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Yamhill County Tasting Room Itinerary
 This Yamhill County Wine Country tasting room itinerary features some of the most popular wineries located around Dundee, Oregon and Yamhill County.
Just 45-minutes (depending on how many times you stop to
eat, taste or take pictures) from Portland is the tiny town of Dundee.
With barely a stoplight to its name, this small Northwest Oregon hamlet
is at the heart of the Yamhill County's Wine Country. It’s a good
place to stop, have lunch and plan the day's exploration of Pinot producers
in this popular wine region.
With the most dense concentration of wineries in Oregon,
there's plenty to see and do, so spend a little time planning ahead. Smaller
producers are often open only by appointment and need more than a few
hours advance notice. If you have a special favorite, call well in advance
to make sure a wedding party or special event hasn't closed down the winery
for the day—as locked tasting room doors can be a heart-breaking
experience when you've traveled hundreds of miles for your favorite Pinot.
Ponzi Vineyards
Just a few miles outside Portland, Ponzi is a great first stop even though
it's technically outside of Yamhill County. Pinots are impressive, including
Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris as well as several Pinot Noirs. Also worth
tasting are a summery Rosato and rare American varietal, Arneis (Ponzi
claims to be the only US producer). Of note: the family started the locally-famous
Bridgeport Brewing Company and currently owns the Dundee Bistro. Ponzi
Winery, 14665 SW Winery Ln. Beaverton, (503) 628-1227.
Erath
Every wine region has its pioneers, and Dick Erath has dibs on Dundee.
With his first crops planted in the early 1970's, the winery helped lead
the way for Oregon’s Pinot frontiersmen (and women) and consistently
turns out some of the most commercially successful wines in the region.
Plus, they have a darn nice little vine-covered picnic area for post-taste
snacking. Erath, 9409 N.E. Worden Hill Road, Dundee, (503) 538-3318.
Torii Mor
Tucked into the hills, Torii Mor is a small Pinot producer that's getting
some big acclaim from critics. The Japanese-inspired tasting room is spare,
small, and usually packed. Avoid the crowds and wander outside into the
gardens for a little one-on-one time with your Pinot. Torii Mor, 18325
NE Fairview Drive, Dundee, (503) 538-2279.
 Domaine
Drouhin
Just across the vineyards from Sokol Blosser, this French-owned winery
is one of the most prestigious in the region. Creating deep, thoughtful
Burgundian-style wines, winemaker Veronique Drouhin’s must-taste
is the Pinot Noir Laurene with incredible color, balance and silkiness—despite
its youth. The tasting room feels like your own personal chateau with
Rapunzel-worthy picture windows that look out onto the vineyards below.
Domaine Drouhin, 6750 NE Breyman Orchards Road, Dundee, (503) 864-2700.
Domaine Serene
A Robert Parker, Jr. favorite, Domaine Serene sits high up in the hills,
using a state-of-the-art gravity flow system for its premium wines. The
tasting room is located in a bright yellow Tuscan-style villa, but the
tiny tasting bar can sometimes be three-or-four people deep…so
prepare to taste at a leisurely pace. Domaine Serene, 6555 NE Hilltop
Lane, Dundee, (503) 864-4600.
Argyle
Making small talk with fellow tasters, this winery came up again and again
as a favorite stop. The tasting room is located just off Highway 99 in
the town of Dundee, easy to miss if you're looking the other way. The
winery is known for their sparkling wines and Pinot Noirs that shouldn't
be missed. 691 Hwy. 99W, Dundee, (503) 538-8520.
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