NICKIE BOURNIAS Keep exploring at willamettewines.com pasta, burgers and wines from the Willamette Valley and beyond. Newberg’s restaurants merit a visit, too, from The Painted Lady — a classic restaurant in a historic home that serves French-American fare accompanied by a solid wine list — to the Red Hills Market, a casual deli with big breakfasts, tasty sandwiches, bottles of local vino and plenty of provisions for a winery picnic. Play This part of the valley offers more than just world-class food and wine. You can soar above vineyards from aboard a hot-air balloon through Vista Balloon Adventures or learn about aeronautics — and see the historic wooden Spruce Goose airplane — at McMinnville’s Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum. If you’d like to spend some time out in nature, visit Silver Falls State Park to hike past the cascades on the Trail of Ten Falls or climb up a tree with guides from Tree Climbing at Silver Falls. For a less vigorous jaunt, head to the nearby Oregon Garden to see beautiful blooms in the spring and summer and magnificent holidaylight displays in the winter. And don’t forget the agricultural delights of the valley — farm markets and U-pick operations abound in the warmer months. Stay Amongst the rolling hills dotted with plantings, you’ll find compact communities such as McMinnville, Dundee and Newberg, many of which offer great places to stay. In the McMinnville area, The Vintages Trailer Resort offers a fun alternative to a traditional hotel, featuring dozens of sleekly refurbished vintage trailers for guests to stay in. Downtown McMinnville options include the swanky Atticus Hotel and the Tributary Hotel. Newberg’s Allison Inn & Spa is ideal for a weekend of relaxation and rejuvenation, whether at the luxe spa or at its celebrated on-site restaurant JORY, where James Beard-nominated executive chef Jack Strong creates exquisite dishes from Oregon’s harvest. For something more secluded, consider The Setting Inn, in the quiet outskirts of Newberg, or Bella Collina Bed & Breakfast on a hilltop in Amity. WINE TRAILS Mt. Hood Territory Wine Trail Oregon’s Mt. Hood Territory’s wineries offer warm hospitality and great wine within easy reach of Portland. Visit Oswego Hills Vineyard and Winery in West Linn to sample everything from Petite Sirah to sparkling wines produced in the traditional Champagne method, or head to historic downtown Oregon City to sip wines in the brick-clad tasting room at Corcilla Cellars, owned by a duo of sisters. In the countryside south of downtown Oregon City, Forest Edge Vineyard welcomes guests to bring picnics to its sylvan tasting room. The winemakers here rely on permaculture and Burgundian winemaking methods to produce a wide range of wines, from sparkling Chardonnay to port. Woodburn’s Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm is best known for its colorful tulip festival, but it also has a tasting room where red, white and rosé are the dominant hues on display. mthoodterritory.com/wineries Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm OREGON WINE TOURING GUIDE 59
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