’s best labels, putting all doubts about Oregon as a serious wine region to rest. Looking for something other than some of the best Pinot Noir in the world? You can also find great Pinot gris, Chardonnay,  Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah. So for no other reason than a chance to taste some incredible wines, you should make the short road trip from Portland to Oregon’s Willamette Valley Wineries.

The Valley is a mere 40 minutes from  Portland and once you get out of the city the drive gets especially charming with hillsides as far as the eye can see, lots of cute fruit stands and farms, antique stores, etc…

My husband and I love to go to wine country whenever we think of it and have a free day, what a perfect way to spend  a weekend !  A day wine tasting with your best friend sounds pretty fun too…

If you get an early start you can really take advantage of the area. Mcmenamins Hotel Oregon is right in downtown McMinnville, in the heart of wine country. The rooftop bar on a clear day offers views of the whole valley and is a great lunch stopover. Downtown McMinnville is quaint and charming with antique stores, boutiques and other great restaurants. If you have a chance to stay over night, Hotel Oregon offers oodles of charm and endless possibilities.

Mcmenamins Grand Lodge in Forest Grove is also a great lunch stopover and if it’s warm enough, you could even play some disc golf. They also have a soaking pool and Spa, for some good solid pampering. If you want to go all out, there are many wonderful nice restaurants in the area such as Nick’s Italian Cafe, The Painted Lady & Tina’s to name a few. A big yummy lunch with some fancy cheese and other gourmet goodies for a winery picnic could be lovely too.

By the time you get to Hotel Oregon, you are well on your way to the stunning Oregon Coast. High cliffs, beautiful forests and stunning sunsets are always worth the trip. Even on a stormy day the Oregon Coast is stunning, on a clear day it’s unbelievable. You may even get lucky enough to find a room in one of the many charming towns on your way up towards Cannon Beach. If you don’t find a room , it’s just over an hour to get back into the city from Cannon Beach.

All in all, I think most anyone would be happy with some quality road trip time, great wine, good food, and some truly stunning views.