The Willamette Valley is located in northwest Oregon.
The Willamette River flows through the valley and travels
on to meet up with the Columbia River near Portland,
Oregon. This lush valley has long been the idyllic
place for growing fruit of all kinds, and year after year
local fruit stands can be see dotting the summer and fall
roadways selling homegrown produce. Of late, the
Willamette Valley has gained attention for another kind
of fruit however; wine grapes. Willamette Valley
wineries are making a splash in world wine market, and
visitors to this special area of the Pacific Northwest
are in for a big treat when planning a trip to Willamette
Valley vineyards.
The Oregon cities most often associated
with the Willamette Valley include Corvallis, Albany,
Salem, and Eugene,
though towns further out such as Clackamas and Multnomah
can also be included. Eugene tends to be one of
the biggest draws to tourists looking to enjoy the Willamette
Valley vineyards. The Willamette Valley is thought
to have been created by the Missoula Floods, which ripped
through the area during the last ice age and left a wide
swath of open land behind it. The result has been
one of the lushest growing areas in Oregon and throughout
the Pacific Northwest. Though the area
was inhabited by Native American tribes for many centuries,
the arrival of settlers did not happen until the mid 19th
century, when the Hudson’s Bay Company moved in
and began their fur trade in the region.
Today, it is not fur, but agriculture, that keeps the Willamette Valley special. Willamette Valley wineries often credit much of their success to the incredible soil found in the valley, though the weather isn’t warm enough to grow the grapes responsible for merlot and cabernet. What the Willamette Valley vineyards can do, however, and are doing with increasing success, is grow incredible pinot noir and pinot gris grapes, as well as a few other varieties that do really well in the Willamette climate. Whatever your fancy, a trip through Willamette Valley wineries will not disappoint. While it is possible to book a tour of the wineries and ride along on a shuttle bus, planning your own winery tour can be plenty of fun, as well.
Most of the wineries in the Willamette
Valley are small, mainly family-owned businesses looking
to provide nice wine; without much pretension. This
is a major attraction to the area, making wine-tasting
in the valley a laidback adventure, and brings many travelers
back for more again and again. It goes without saying
that along with all of the wineries come some delightful
places to stay. Eugene, with its weekend market
and hip college-town feel has many hotels, as does Salem.
Camping in the area is
not unheard of, however, and can be a great way to cut
down on costs during the summer and enjoy some of the
best of the Willamette Valley. If you have time,
be sure to head over to Mt Hood,
where endless miles of hiking trails and gorgeous scenery
await you.
