I am going to be visiting Oregon and would be interested in any reccommendations of which wineries should not be missed.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Cristom, Chehalem, Carleton Wine Studio--(Soter, Penner-Ash, Hammacher), DDO, BellePente, and Cameron (if you can get in). These would give you a good cross-section of the top Oregon pinot noir producers, and most make some nice whites too.

Eat dinner at Tinas in Dundee; lunch ant Ponzi in Dundee.

Cristom is a bit out of the way (closer to Salem), but the wine is worth the trip. While there, visit Bethel Heights too. The others are all in the north valley and not too far apart.

If you need a central place to stay, the Wine Country Farm is excellent. It is in the Dundee Hills across the road from DDO.

alohaj:

From my trip there last spring:

1) Beaux Freres: yes, it is possible to get in. If you are in the biz, very easy (I am not). However, I was there there while somebody ITB was there, so managed to get the tour and tastings with Mike Etzel. Send them an email to inquire.

2) For scenery: If you head down south to Eugene, definitely hit King Estate. Absolutely beautiful.

3) For scenery: In the W Valley, Elk Cove.

Archery Summit is beautiful too, I now understand why they charge so much.

Also, though I did not get to visit them, I heard a lot of wonderful things while there about Domaine Drouhin, Domaine Serene, and Willakenzie.

And not a single place charged a tasting fee. I was there in late April. Very laid back everywhere I went. My favorite question was "what wines do you like to drink when you are not drinking your own." Their favorite question seemed to be "is there anywhere you would like to get a tour that you have not been able to get into?" The folks at Archery Summit and Beaux Freres were particularly friendly and helpful in that respect. But nobody could get me into Ken Wright... I since have acquired a contact out here that may be able to help next time.

Hope this helps a little.

Mike

This is the kind of thread that should be saved! We need an archive section!

I would echo tmortimer comments, but would also recommend stopping by at the tasting room in Carlton. They carry and have available for tasting a number of harder to find Oregon wines. Also, I recommend at least trying to get into see Sineann. I haven't been there, but a friend has and he had a great time.