United States·June 2 - 8 2024

Pinots in Oregon

Explore the epicenter of Oregon's wine and farm-to-table food scene

BOOK NOW INQUIRE
iStock493575176

Overview

The Willamette Valley in Oregon (rhymes with "dammit") is known the world over for its Pinot Noir & Pinot Gris wines. It also boasts some of America’s best farm-to-table New American restaurants complemented by exemplary cheeses and world-class breweries. Join us on THE gourmet tour for cooks, wine lovers, and anyone who appreciates food and its connection to nature. An exploration of a region's culinary fabric is the fastest way to discover its culture and values. In Oregon, you’ll also find stunning state parks where you can chase waterfalls and capture photos of the boundless wildlife. It’s an ideal place to visit in the height of summer for water sports, hiking, and great outdoor strolls. Accompany Laurie Forster on a gastronomic romp through Willamette Valley, Oregon where we’ll have a chance to learn more about wine with someone who is not just a wine coach, but - wait for it – a stand-up comedian too! I’m not sure any other female sommelier can stake such a claim. Get ready for a week of fine wine, scrumptious food, good friends ... and great laughs!

Highlights

Meet and taste with some of the most important wine makers in the valley

Meet and taste with some of the most important wine makers in the valley

Walk behind a waterfall in the Silver Falls State Parks

Walk behind a waterfall in the Silver Falls State Parks

Experience a proper coffee tasting with an expert

Experience a proper coffee tasting with an expert

Take ownership of your own wine palate, knowing what it is that YOU love and trusting your taste in wine

Take ownership of your own wine palate, knowing what it is that YOU love and trusting your taste in wine

Get your zen on at the Allison Spa

Get your zen on at the Allison Spa

Dine at a locavore eatery which earned the best restaurant in Oregon honors

Dine at a locavore eatery which earned the best restaurant in Oregon honors

Itinerary

Here's a day-by-day itinerary of the trip.

Previous

Next

CandidateforDay12

Arrival Day

Day 1: Sunday, June 2nd, 2024

Arrive in Portland no later than 1:00 pm. Make your way to the Dossier Hotel. Our driver will pick the group up at the hotel at 2:00 pm for an hour's drive to McMinnville in the heart of the Willamette Valley. This is our headquarters for the week.

We’ll stay at the lovely and luxurious Atticus Hotel in the heart of one of Oregon’s most historic towns. The hotel places an emphasis on local artisans. Each of the luxury rooms is creatively different and defined by a deep-seated knowledge that true luxury is defined by the intent behind every decision. Revel in the wine country lifestyle.

Around 6:30 pm we’ll meet and greet with drinks at the hotel bar. Then we’ll dine in style at Cypress. It's conveniently located in the hotel. Our wine guide for the week, Laurie Forster, of The Wine Coach®, will show us how to properly taste and evaluate wine, as we enjoy our meal.

Included

Dinner

iStock1356631029

Carlton

Day 2: Monday, June 3rd, 2024

Today we’ll focus on hyper-local wines as we explore our immediate surroundings, with downtime to shop and stroll around town.

We’ll be hitting up the Carlton Winemakers Studio in Carlton just a short ride away. Carlton Winemakers Studio is a winery collective where 16 vintners craft premium Oregon wines in a shared space. We’ll enjoy both a wine and a charcuterie tasting at the studio.

Should you want to taste more on your own this afternoon, you can head over to Elizabeth Chambers or Eyrie. You’ll have free time as the day winds down to walk back to the hotel, taste more, shop or simply rest before dinner.

Tonight, we’ll sit back and savor a true gourmet treat at Thistle, a hot spot that recently won Oregon's restaurant of the year. With a small menu, a careful and considerate chef, and local oysters this is the kind of place that brings new meaning to the term new American cuisine.

Included

All meals

Tastings

iStock1396333473

Museums & Wine Making

Day 3: Tuesday, June 4th, 2024

Today we’ll get our creative juices going by visiting the Hallie Ford Museum of Art at the Willamette University. While there are always interesting traveling exhibits, the permanent collection boasts contemporary and modernist art by well-known prominent Northwestern artists, contemporary work by Native Americans as well as works on paper.

Following that, we’re off to an amazing experience at Willamette Valley Vineyards. We will meet the owner or the winery director for a facility tour. Then we will try our hand at blending. We'll mix and taste four pinots then make two of our own. We'll sit back and enjoy a lovely catered lunch on the premises after all the excitement. 

You'll have free time, after lunch, to stroll the beautiful property.

Dinner tonight after a welcome rest at our hotel is at Tina’s, a charming restaurant that specializes in “wine cuisine”. Save some space for their delicious dessert cocktails.

Included

All meals

Blending Experience

Tastings

Tours

iStock1490828895

Spa Time & Mixology Class

Day 4: Wednesday, June 5th, 2024

Today, we are headed to Alexana for a tour and tasting. The estate is owned by renowned cardiac surgeon Dr. Madaiah Revana who puts a renewed emphasis on cardiac science, proving that wine is good for heart health!

For lunch, we’ll amble over to the Stoller Family Estate started by Bill Stoller. We are thrilled to have Melissa Burr, one of the region’s top winemakers join us for lunch and a tasting…. of course!

This afternoon we’ll have the opportunity to luxuriate at the Allison Resort & Spa. Indulge in the Himalayan salt therapy room, experience the zen garden massage, or enjoy a wine facial. This is your time to relax and indulge (one treatment included).

We’ll return to our hotel for a rest in the afternoon.

Spanish tapas are on the menu for dinner tonight at the award-winning La Rambla. Their lamb nachos are to die for!

Included

Spa Treatment

Tastings

All Meals

oregon

Olive Oil

Day 5: Thursday, June 6th, 2024

We'll start our day with a visit to Durant, at Red Ridge Farms. It houses an olive mill, a garden, and a nursery as well as a winery. This place has it all! We’ll learn all about olive oil production and enjoy an olive oil tasting.

Today, we’ll relish a real farm-to-table lunch at the Mac Market, a community-driven artisanal establishment, housed in an old factory. You'll find a myriad of food purveyors on site as well as some foodie souvenirs.

The afternoon is yours to enjoy wandering, resting, reading, or shopping.

Tonight, we’ll enjoy a mixology class with the one and only Prairie Rose aka Bit by a Fox. Coincidentally both Doni (GG2W founder) & Laurie know her, so it seemed like kismet that we meet up and take part in her traveling speakeasy. As someone who wrote a book on cocktails, let me tell you this gal is a real expert!

Dinner tonight is on your own. Our suggested stop is Pizza Capo for proper pies fired up in a wood-burning oven.

Included

Olive Oil Tasting

Mixology Class

Breakfast

Lunch

iStock1427296938

Silver Falls State Park

Day 6: Friday, June 7th, 2024

One can’t live on wine alone. I don’t know about you, but every day I need my coffee. Like everything else in the Northwestern part of the country, the people of Oregon have taken things to another level. This morning we’ll stop into Flag & Wire roastery where the owner will lead us through a coffee tasting. We will carefully consider the various flavors and aromas much like you might do with wine or beer, at which we are now experts. You’ll walk away with a new appreciation of the nuances and layers of this important yet ubiquitous beverage.

After fueling up, we'll head out to try forest bathing* and waterfall hunting at Silver Falls State Park. Where else can you walk behind a waterfall?

Lunch today, will be at the Xicha Brewing CompanyNot only do they brew their own beers, but their authentic Mexican Comida will also be a welcome change of pace.

Our afternoon tasting will be at Adelsheim Vineyards one of the Valley’s oldest (just turned 50!) and most esteemed vineyards.

We’ll spend our final evening dining at Maysara Winery home to the American (wine) dream for the Momtazi family. Moe & Flora Momtazi escaped Iran and fled to the US after the Shah was overthrown. Moe was an engineer by trade, but his dream was to have a winery. He realized his dream with his purchase of 496 acres in McMinnville in 1997. He, along with his wife and three daughters, biodynamically farms this land, creating amazing wines. 

*Forest bathing as described by the Global Wellness Institute: “Forest bathing and forest therapy (or shinrin-yoku) broadly mean taking in the forest atmosphere with all of one's senses. It's not just a walk in the woods, it is the conscious and contemplative practice of being immersed in the sights, sounds, and smells of the forest.”

iStock530829930

Departure Day

Day 7: Saturday, June 8th, 2024

All good things must come to an end. Today we must return home to our “normal lives”, but we’ll savor all the great wines, good laughs, and new friendships formed for many years to come.

After breakfast plan to depart at either 6:30 am or 9:00 am. We will have two shuttles back to the Portland International Airport, a 1-hour drive. 

Included

Breakfast

You'll Be Staying Here

Atticus Hotel

Atticus Hotel

The Atticus Hotel is a luxury lifestyle hotel in Historic Downtown McMinnville – the heart of Oregon Wine Country.

Hosts

Laurie Forster

Laurie Forster

Laurie Forster is one of America’s leading wine experts and author of the award-winning book The Sipping Point: A Crash Course in Wine. Laurie is a Certified Sommelier, National Speaker and TV personality who is not afraid to tell you her first wine came from a box. Her edgy approach to demystifying wine caught the eye of major networks and led her to guest appearances on The Dr Oz Show, FOX Morning News, Martha Stewart Living Today and ABC News at Noon.

Price

Private Room

Private Room

Everyone gets their own fabulous room

FROM$8,995.00/pp

Add Ons

Arrive one day early to Portland

Arrive one day early to Portland

Includes one night at the Dossier Hotel Portland

PRICE$280.00/pp

ADD THIS

"Oregon's wine country"

Willamette Valley

The beautiful Willamette Valley wine region, situated in the northwest corner of Oregon, is a popular destination and a hub for diverse wines from the United States. The Willamette Valley is an incredibly beautiful area, with rolling hills, mysterious forests, and majestic volcanoes. It's also one of the premier wine regions in the world and produces some of the finest Pinot Noir thanks to its unique soil and climate. A must-visit for any wine lover. 

Willamette Valley

What's Included

What's Included

Everything stated in itinerary above including all meals plus wine or beer with dinner

Lodging at unique hotels

All guides, experts and entry fees

One spa treatment

All wine tastings

Guided Hike to the Waterfalls

Mixology Class

Roundtrip airfare to Portland, Oregon

Trip and Medical insurance (required)

Additional Alcohol not stated in the itinerary

FAQs

The trip officially starts early afternoon on June 2nd around 1:00pm.If you don't want to feel rushed and want to enjoy Portland for an extra day I suggest flying in a day early. If you do decide to arrive early you can book a night at the Dosssier Hotel in Portland directly from the website and we will take care of the booking arrangements for you. 

You are going to want to fly into Portland International Airport.

Throughout the month of June daytime temperatures will generally reach highs of around  75°F. At night the average minimum temperature drops down to around 53°F. 

We will have a zoom call about 6 weeks before the trip starts to discuss all that information and give you a packing list. Here is a great website that we love that will help you with packing and travel trips. 

Inquire about this trip

Pinots in Oregon

United States· June 2 - 8 2024· 6 nights

FROM$8995/pp