Rows of grape vines in the Dundee Hills. Photo: KGilb.
At the northern end of Oregon’s Willamette Valley lies a little bit of heaven known as the Dundee Hills. Rising over 1000 feet from the valley floor, these lush green slopes offer incredible views of the surrounding mountains–the Cascades to the east, the Chehalem Mountains to the north, and the Coastal Range to the west.
The Dundee Hills also happen to be the heart of Oregon’s $1 billion wine industry. Some 50 wineries and vineyards dot the landscape, with almost 2000 acres of grape vines running in parallel rows up and down the slopes. Wine tasting opportunities abound! Visitors will find excellent samples of pinot gris, pinot blanc, even chardonnay, but make no mistake. First and foremost, this is Pinot Noir country.
David Lett, founder of The Eyrie Vineyards, first came here in 1965. Later known as Papa Pinot, his sole purpose was to find the perfect combination of climate and soil suitable for planting Pinot Noir grapes. Clearly, he found it. In less than fifteen years, his Eyrie Pinot Noir placed among the top three wines in the 1979 Gault-Millau French Wine Olympiads. The rest, as they say, is history. Wines from the area are now sold and savored around the world.
But for heaven’s sake, don’t focus on the wineries to the exclusion of all else! There are four small towns skirting the foot of the Dundee Hills: Dayton, Lafayette, Newberg, and Dundee. Each has its own distinct personality and provides a nice little respite from the “ardors” of sipping wine. Browse through a variety of shops featuring artisan foods and local hand-crafted items. Then stop for lunch or dinner at one of the many bistros or fine dining restaurants in the area. Art galleries, festivals, farmers markets, hiking/biking trails? You’ll find them all here.
The Dundee Hills are located about 30-35 miles southwest of Portland, OR. It’s almost a straight shot down on OR-99W. For a map pinpointing many of the local wineries and vineyards, please check the Dundee Hills Winegrowers Assn website.