Sip, Shine and Stroll in Oregon Wine Country
Superb wines give you new reasons to savor Western Oregon.
By Robin Tierney
For brunch at the winery, everyone's grooming and manners were impeccable, including the dogs'.
“You see, in western Oregon, wine inspires everyone to be their best self, whether in the tasting room or happy-houring with a robust dog-walk around the vineyard.” At Stoller Family Estate, the owners’ dogs Elsie and Moxie assisted in greeting us to the gastronomic tasting tour, then helped guide us around Stoller’s northern Willamette Valley hillside covered with grape-laden vines.
Wine-makers happily explain how Oregon’s soils, winds and elevations help them grow Oregon’s flagship varietal, Pinot noir, as well as Pinot gris, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Baco noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and other grapes, accounting for the nearly 800 wineries that have popped up around the state.
The geography and microclimates that yield incredible wine grapes also nurture amazing outdoor playgrounds. That’s why Oregon is becoming known worldwide as a place to pair wine tastings with playtime. And like the growing number of winemakers migrating from California and overseas, travelers like Oregonian affordability, lack of congestion and spirit.
On a western Oregon road trip, you and your furry family members can drop into fun Fido-friendly tasting rooms surrounded by panoramas of vineyards, mountains and valleys.
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