A Weekend in Tualatin Valley in Oregon Wine Country: Pinot Noir Paradise
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Oregon's wine country lies within Willamette Valley, but did you know that there’s actually another valley within the popular Willamette Valley? Cue Tualatin Valley. This specific area is a valley within a valley and is the perfect place to spend a weekend wine tasting and relaxing. It’s filled with rolling hills blanketed with vineyards full of the region's celebrated Pinot Noir grapes. This idyllic corner of Oregon's wine country offers a unique blend of world-class wines, breathtaking landscapes, and a laid-back ambiance that is the epitome of the Pacific Northwest.
Where is Tualatin Valley?
Tualatin Valley is located in the northwestern part of Oregon, just west of Portland, and is part of the larger Willamette Valley. This verdant valley is nestled between the Coast Range Mountains to the west and the Tualatin Mountains to the east.
For those traveling from Portland, it could be an easy day trip or weekend retreat from the city. The drive from downtown Portland only takes about 30 minutes so you could be wine-tasting on a beautiful vineyard any afternoon.
If you’re like me and traveling from Seattle, Tualatin Valley is the perfect weekend getaway with friends or a partner. The drive is about three hours long depending on traffic and the scenery is fantastic after you exit Interstate 5. I recently took a weekend road trip down to Tualatin Valley from Seattle and loved every minute! We left Friday morning and returned Sunday afternoon and felt that it was just the right amount of time.
Pinot Noir in Oregon Wine Country
The Willamette Valley, including Tualatin Valley, is renowned for producing world-class Pinot Noir wines. The region's unique terroir, with its mild maritime climate, well-draining sedimentary soils, and the Van Duzer Corridor gap in the Coast Range creates an ideal environment for cultivating Pinot Noir grapes.
The cool climate of the Willamette Valley allows for a longer growing season, enabling the grapes to ripen slowly and develop complex flavors. The combination of warm days and cool nights helps maintain the acidity and delicate balance that Pinot Noir is known for. On top of that, the region's diverse soil types, ranging from sedimentary to volcanic, contribute to the distinctive character of the wines.
Winemakers in the Willamette Valley, including those in Tualatin Valley, have embraced a minimalist approach to winemaking, allowing the grapes to shine. They employ techniques such as whole-cluster fermentation, native yeast fermentation, bio-dynamic farming, and minimal intervention, resulting in elegant and nuanced Pinot Noir wines that showcase the region's unique characteristics.
The Willamette Valley Pinot Noir wines are known for their bright acidity, vibrant red fruit flavors, such as cherry and raspberry, and earthy notes of mushroom and forest floor. They often exhibit a silky texture and a beautiful balance between fruit, tannins, and acidity, making them highly sought after by Pinot Noir enthusiasts worldwide. Pinot Noir is so popular in Oregon that most tasting rooms will use an Oregon Pinot Noir glass to serve it in.
How to Spend a Weekend in Tualatin Valley, Oregon
I visited Tualatin Valley in December for a cozy weekend getaway from Seattle and had such a great time. We arrived in Tualatin Valley around noon on a Friday and departed around 3 PM on Sunday. You can adjust this itinerary to fit your needs but I found it perfectly spaced out and didn’t feel like I was rushing from wine tasting to wine tasting as I have on previous wine-focused getaways.
One thing to note is that the wineries in this region are pretty spread out so you need to allow yourself time to drive from place to place and also pace yourself. Because you’ll need to drive to and from each winery, I recommend only visiting two per day or having a designated driver for the day.
Day 1: Sip Pinot and Relax at McMenamins Grand Lodge
Day one is all about first impressions. Arrive in Tualatin Valley by noon and stop for lunch at Helvetia Tavern. This tavern serves up some of the best classic burgers and local brews in the area in a fun, casual environment.
Experience your first taste of Oregon wine country after lunch at Tualatin Estate Vineyards, the oldest vineyard in all of Willamette Valley. Tualatin and Willamette Valley are renowned for their Pinot Noir, so prepare yourself to taste tons of reds, but don’t worry, white varietals and rosé are also on the tasting menus.
Tualatin Estate Vineyards is a 171-acre vineyard near Forest Grove, Oregon, and is operated by Willamette Valley Vineyards. The road leading up to the tasting room is beautiful and was filled with fog the day I visited which made it look straight out of a storybook. The property is not only planted with Pinot Noir, but it also grows Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Muscat, and Pinot Blanc grapes with the oldest grapes being Gewürztraminer.
The interior of the tasting room is cozy and full of natural wood tones making it a great place to hole up on one of those rainy PNW days. During the summer months, the patios are full of guests listening to live music and the wine is flowing. Traditional tastings at Tualatin Estate Vineyard are $20 or you can opt for their Reserve tasting for just $25. The Hannah Pinot Noir and Estate Chardonnay were my two favorites that day, but there honestly wasn’t a wine that I didn’t enjoy here!
Later that evening, head to McMenamins Grand Lodge for an indulgent relaxing treat. This Masonic rest-home-turned-hotel is full of surprises around every turn. Inside you can find a movie theater, two restaurants, three bars, a spa, and an outdoor soaking pool. It’s a great place to stay, but if you’re like me and staying elsewhere, it’s still well worth a visit. We booked a session at the soaking pool for our first evening and not only was it friendly on the wallet at just $10 per person, but it was also the most amazing way to end the day. The soaking pool is open to the public daily from 10:30am to 6:30pm and reservations are required for non-hotel guests. If you’re staying at the hotel, you have access outside of those hours as well.
Our one-hour soak was beyond relaxing after our drive from Seattle. It was a cold, rainy weekend during our visit to Tualatin Valley, but the cold drizzle was an added bonus to our soaking time! McMenamins Grand Lodge is located in Forest Grove and there’s a quaint little downtown area with great options for dinner. Urban Decanter offers lots of local wine, tasty cocktails, and locally sourced food. SaWa's Donburi and Bites Restaurant are two other great options if you’re in the mood for Japanese or Asian fusion.
Day 2: Taste Your Way Through Tualatin Valley
Begin day two out in nature. One thing I love about the Pacific Northwest is the accessibility to nature. No matter where you explore, there’s always a trail nearby. Enjoy the 1.2-mile loop at Fernhill Wetlands Nature Trail in Forest Grove before spending the rest of the day wine-tasting. This trail is considered easy, averages under 30 minutes to complete, and is a wonderful place for bird-watching.
For lunch, stop at Phil’s 1500 Subs in Forest Grove for a hearty sandwich. This cash-only sandwich shop has been around for over 20 years and I immediately knew the food would be good when I overheard a staff member asking a regular customer about his recent 80th birthday. And yes, cash-only is usually a deterrent for me, but they have an ATM on site and they throw in a free bag of chips and a medium drink if you use it to help offset the fee. The sandwiches here are classic subs and large - the perfect meal before wine tasting.
After lunch, drive down to Gaston, Oregon for some amazing wines at Failla Wines Oregon. Failla began in Napa in the late 90’s and has recently expanded to Oregon where their newest tasting room sits along with 31 acres of vines. Owner and wine-maker Erhen Jordan is deeply inspired by French wines and creates some of the best wines I’ve had, including my new favorite Gamay. I’m no wine connoisseur, but I know it’s good when I’m tempted to bring one of everything home with me!
The tasting room at Failla is small and inviting. It currently has four to five tables, but the team at Failla has big plans to expand the indoor tasting area and even build an outdoor patio so guests can soak in the views. Tastings require reservations and are $35 per person or you can have a more elevated experience for $65 per person and taste wines from two growing regions. My favorites from Failla were the Willamette Valley Rosé, Gamay, and the Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir.
For the second tasting of the day, drive southeast to Hawks View Winery in Sherwood. This winery is known not only for its top-notch wines but also for having one of the best views of Mt. Hood. Upon arrival, you’ll notice that this winery feels more commercial than the other two more intimate wineries, but don’t let that steer you away. Inside, the tasting room is welcoming and modern with multiple tasting areas and an expansive outdoor patio where you can take in the views of Mt. Hood.
Hawks View Winery consists of 50 acres and grows primarily Pinot Noir with a few plots for Pinot Gris and Chardonnay. They offer one tasting for $25 per person where you’ll taste six wines ranging from Rosé to Pinot Noir. Some of my favorites at Hawks View were the Syrah and White Pinot Noir.
End your last evening in Tualatin Valley with a casual dinner at ABV Public House in Hillsboro. This fun tavern-style beer hall is located at a warehouse complex and has a lengthy list of local beers. I’ve recently started dabbling in the beer world and was so happy that our waiter was extremely knowledgeable and helped me find the perfect beer! At ABV Public House, you can find everything from wings and burgers to Elk chili, traditional fried appetizers, and pizzas. The environment is very social and inviting and it’s a great place to meet up with friends. They even have indoor axe throwing set up if you’re interested!
Day 3: Nordic Ties West of Portland
After checking out of your hotel or rental home, drive East to Beaverton where you’ll have a traditional Nordic brunch at Nordic Northwest. Nordic Northwest is a cultural center that celebrates and shares all things related to the five Nordic countries. Seattle is home to the Nordic Museum, which I love visiting, so I was excited to see what this smaller cultural center had to offer. Aside from a couple of annual events, the main draw to Nordic NW is its restaurant, Broder Söder, which is very popular for brunch. They don’t accept reservations, so plan on arriving early or towards the regular lunch hour if you don’t want to wait. Our wait time on a Sunday around 11am was about 45 minutes but we didn’t mind since there’s a short trail around the property that you can explore while you wait.
The trail leads to the center’s newest resident, Ole Bolle, one of the six Northwest Trolls created by world-renowned Danish artist Thomas Dambo. This 19-foot-tall art installation is made entirely from recyclable materials and is sure to make your inner child come out as you step into the little red house and gaze up at the face of this friendly troll! I first saw Thomas Dambo’s work in Miami years ago and was filled with joy when I learned of the introduction of the Northwest Troll series. Ole Bolle is completely free to see, but I do recommend stopping inside the cultural center to check out their free exhibits and to have an authentic Nordic meal at Broder Söder. The Danish Pancake Balls are delicious!
Where to Stay in Tualatin Valley
There’s a variety of accommodations to suit every taste and budget in Tualatin Valley. You can find standard hotels, farm stays, and tons of rental homes that are absolutely beautiful.
We stayed at a container home turned farm oasis with stunning mountain views to wake up to in Banks, Oregon. This one-bedroom home is ideal for couples looking to unwind and explore the surrounding area. The interior is decorated in an ornate style that will make you feel as if you’re living at a French chateau with large artwork on the walls and moody wall colors. Outside, you’ll find a koi pond and a small farm area with chickens, goats, and the cutest little pig!
For those seeking a more unique stay, check out this treehouse stay! You can let your inner child out and have tons of fun lounging in the netted hammock while watching a movie.
If you’re looking for somewhere that has more hotel-like amenities, the newly opened Sosta House in Beaverton is a boutique farm-stay property that captured a wine-oasis feel or McMenamins Grand Lodge is a wonderful option as well!
Tualatin Valley is a true gem in Oregon's renowned wine country and I can’t wait to visit again. Its picturesque landscapes and world-class Pinot Noir promise a weekend getaway you won’t forget. This wine lover’s paradise checks all the boxes and exploring charming small towns and supporting local businesses is always a bonus. So next time you’re looking for a wine getaway, start with Willamette Valley and narrow down your search a little more to Tualatin Valley - a valley within a valley.
Happy travels!
-Tess
Tess Arnold
Hi! I’m Tess, founder of TravelingTessie.com, and not only do I love to travel, but I love immersing myself in new places and finding off the beaten path experiences wherever I go! I’ve lived in 4 different states & traveled to 13 countries and counting. I believe that tourism is meant to benefit both visitors and locals alike—and I want to bring that idea back into the travel industry by highlighting companies run by locals such as tours, hotels, restaurants, and more. On Traveling Tessie you can find hidden gems in top destinations around the world, travel tips, detailed city guides, and tons of inspiration for your next trip! If you love travel as much as I do, then please join me on this journey! I hope you enjoy my content as much as I enjoy providing it for you!
