Exploring McMinnville & Oregon Wine Country

Located in the beautiful Willamette Valley, Oregon wine country is best known for producing outstanding pinot noirs. And while we certainly had some of those when we visited the area, we were blown away by the wide range of wines that vintners are making these days. We were also impressed with the food scene, which foregrounds local ingredients. Marionberries and hazelnuts, two prominent locally grown items, are everywhere on menus, and you’ll also get to visit multiple restaurants that have their own farms. This month, we will take you from fine dining restaurants to pizza joints, and casual taco spots to excellent bakeries. And of course, we’ll drink plenty of wine along the way. Make McMinnville your home base — the town has several nice hotels (we’ve stayed at the Atticus and Compass and recommend both) and you’ll find lots of restaurants and bars walkable from your digs. Then, when you want to venture out, most places are just a 15-minute drive away.

Subscribe to the American Weekender newsletter this month, where we will be sharing some of our favorite places in the Willamette Valley. Paid subscribers receive a free download of our Field Guide to McMinnville & Oregon Wine Country. Just use the discount codes found at the end of our most recent Weekend Getaway newsletter. Our mobile-optimized dining guide includes two dozen vetted recommendations organized into daily itineraries. And, as usual, paid newsletter subscribers can also download any additional Field Guides free of charge. We’ll see you in Oregon.