McMinnville is a historic town in Oregon’s Willamette Valley and one of the best places to base yourself if you want to explore the famous wine region. With a population of 35,000, McMinnville is big enough to have all the services you’ll need, all while maintaining small-town charm.
A key reason to base yourself in this delightful town is the number of great wineries near McMinnville, Oregon. You’ll be able to visit some of the best-known names in Oregon winemaking and experience wine tastings as well as potentially discover some hidden gems.
1. Sokol Blosser Winery
This family-owned winery first planted grapes in the Willamette Valley in 1971. Today, Sokol Blosser wines are made from organic grapes and the winery was certified organic in 2005.
2. Resonance
The original vineyard at Resonance started in 1981 and consisted of just 20 acres. A French company, Masion Louis Jadot, purchased the vineyard in 2013. They bring the best of Burgundy wine-making to the Willamette Valley.
Their Carlton tasting room has a fantastic location on the top of a hill within their estate. The views are fantastic and there is both outdoor and indoor seating.
3. Flaneur
Flaneur is a small producer in the heart of the Willamette Valley with 40 acres of estate vineyards that are organically dry farmed in-house. Flaneur is a French word from the 19th century that means leisurely wanderer or being a connoisseur of life.
Their main tasting room is in the heart of downtown Carlton. The tasting room is part of a grain elevator which dates back to 1890. It is undoubtedly one of the most unique tasting rooms in the Willamette Valley and very atmospheric.
4. Ken Wright
Ken Wright is one of the fathers of the Willamette Valley Wine Region and has produced some of the most acclaimed wine the region has seen. He has been making wine in Willamette Valley since 1985.
Today, Ken Wright Cellars produces three tiers of Pinot Noir—from their introductory Willamette Valley Pinot Noir to their 13 single-vineyard offerings. Their tasting room in downtown Carlton is in a 1920s train station, which makes for an atmospheric experience.
5. Carlton Winemaker’s Studio
Carlton Winemakers Studio is quite different from all the other wineries in this article. It is actually a winery collective where numerous winemakers craft premium Oregon wines in one shared space. When I visited they were working with 16 different vintners in the region.
They have a stunning tasting room in Carlton where they serve a mix of their wineries. Reservations are not required for a standard tasting and they also offer seated tastings and tours.
6. Remy Wines
Specializing in Old World varietals, Remy Wines brings a piece of Italy and France to Oregon. With a focus on small, carefully curated batches, this winery is based in a farmhouse from 1900 and is one of the few to be run by a queer woman, Remy Drabkin. Remy was born and raised in McMinnville and when I visited she was also the Mayor of McMinnville.
7. Durant Vineyards
Durant is one of the older vineyards in Willamette Valley, having begun in 1973. For their first 30 years of operation, Durant sold all its fruit to winemakers. They started making their own wine in 2003 and built their winery in 2012.
8. Argyle Winery
Argyle Winery is best known for sparkling wines. They use the traditional method and age all of their sparkling wines for at least three years. Argyle Winery was founded by Rollin Soles in 1987 to create world-class sparkling wine in Oregon.
9. Domaine Serene The Clubhouse
In 1989, Domaine Serene created Oregon’s luxury wine industry in its 42 acre estate in Dundee Hills. They were amongst the first producers of chardonnay and sparkling wines in the region. Today Domaine Serene also owns a property in Burgundy, France Chateau de la Cree. Their burgundy range is amongst the 80 different wines that can be purchased at their vineyard.
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Amanda O’Brien is the creator and editor of The Boutique Adventurer. She has visited 80 countries and is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers as well as the IFTWTA. She is passionate about wine had has just completed Level 3 of the WSET. Born in Australia, she lives in London.