5 Days in Portland and the Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is dubbed “the new Napa” – and there’s good reason to choose the Pacific Northwest for a wine-sipping holiday.
Why I Went: Wine tasting, of course! After our honeymoon to Australia, where we got to taste our way through the Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula, we were eager to spend another few days in a top wine region.
What I was Surprised By: Firstly, before you go, you better know that it’s pronounced “will-AM-it” not “willa-met”. You can easily remember it by the phrase: “Will-AM-it, dammit”. Secondly, the sheer number of wineries (700!) in the Willamette Valley and the amount of investment that has gone into the construction of some of the buildings is incredible. You get a beautiful mix of small operators, with the architecture of big players. Despite the investment in wineries, there are few hotels and restaurants (but I’ll tell you about the great ones in this post!). And finally, the people are incredibly kind (truly – this is coming from a Canadian!).
Who It’s Great For:
- Solo travel
- Couples
- Foodies!
Legend:
If it has a ✨ emoji beside it, that means I went there myself. Everything else was on my well-researched ‘must-hit’ list when planning, but alas, I couldn’t go everywhere!
If there’s a 🤍 emoji beside it, that means I loved this spot and would return.
If there’s a 🌼 emoji beside it, that means it’s worth going once, but I likely wouldn’t return if you’ve already been (or if you’re hesitant about it anyway).
I don’t share anything on Middle of Somewhere that I personally wouldn’t recommend going to.
Why You Should Go
World Class Wine
…especially Pinot Noirs
💡 Did you know? The Willamette Valley is on the same latitude as Burgundy, and has similar climate for growing grapes. You’ll largely be drinking Pinot Noirs, with a sprinkling of Chardonnay and other varietals like Viognier.
Farm-to-Table
farm-to-table dinners, unique pizza toppings, thai meets BBQ and more
💡 Portland and the Willamette Valley are renowned for farm-to-table dining, and exceptional culinary diversity. You’ll often find chefs leveraging unique combinations of ingredients to make familiar dishes just that little bit more ‘wow’ – like unfamiliar toppings on pizza, the absolute sweetest corn in your pasta or brisket burnt ends in your Thai curry.
Portland is also known for a robust food truck scene with plenty of food truck pods dotting the city. Here, you can expect to see an elevated food truck experience, with elevated tables, covered areas and fire pits.
Close Proximity
You can get from the city to the wine valley in a mere 45 minutes
The proximity of the Willamette Valley to Portland offers an amazing opportunity for city dwellers (or in-and-out travellers) to escape into a picturesque wine country, experiencing world-class vineyards and breathtaking landscapes just a short drive away.
Robust Coffee Scene
Independent coffee shops galore
Portland’s coffee scene is a caffeinated haven, where artisanal coffee shops dot every neighbourhood, each with its unique blend and atmosphere. Locals and visitors alike revel in the city’s commitment to quality, savouring meticulously brewed single-origin beans and creative espresso concoctions. From cozy, hole-in-the-wall roasters to bustling, community-centric cafes, Portland’s coffee culture thrives as a testament to the city’s dedication to the perfect cup.
TRIP FAVOURITES
Below are a round-up of my favourite places & experiences. Keep scrolling to find more recommendations on where to eat & drink, what to do and where to wander, plus a full itinerary.
1. Private Tasting at Abbott Claim
One of our favourite tastings in Willamette Valley was at Abbot Claim. Available by appointment only, with the tasting culminating in their barrel room, this was a pretty spectacular experience.
2. Antica Terra Tasting Experience
Another incredible tasting experience was at Antica Terra. The tasting involved a contrast to some of the best bottles of French and Spanish wine, so you could get an idea for how great Antica Terra’s wines are.
3. Inn the Ground
Inn The Ground opened only a month before our arrival, and it’s the perfect combination of an elevated stay, striking architecture, farm-to-table breakfast, and beautiful trails and views across the Pacific Northwest.
4. Dinner at Eem
Dinner at Eem typically comes with a 1+ hour wait, for good reason. They combine Thai with Southern BBQ – a unique combination that feels so much like the essence of Portland. I would return here in a heartbeat.
5. International Rose Test Garden
The International Rose Test Garden includes over 10,000 roses, including over 600 varieties, perched at the top of a hill. The flowers are in bloom from late May to October and it’s a spectacular site.
Bonus: Coffee Scene
A bonus pick from Dave (since I don’t drink coffee) is the bustling coffee scene in Portland. Stumptown stood out as his favourite.
Inn the Ground Breakfast
WHERE TO EAT
Oregon is an exceptional culinary destination, celebrated for, locally farmed ingredients, top-tier hospitality professionals and the pioneering spirit that continuously pushes the boundaries of culinary creativity.
Below are the best places to eat in Portland and the Willamette Valley.
Eem | Eem is a true Portland gem that creatively fuses Thai and Texas barbecue to create a unique, and memorable dinner out. Here, you’ll find innovative dishes like white curry with brisket smoked ends and “very spicy” papaya salad. Their pad kra pao is made with crispy pork belly, and left me thinking about it for weeks. If you love Thai and BBQ, Eem is a must-visit.✨🤍
Lovely’s Fifty Fifty | Where ice cream and pizza meets unique flavour combinations. Lovely’s Fifty Fifty gained a robust following after being in the spotlight on Netflix’s Chef’s Table – Pizza. She spent five years making bread daily, eventually leveraging that knowledge to perfect pizza crust. You won’t find that familiar tomato base on her pies; instead, you’ll discover her favourite finds from local farmers markets – from concord grapes to shishito peppers, peaches and corn. It’s a must-visit for those interested in discovering a fresh and innovative way to enjoy pizza. ✨🤍
Sokol Blosser Farm and Forage Lunch | If you’re looking for a winery lunch in Willamette Valley, you’ll be limited on options. While there are plenty of places to enjoy a charcuterie board, and several more that allow you to bring a picnic, not many offer an elevated lunch experience. The Sokol Blosser Farm and Forage lunch experience highlights the region’s seasonal bounty, with ingredients sourced directly from the estate’s organic gardens and local farmers – sometimes foraged by the chef himself. The lunch is paired with wines from Sokol Blosser winery. While we really enjoyed the food, company and views at this winery, there were a few things we were longing for:
- The dining room, while private, felt like it was missing the architectural awe that other areas of the property had. We would’ve loved to be in the main room with the stunning wood detail on the vaulted ceiling, or on the side porch with panoramic views. Instead, the room we were in felt a bit like a dated fishbowl.
- While the chef described the food wonderfully, we felt there could have been more storytelling with the wine pairings. They lacked explanation of why the pairings were made, and could’ve highlighted notes that we should have tasted as we flipped from wine sips to food bites.
- The building and views are beautiful, but unfortunately they set the car park right in front of the building, so to enjoy the view, you need to look over a sea of vehicles first.
✨🌼
Humble Spirit | Humble Spirit is THE place to dine in McMinnville. With a farm-to-table focus (the owners also run their own a farm!), you know you’re getting exceptional quality. That, paired with a creative but anchored chef, means that you’ll want to savour each bite. We dined on Oregon Bay shrimp rolls, a delightful burger (their fries are so good!!!), a corn pasta and beet salad. ✨🤍
Red Hills Market | Red Hills Market is a perfect spot to grab lunch, or charcuterie ingredients for a winery picnic or hotel dinner. Located in Dundee, it’s nestled right in the middle of wine region. We went back multiple times throughout our trip – they make pizzas and sandwiches to-order (we had their famous roast beef and it was delightful). They also have a lovely wine selection and other items that are perfect for gifts – like local olive oils and other condiments. ✨🤍
Food Truck Pods
Portland is known for their food truck scene, so it would be shame to visit without checking out one (or a few!). Here are some that we visited:
- Nob Hill Food Carts | This is a small truck tucked behind NW 23rd (so perfect to visit while strolling that street). They have ~6 trucks and a couple of picnic tables. We opted for a smashburger from Farmer and the Beast and it was delicious (though I’d opt for more patty’s next time – they’re quite thin). ✨🤍
- Hawthorne Asylum | This food pod is on the east side, and naturally (given the name) tucked behind a concrete wall and barbed wire. Inside, you’ll find a great setup of nice picnic tables, covered areas, washrooms and even a long fire. We indulged in a Korean burrito with spicy pork and it was great! ✨🌼
- Cartopia | Just around the corner from Hawthorne, this spot has fewer trucks but an arguably cuter vibe. Since we just ate, we didn’t grab anything here, but the thai spot, fried chicken and pizza places all looked great. ✨🤍
Desserts! It seemed like Portland has a dessert spot around every corner.
Blue Star Donuts | We tried a couple donut shops, and this was by far the best. We indulged in four (yes, woops) including: blueberry bourbon, apple fritter, lemon lime custard, and old fashioned. They were divine. ✨🤍
Salt and Straw | No better place to get handmade ice cream than Salt and Straw. There are a few locations around Portland and it’s certainly worth a visit (yes, even if that means eating it ~1 hour after your donut indulgence, like we did). Their ice cream is homemade and they – like many spots in Portland – use a unique spin on ingredients you wouldn’t typically find in ice cream. Opt for a fun flavour like their pear and blue cheese or strawberry balsamic.✨🤍
Here are a few other spots that we went to but didn’t love quite as much:
- Carlton Bakery: This place is cute (and a great spot for a bathroom break), but we found their pastries overpriced and only OK (and I pretty much stop in every bakery I go by, so I have a good radar for this kind of thing!). I’d only pop in to grab a coffee and cheese and meats to go (though the selection is small). ✨🌼
- Rosmarino Osteria Italiana: Perhaps we’re spoiled for choice in Toronto and on all of our travels, but this spot just didn’t live up to the extremely high ratings for us. I enjoyed my short rib pasta, but the arribata pasta tasted off – sadly that fake chemically taste (and was not spicy). We unfortunately left feeling pretty meh about it overall. ✨🌼
And some additional restaurants that were at the top of my list, but unfortunately didn’t have time to go to (or couldn’t snag a reservation):
In Portland:
- Kann | I wanted to go here very badly, but unfortunately there were no reservations. I even added myself to the waitlist with no avail. It has hailed extremely good ratings and is described as “Haitian cuisine meets Pacific Northwest bounty at kann, a live-fire restaurant from James Beard Award Winning chef Gregory Gourdet.”
- Canard | They have a great $2 oyster Happy Hour from 4-5pm Monday-Thursday.
- Jacqueline | Another highly rated oyster bar (can you tell I love oysters?)
- Le Pigeon | A hot-spot French inspired restaurant, right next to Canard
- Tusk | I went here the last time I visited Portland, and they served up delicious Middle Eastern food in a very cute, pink-hued room
McMinnville, Willamette Valley:
- Okta | While we didn’t make it to Okta, I heard great things about this high-end McMinnville restaurant. At $285 a head, this 10-course tasting menu was a little out of our budget. They describe their menu as: “highlighting our hearth’s mimicking of the summer sun and its impact on flavor.” If you’re keen to visit, but it’s also above your budget, you can try tout their $195pp 5-6 course tasting menu instead.
- Mac Market | We unfortunately didn’t get to go to Mac Market, as it was closed on the days we were visiting. But Hayward sounded like a great dinner spot, and Honey Pie a great spot for pizza. If you can’t make it for dinner then check out Bakery Bar in the morning for some baked goods.
