Overview. Wine Lovers’ Road Trip Through the Pacific Northwest:

Hi there! I’m taking a trip to Oregon and Washington State in July, which is in the Pacific Northwest. I went to Portland and the Willamette Valley two years ago. I’ve been learning more about the wine areas in both states since I like wine, especially Pinot Noir. For wine enthusiasts, I have designed a road tour across the Pacific Northwest. I can’t wait to share it with you and invite you to join me on my wine journey and road trip across the Pacific Northwest.

But the Pacific Northwest is where?

Let’s begin with the fundamentals. I’ve been asked what and where the Pacific Northwest (PNW) is by quite a few individuals. It includes British Columbia in Canada as well as the states of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. There is no denying the breathtaking natural splendor of the Pacific Northwest. Envision a landscape with cliffs, mountains, waterfalls, fauna, and national parks. Nonetheless, few people are aware of how many vineyards and wineries there are in this region. After California, Washington is the second-largest wine-producing state in the US.

I’ve traveled to Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington. I haven’t, however, taken a road journey between these two wonderful places. Portland and Seattle are around two hours and forty minutes apart by car. But I’ve made the decision to travel east, via the wine area of Washington State and the Columbia River Gorge.

Route of a Road Trip across the Pacific Northwest:

I will now be arriving in Portland, Oregon, via plane from Atlanta. I’ll be heading east along the Columbia River Gorge from Portland, Oregon, stopping at a vineyard in Hood River, Oregon. I’m going to continue east on my solo car adventure across the Pacific Northwest to Walla Walla, Washington. After that, I make my way west, stopping in Benton City, Washington, on my way to Yakima Valley. After Yakima Valley wine tasting, I’ll continue west to Seattle, Washington. I’m going to the Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery while I’m in Seattle. I am eager to visit Chateau Ste. Michelle since it produces some of my favorite wines.

Deciding on my itinerary for the Pacific Northwest took some time. You may enjoy a lot of beautiful drives and excursions. Things became somewhat simpler once I made the decision to make wine the main course of my road trip excursion.

Wine Lovers’ Road Trip Through the Pacific Northwest:

It was difficult to choose which wineries and vineyards to visit in Oregon and Washington State since there were so many of them. Generally speaking, I advise customers to visit vineyards that provide their preferred varietals. For instance, if you’re a fan of Chardonnay, find out which vineyards in the region are well-known for producing it. The Willamette Valley in Oregon is a must-visit if you are a Pinot Noir enthusiast.

You should also think about whether you would rather tour vineyards or merely wineries. While some like to spend their half a day at a full-service vineyard with restaurants and winery tours, others prefer to visit wineries in urban areas and go in and out. While not all wineries and vineyards provide dining options, I personally like those that do.

You also need to arrange for secure transportation. There are individual, group, and even limousine excursions available in many places. A few years back, we had a wine tour in Napa Valley, California, in a limousine that we leased. It was incredible.

Pacific Northwest Road Trip: Portland as the first stop

When I went there two years ago, Portland was a laid-back city with excellent wine and cuisine. Everywhere you look are vineyards and wineries. Pinot Noir wines from Oregon are well renowned. near actuality, my relatives are only ten minutes away from Hawks View Wineries, a vineyard near Portland. I had a bottle of their White Pinot Noir with me. It tasted great.

Additionally, we went to the Willamette Valley Vineyards, which is situated near The Willamette Valley This is Oregon’s primary wine area. Portland is only one hour away. I’ll be staying a little bit closer to the city on this trip.

The Abby Creek Winery, which is situated in North Plains, Oregon, will be my first wine trip. Portland’s downtown may be reached in under thirty minutes. Bertony Faustin became the founder of Abby Creek Winery. He is the first Black winemaker in Oregon. He runs what is known as the first hip-hop vineyard in the Pacific Northwest. The tagline is “wine & chill, hip hop.”

Small-batch winemaker Abby Creek Winery makes Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, and of course Pinot Noir. Mr. Faustin has a fascinating tale to tell, and I’m excited to visit his vineyard. I may be motivated to pick up my “Black Winemaker Series” again by it. I wrote my first blog piece on Andre Hueston Mack of Mouton Noir Wines in this series. In addition, Mr. Mack makes wine in Oregon.

Helvetia Winery is another winery I can’t wait to see. It is situated in the Tualatin Valley near Hillsboro, Oregon. Moreover, Hillsboro is 30 minutes’ drive from Portland’s city center. The Abby Creek Winery in North Plains, Oregon, is not far away.

The Hillsboro Wine Trail came to my attention while doing research in this region. Helvetia Vineyards & Winery is one of the four wineries that are part of the Hillsboro Wine Trail. Red and white wine samples are available. The artisanal chocolates and the Pinot Noir tasting are what I am most excited about.

I’ll go on with my Pacific Northwest road trip for wine enthusiasts after hanging out with my family, competing in a doughnut tasting, and enjoying some Salt & Straw ice cream.

Marchesi Vineyards & Columbia River Gorge, 2nd Stop:

Admittedly, until recently, I knew very little about the Columbia River Gorge. I’m still surprised by my enthusiasm in picturesque scenery. Being Jamaican, my go-to holiday spots used to be beaches with sun and sand. However, since I’ve been traveling across the country more, I’ve come to realize how beautiful the natural environment is. Arizona, with its Sedona and Antelope Canyon, as well as any part of California, are two of my favorite places to enjoy the majesty of nature.

Now, let’s return to the Columbia River Gorge. Portland, Oregon, is one hour and fifteen minutes to the east of it. On my journey to Walla Walla Valley, I want to spend a day visiting this region.

It is official that the Columbia River Gorge is a National Scenic Area. Here, the Cascade Mountains are sliced by the Columbia River. I can’t wait to see the cliffs, waterfalls, and scenery.

The fact that there are wineries in the Columbia River Gorge astonished me. The Columbia River Gorge has a distinct topography with cold, steep portions and dry, sunny sections, according to Travel Oregon. While Tempranillo and Syrah are produced in the drier regions, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are known to be produced in the cooler regions.

There are around fifty small wineries in the Columbia Gorge wine area, spread between Washington State and Oregon. This webpage provides further information on the “Gorge Wine Region.”

I discovered Hood River, Oregon’s Marchesi Vineyards & Winery while doing research. The Columbia River has a port in Hood River. Italian varietals are produced at Marchesi Vineyards in the Oregon slopes of Mount Hood. On their website, the company’s founder, Franco Marchesi, says that he is reminded of Northern Italy, namely Piedmont. Here, Pinot Grigio, Barbera, Dolcetto, and Nero are among the most well-liked varieties. I’m eager to see this vineyard since the photos are so beautiful.

Winery Tour Advice: After deciding which vineyards and wineries to visit, find out when and on what days they are open, as well as if reservations are necessary.

Road Trip for Wine Lovers: Walla Walla Valley, Washington State: I’m going to continue my Pacific Northwest road trip for wine lovers to Walla Walla Valley after seeing the Columbia River Gorge for a day. Hood River, Oregon, is about a three-hour drive from Walla Walla, Washington.

I wrote about Washington State wines for the first time in 2016. I note that Washington State is the second-largest wine producer behind California in my blog article on Mercer Wines. It is believed that Italian immigrants planted the first grapes in Walla Walla. In Walla Walla Valley, popular white varietals include Pinot Gris, Riesling, Chardonnay, and even Chenin Blanc. The best red wine varieties include Sangiovese, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Malbec. They make Pinot Noir as well.

I’m going to the Walla Walla Valley to see a few wineries. I’m going to Lowden, Washington, first. The winery L’Ecole No 41 has won many accolades. It is the third-oldest winery in the Walla Walla Valley, having been established in 1983. Another third-generation family-owned winery is L’Ecole No 41. I’m excited to try their Estate wines since they farm the grapes and produce the wine on their land.

Woodward Canyon is another Walla Walla vineyard I want to visit. It was founded in 1981 and is also situated in Lowden, Washington. Studying about multigenerational family vineyards is interesting to me. Woodward Canyon is renowned for its wines with a “Old World” feel. I’m going to try their reserve flight, which comes with a 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon from “Old Vines.”

I would want to check out a few of the tasting rooms in downtown Walla Walla. The Seven Hills, Cadaretta, and Rotie cellars are the three Walla Walla downtown wine tasting venues that are on my list.