20 Best Oregon Wineries to Visit

That Oregon, with its wet weather and short summers, could ever be famous for wine was in doubt until as recently as 40 years ago, when the state began to receive international acclaim. Today the Willamette Valley is the epicenter of a world-class wine region famous for some of the United States' best Pinot Noir. Here are 20 destination Oregon wineries to visit.

Adelsheim Vineyard

The Adelsheims were among the first wave of Oregon wine pioneers in the 1970s, and their family winery remains a benchmark for Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. Visitors can taste a range of small-batch, winery-only bottlings in the tasting room. Choose from a variety of tasting experience options and book online. adelsheim.com

Archery Summit

This well-funded winery produces high-end Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and other bottlings at its picture-postcard location in the Dundee Hills. There is a roster of experiences to choose from here, ranging from the $50 seated estate tasting to a combination tasting and tour of the underground barrel caves carved into volcanic rock (up to $80). archerysummit.com

Argyle Winery

You might not run across the ghost said to inhabit the old Dundee City Hall that serves as Argyle's main building (the namesake of its Spirithouse Pinot Noir), but you can visit the Nuthouse (the old hazelnut plant and namesake of its Nuthouse Pinot) and taste its range of single vineyard still wines — and the sparkling wines that are among America's best. Visit during the slack season in February and enjoy the Oregon Truffle Festival. argylewinery.com

Bergstr?m Wines

These highly regarded, biodynamically grown wines are a family affair — the talented, Burgundy-trained winemaker Josh Bergstr?m is the owners' son. The picturesquely situated frame farmhouse amid the rolling vineyards in Dundee offers private tastings year round, with an $80 fee. bergstromwines.com

Carlton Winemakers Studio

Wine lovers who want to step outside the mainstream tasting rooms and sample the new and artisanal have a one-stop tasting destination in the Carlton Winemakers Studio, where 16 quality-oriented small producers like Andrew Rich, Hamacher, and Lazy River have banded together to produce "liquid synergy." The sleek, wine bar-like tasting room is an ode to Oregon's cutting edge. winemakersstudio.com

Chehalem

The tasting room for Chehalem (pronounced sha-HAY-lem) is in a historic brick building in Newberg that offers an Old World-style twist on the usual: Fill or refill your Chehalem souvenir liter-size bottles from the tap with wines like the no-oak INOX Chardonnay or a Pinot like the Three Vineyard. There are also regular tasting flights offered, from $25. chehalemwines.com

Cristom Vineyards

One of Oregon's longest-running acts, Cristom's winemaking and vineyard team have been in place since the winery's founding in 1992, and their naturally produced Pinot Noirs are among Oregon's most acclaimed wines. The standard tasting fee for five wines in the homey Salem tasting room is $25, but Cristom also has a semi-private, guided tasting program ($65). cristomvineyards.com

Domaine Drouhin

Visitors are drawn to this U.S. outpost of Burgundy's Maison Joseph Drouhin by the reputation of the Pinot Noirs, including the very fine Dundee Hills entry-level bottling, and are captivated by the sweeping views from these hilltop vineyards. Visits are by appointment only; choose from a few different options, including a comparison tasting of Drouhin's Oregon and French wines. domainedrouhin.com

Domaine Serene

This stylish producer of highly regarded Pinots and Chardonnays occupies a Tuscan-style hilltop building in Dayton, marked by its mascot Wooly, a 14-foot high wooly mammoth sculpture — a memorial to the Ice Age events that formed the Willamette Valley. Reservations are required to visit; estate tastings begin at $40. domaineserene.com

Elk Cove Vineyards

Elk Cove is one of Oregon's pioneering wineries, established by the Campbell family back in the 1970s in the foothills of the Coastal Range (which also provides mountain views out the windows). The wine has reached new heights under second-generation Adam Campbell, whose portfolio includes the luscious dessert wine blend Ultima. Basic flights in the modern tasting room start at $30; it's recommended to reserve ahead as walk-in availability is limited. elkcove.com

Eyrie Vineyards

Eyrie was the winery that kicked off Oregon's modern wine era back in 1965 and bottled America's first Pinot Gris. Now under the direction of founder David Lett's son Jason, Eyrie continues its emphasis on wines of finesse and balance rather than sheer power. Eyrie combines the charm of a hands-on, small, family-run winery with very high quality. The cozy tasting room in McMinnville hosts signature tastings for $40; reservations are required. eyrievineyards.com

Gran Moraine

California wine juggernaut Kendall-Jackson jumped into the Oregon wine business with both feet. It purchased a wide swath of vineyard land in the rolling hills of the Carlton-Yamhill AVA and built an impressive winery producing a line of super-premium Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. Visits are by appointment only; the estate tasting is $40. granmoraine.com

Ken Wright Cellars

Ken Wright is a name to conjure with among Oregon Pinot Noir lovers, and his long-established winery has never lost its place among the handful of the state's most sought-after producers. The Carlton tasting room is the place to sample the fine Pinots; reservations are encouraged. kenwrightcellars.com

King Estate

One of Oregon's largest producers, King Estate is known for terrific Pinot Gris — in various styles and at different prices — and its vast organic ranch, located southwest of Eugene, which includes gardens, orchards, a restaurant, and wetlands. The tasting room is open Thursday through Sunday by appointment. kingestate.com

Lemelson Vineyards

Environmental lawyer Eric Lemelson's frame-barn winery conceals a high-tech, carefully thought-out facility for highlighting the natural nuances in his organically farmed grapes. The wines — including Pinot Noir and Riesling — are the draw, but the design-magazine stone and oak building (including the sleek tasting room) in Carlton lends an extra charm. Closed mid-week. lemelsonvineyards.com

Ponzi

Burgundy-trained Luisa Ponzi has taken over the keys to the cellar from her parents in this foundational winery, which sources most of its wines — including the flagship Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris — from its own, sustainably farmed Chehalem Mountains vineyards. The beautiful modern winery in Sherwood offers both signature and estate tasting flights; check their calendar for winery events. ponziwines.com

Rex Hill

Rex Hill's esteemed roster of estate-grown wines are farmed biodynamically, and the lineup includes offerings from top Oregon growers. Visitors have the opportunity to sample these wines in a variety of ways, up to a $90 legacy tour of the vineyard and winery with a tasting of matured wines. rexhill.com

Sokol Blosser

This path-breaking Dundee Hills winery is now under the guidance of the second generation of Sokol Blossers, who opened the strikingly designed, cedar-lined Dundee tasting room in 2013. The lineup here includes the image-making Pinot Noir bottlings and the popular, affordable Evolution line. Standard tasting flights are $35; reservations are required. sokolblosser.com

Soter Vineyards

Tony Soter, long one of California's most respected winemakers and consultants, took his expertise north to found this small winery, one of America's benchmark producers of Pinot Noir and sparkling wines, all in Soter's refined, nuanced style. The winery is open by advance appointment only, for semi-private, guided seated tastings ($45) and more extensive "Provisions" tastings ($150) including food grown on the estate. sotervineyards.com

Willamette Valley Vineyards

One of Oregon's largest producers — partly owned by thousands of small shareholders through an ongoing public offering — WVV occupies a fairytale site high on a vine-covered slope and offers visitors to the Turner estate a range of tasting and dining experiences, including wine-pairing meals prepared by the estate chef. If you'd prefer not to drive home afterward, you can book one of the estate's luxury suites. WVV also has five other Oregon tasting room and restaurant locations. wvv.com