We’re still in the heart of the dark and wet season here in the Pacific Northwest, which might be all the reason you need to plan a getaway to our delightful Willamette Valley Bed and Breakfast. If a cozy, quiet respite set in a beautiful, charming, and historic town filled with great restaurants isn’t enough for you, then perhaps having the chance to explore the landscape of Willamette Valley Wine Country without the busy summer and fall crowds will be.
Our Willamette Valley Bed and Breakfast, located within walking distance to downtown McMinnville, is found just a short drive south of Portland in the heart of Oregon Wine Country – also known as the Willamette Valley. The area is rich in food and wine experiences but also offers plenty more, including outdoor recreation that can be enjoyed year-round, great art galleries and museums, fun shopping, and plenty of deep relaxation.
Regardless of what brings you to Oregon wine country, the luxurious comfort of our top-rated Willamette Valley Bed and Breakfast will treat you to the cozy winter respite you’ve been craving – and we have no doubt it will instill in you a desire to return time and time again throughout 2023. There are so many incredible things to do in McMinnville and beyond this winter – all you have to do is get here! Book your room at our incomparable Willamette Valley Bed and Breakfast today!
#1 Willamette Valley Bed and Breakfast
There are plenty of lodging options down here in Oregon Wine Country, but few places offer the same level of convenience and comfort as our Willamette Valley Bed and Breakfast. McMinnville is one of the most popular towns in the Willamette Valley, and for a good reason. It offers a wonderful range of wine-tasting spots, some of the best restaurants in the area, and a healthy mix of shopping and entertainment throughout its historic downtown.
All that and more is just a short 5-block walk away from our Willamette Valley Bed and Breakfast – perfect for those looking for a convenient escape in town that doesn’t sacrifice any luxury or amenities. Moreover, unlike traditional hotel chains, our Willamette Valley Bed and Breakfast only caters to a small number of guests at any given time. We offer just four guest rooms at the Inn and two additional suites in our charming 1913 craftsman-style cottage.
Whichever you choose, know your stay at our Willamette Valley Bed and Breakfast includes all the luxurious amenities you enjoy at fine hotel chains, including luxury linens and bathrobes, gas fireplaces in some rooms, and a far better breakfast than anything you’ve ever had at a hotel. Our Willamette Valley Bed and Breakfast has a well-earned reputation for breakfast, which is often our guest’s most coveted time of the day.
Breakfast is served to you in our elegant dining room and comes with an assortment of house-baked bread, muffins or pastries, house granola parfaits or seasonal fruits and cheeses, and a hot entrée that changes daily. Whatever we serve, know that it will be the perfect fuel for your day in the Willamette Valley. After enjoying the best of Oregon Wine Country throughout the day, return to our Willamette Valley Bed and Breakfast for a short rest – and maybe a glass of wine – in the afternoon. From there, delicious restaurants and more await you in downtown McMinnville!
Four Oregon Wine Country AVA’s to Know in 2023
Oregon Wine Country is spread out over the entirety of the Willamette Valley, and with so many (700+!) wineries and vineyards to consider, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. It’s worth it, though, as the Willamette Valley and its famed Pinot Noirs is one of the most popular wine-growing regions in the country.
The growing season in Oregon Wine Country is exciting and unique, making it so well-suited to Pinot Noir grapes and other varietals. Compared to places like Napa Valley in California, the growing season in this agriculturally robust area is relatively short, and the temperamental Pacific Northwest weather also means it can sometimes be challenging for wine growers. Even so, the short, moderately hot, dry summers balance it out perfectly, resulting in a crop that produces some of the best wines in the world.
As you get ready to explore Oregon Wine Country from our Willamette Valley Bed and Breakfast in 2023, here are the leading American Viticultural Areas (AVA’s) to know, starting with the one closest to us, the McMinnville AVA.
- The McMinnville AVA surrounds the historic, charming town of McMinnville. Geographically, it lies west of the Coastal Mountain Range and about 40 minutes south of Portland, where it sits in the protective shadow of the mountains. The climate here is a bit cooler and drier than other parts of the valley, often resulting in spicier, earthier wines with plenty of tannins and darker fruit flavor profiles.
- The first area of Oregon Wine Country to earn acclaim for Pinot Noirs, which really put the Willamette Valley on the map for wine aficionados, is the Dundee Hills AVA. The first vines were planted in the Dundee Hills AVA more than 50 years ago and today are still home to some of the biggest names in the Oregon wine scene. The wines produced in Dundee Hills are nothing short of exquisite, thanks to the ideal growing conditions for Pinot noir and other Burgundian varietals.
- Head to the rugged mountains of the Chehalem Mountains AVA, and you’ll taste firsthand the role elevation can play in the growth and development of wine grapes. This part of Willamette Valley wine country is about 20 miles southwest of Portland and about 45 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. At its peak, it sits at 1633 feet above sea level. It’s often cooler here, resulting in wines that are structured with notes of darker fruits.
- The Eola-Amity Hills AVA is about an hour southwest of Portland and just northwest of Salem, and it offers one of the most diverse selections of wine in Oregon Wine Country. This area is also generally cooler, with frequent cool breezes blowing off the Pacific Ocean. Accordingly, many wines produced here are higher in acid with what many often call a darker and “edgier” personality. It’s well known for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Though wine tasting is the biggest driver of tourism in Oregon Wine Country, there are so many more great things to do in the Willamette Valley than meets the eye – and there’s far more than you’ll be able to do in one getaway here. As you plan your adventures around Oregon wine country in 2023, there’s no better place to stay than our Willamette Valley Bed and Breakfast–A’ Tuscan Estate. Book your getaways today!
