Weekend: Do You Have to S tay With Your In-Laws? 😬

Oregon’s Willamette Valley Is Quietly Becoming the Coolest Wine Destination in the US

theSkimm

PSA: California’s Napa Valley and Sonoma County aren’t the be-all and end-all when it comes to America’s wine country — even now, during peak harvest season. For a more accessible wine destination, head to Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Extending from Portland to Eugene, the unpretentious region is home to more than 700 wineries (yes, you read that right) and some of the country’s best pinot noir. Plus, you don’t need to be a budding somm to appreciate all that the Pacific Northwest gem has to offer — from taking in misty mountain views to hiking through lush forests where you can literally go chasing waterfalls to exploring quaint towns with buzzy restaurants. And yes, you can do all that with a glass of wine in hand.

🛏 If Gwyneth Paltrow had a Willamette Valley home, we have a feeling it’d look like Inn The Ground. Built into a picturesque hillside, the contemporary bed and breakfast has just nine rooms — each of which has sleek and stylish furniture, floor-to-ceiling windows, and its own patio, so you can sip your morning coffee while taking in the stunning pastoral views. The spacious grounds also include eight miles of hiking trails, a sustainable farm, a private pickleball facility, and cozy living and dining areas, where farm-fresh breakfast is served daily.

🍷 We wouldn’t be doing our jobs if we didn’t tell you to spend a day (or more) visiting some of the top wineries: Eyrie Vineyards, one of area’s oldest wineries, is the ideal primer for the Willamette wine scene; Sokol Blosser Winery is a “sparkling powerhouse” (try the Bluebird Cuvée Brut Sparkling); Soter Vineyards’s co-founder is a legendary winemaker who spent decades in Napa before returning to his home state; Durant Vineyards not only has fantastic rosés and chardonnays, but also 17 acres of olive trees; and Brianne Day’s namesake Day Wines are beyond eclectic (see: the juicy “Lemonade” rosé), in the best way.

🌲 When you’ve had enough wine and need to touch grass, take a day trip to Silver Falls State Park, which some say is “the crown jewel of Oregon’s state park system.” There, you can explore 35 miles of backcountry trails and hike the legendary Trail of Ten Falls, a seven-mile loop that, as the name suggests, takes you past 10 spectacular waterfalls. For something less intense, Molalla River State Park offers a mostly flat three-mile loop, fishing, ferry rides, and an abundance of wildlife. Meanwhile, cyclists should pick up a bike at Mac Bike Rentals and ride part (or all) of the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway, a 134-mile stretch that winds through countless vineyards and farms.

🍴 Fuel up for a day of tastings with savory galettes, sourdough croissants, and other homemade pastries at Alchemist’s Jam. (Pro tip: Take some bread and seasonal jam to go, as an emergency snack.) For dinner, head to the town of McMinnville and enjoy the inventive, “new Northwest” dishes (like carrot cavatelli and sesame chicken piccata) at the James Beard-nominated Hayward. Or, visit the town’s main drag, Third Street, to try some local favorites: La Rambla Restaurant & Bar has exceptional tapas and Pizza Capo is popular for its Neopolitan-style pies (do not miss the Valley Special, which regularly changes based on what produce is in season).