Willamette Valley

Willamette Valley: the home of Pinot Noir

Oregon's Willamette Valley proved that the New World could make Pinot Noir to rival Burgundy, and it did it in a single generation. The climate is cool and damp, the growers are obsessive, and the wines are perfumed and elegant rather than big. If you love red Burgundy but not the price, this is where to look.

The wines

Pinot Noir is the headline: bright red fruit, fine tannin, a savoury edge that develops with age. The valley also makes excellent Chardonnay and crisp Pinot Gris, both worth seeking out alongside the reds.

Where to go

The Dundee Hills are the heart of it, a short drive southwest of Portland, dense with small family wineries that welcome visitors. Newberg and McMinnville make good bases, the latter with a walkable wine-country main street.

Eat

Oregon is a serious food region: wild salmon, Dungeness crab, hazelnuts and farm produce. The cooler-climate Pinot is built for the salmon in particular.

Getting there

Fly into Portland, then drive 45 minutes to an hour into the Dundee Hills. A car is essential, as the wineries are spread across the hills.