Oregon Whites

How Many of These White Wine Varietals Have You Tried?
The Willamette Valley is known globally for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and sparkling wines. But did you know the same attention to detail in winemaking, high quality grapes and perfect climate make it the ideal setting for some lesser-known but incredibly delicious white wine varietals? Spend the year discovering Melon de Bourgogne, Müller-Thurgau, White Pinot Noir and other bright, refreshing and delicious wines in the hills & valleys! This is definitely the moment to add a new favorite to your cellar! Click the link at the bottom for the incredible Dundee Hills Whites.
  • Chardonnay
  • Sparkling & ​Pinot gris & Pinot blanc
  • Rosé ​
  • Riesling
  • White Pinot noir
  • Melon de Bourgogne
  • Muller-Thurgau
  • Pinot Gourges
  • Ice Wine - Dessert Wine Wineries
  • 'Other White & Whimsical Wine' Wineries
Click on the winery to go to their website. Being listed here does not guarantee the wines will be available in their tasting rooms.  Go to their website or check with each winery to confirm wine availability. Wineries listed below are in no particular order. This list in not comprehensive, many other white wine wineries are available, please ask.
Meet the Game Changer
Willamette Valley Chardonnay

 You may know us for our Pinot Noirs, but have you met our  Chardonnays and Rosés? These varietals have been making headlines across the country for being as bright as they are complex and as easy-drinking as they are unforgettable. 
"Only a handful of times have I come across a region, with very little history, that I would bet will have a profound impact on how we think about where the greatest wines can come from.  
This time the game-changer is Oregon’s Willamette Valley.
Willamette is of course synonymous with Pinot Noir. (The Willamette Valley Wineries Association proudly proclaims in 42-point type “We Are Pinot Noir” on its homepage.) But we believe that Chardonnay has the greater potential to make history here."
Notable Chardonnay Wineries - There are only a few small places on earth where the noble varietal of Chardonnay truly reaches great heights, and Oregon's northern Willamette Valley is one of these extraordinary places.  Unoaked Chardonnay Brands:
  • The Best of the Best: Domaine Drouhin. Domaine Serene (oaked)
  • Middle of the Road: Evening Land
  • Great value: Naked

​- New York Times -
Chardonnay the Oregon Way
Eric Asimov takes his readers to the Willamette Valley to discover Chardonnay wines as the featured topic of his Wine School column. 
Dundee Hills Chardonnays Featured in New York Times
​https://www.oregonwinepress.com/way-to-chardonnay
Sparkling & Pinot gris
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​Notable Sparkling Wine Wineries ("Champagne") - (alphabetical)
​It's Sparkling Season in the Willamette Valley!
Oregon’s Willamette Valley is a known and loved destination for wine enthusiasts. Though it was our Pinot Noir that first took the global stage, other wines including Chardonnay and, more recently, Sparkling Wine have stepped into the spotlight. 
​
  • Analemma (In the Gorge) - "I think the most interesting sparkling wine in the state comes out of the Columbia Gorge...Analemma is the producer." The Book of Fred
  • Angela Estate
  • Anne Amie Vineyards: This longtime winery (formerly known as Chateau Benoit) is in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, and it produces a delicious Brut Rosé using estate Pinot Noir.
  • Apolloni Vineyards: Alfredo Apolloni leads this small family operation near the north Willamette Valley town of Forest Grove, and he focuses on Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc. He now makes a small amount of sparkling Pinot Blanc that is rich, luscious and shows off the bright fruit typical of western Oregon wines.
  • Argyle Winery: The largest producer of traditional sparkling wines in Oregon, Argyle has been crafting bubbly since its first vintage in the 1980s. Argyle, based along the highway in the Willamette Valley town of Dundee, is the quality and quantity leader in Oregon sparkling wine and are known to have produced the world's highest rated Sparkling Wines outside of Champagne.
  • Castillo de Feliciana Vineyard & Winery: Dentist-turned-vintner Sam Castillo leads this small, family-owned winery on the Oregon side of the Walla Walla Valley. It focuses on Spanish-style wines, but it also makes a small amount of a superb bubbly called Brillánte, which is made using Pinot Blanc.
  • Coeur de Terre Vineyard: This small producer in McMinnville is best known for its Pinot Noirs, and in 2011, it produced a tiny amount of sparkling Riesling. It's a delicious example that emphasizes bright fruit and acidity.
  • Division Winemaking Co.: Portland vintner Thomas Monroe launched his Crémant de Portland starting with the 2013 vintage, a bottling that includes Chenin Blanc from Willard Farms in Washington's Yakima Valley, which he's followed up with his Gamine 2014 Grenache Rosé Petillant.
  • Dobbes Family Estate (Wine by Joe)
  • Domaine Meriwether: This winery west of Eugene has long focused on sparkling wines, and that tradition continues. Raymond Walsh makes the wines for Eric and Lorrie Normann, who latter who helped launch Sweet Cheeks Winery.
  • Edgefield Winery: Edgefield, owned by McMenamins, is in Troutdale at the entrance of the Columbia Gorge. Among its many offerings is a Blanc de Noirs made from Pinot Noir
  • Elk Cove Vineyards
  • Eola Hills
  • J. Albin Winery
  • King Estate
  • Kramer Vineyards: Second-generation winemaker Kim Kramer has taken over cellar duties for this longtime producer in northern Yamhill County, and she is starting to focus on making some of the best sparkling wines in the Pacific Northwest. She makes four bubbles: Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Gris, Brut and Rosé of Pinot Noir.
  • Laurel Ridge Winery
  • Lundeen Wines: After working for a few other wineries in the Willamette Valley, Michael Lundeen decided in 2005 to launch his own winery in McMinnville. He produces a small amount of vineyard-designated sparkling wine using Pinot Noir, and it is a beauty.
  • Lytle-Barnett
  • Maysara Winery: Based in the McMinnville AVA, this beautiful winery crafts a sparkling rosé made from estate Pinot Noir.
  • Mellen Meyer Winery: This small producer in Portland is just getting started up and will be focusing on crafting small lots of sparkling wine.
  • Ponzi Vineyards: Second-generation winemaker Luisa Ponzi crafted her Cin Cin Brut Rosé from Pinot Noir grapes. Just for fun (and for the kids in the Ponzi family), she also makes a sparkling grape juice from Gewürztraminer called Cugini. 
  • ​+Ponzi Wine & Bubble Bar @The Dundee Bistro
  • Rallison Cellars: Parrett Mountain winemaker Jared Rallison offers three sparkling wines, with a focus on single-vineyard bottlings with varieties native to Burgundy.
  • Raptor Ridge Winery: Owner/winemaker Scott Shull crafts a small amount of vineyard-designated sparkling Pinot Noir rosé at his winery near Newberg. The inaugural vintage was from 2011.
  • ROCO Winery
  • Roots Wine Co.
  • St. Josef's: This longtime winery (more than 30 years old) in Canby makes three different sparklers: Chardonnay, Riesling and Syrah. They are made in the off-dry, semi-sparkling Prosecco style.
  • Season Cellars: One of the more famous names in Oregon wine is Scott Henry of Henry Estate in the Umpqua Valley. Scott Henry IV owns this small winery and has produced a delicious off-dry semi-sparkling wine called Transparency that uses such grapes as Müller-Thurgau, Early Muscat and Riesling.
  • Shafer Vineyard Cellars
  • Sokol Blosser: The second generation has taken over this longtime Dundee Hills producer. It makes two sparkling wines. One is a rosé using Pinot Noir, and one is a white sparkling brut under its wildly popular Evolution series.
  • Soter Vineyards: Longtime West Coast winemaker Tony Soter has made a Pinot Noir from estate Mineral Springs Vineyard Pinot Noir for several years, and it's always among the finest made in Oregon.
  • St. Innocent
  • R. Stuart and Co.: Rob Stuart, who has worked at wineries on both sides of the Columbia River, launched his eponymous brand in McMinnville. He produces two sparkling wines: a dry Chardonnay and a rosé.
  • Trisaetum
  • Tualatin Estate Vineyards
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​​We are offering a Best of Bubbly tour, especially each February, when 7 wineries offer Sparkling Only flights.
​
4 Itineraries for Sparkling in the Dundee Hills
​
5 Fast Facts about Sparkling to impress your friends
Notable Pinot Gris Wineries - 
Adelsheim Vineyards, Eyrie Vineyards (the 1st to produce in the US, from 1970), Montinore Vineyards, Dobbes Family Estate (Wine by Joe), Maysara Estate, Willakenzie Estate, Cristom, Elk Cove Vineyard**, Willamette Valley Vineyards, Anne Amie**, St. Innocent, Bethel Heights, Andrew Rich, Four Graces, Chehalem, Lange Winery, Belle Pente (PG is their flagship wine)*, Lemelson Vineyards, A-Z Wineworks*, Daedalus Cellars, Winter's Hill Vineyard, Laurel Ridge Winery, Erath Vineyards, Owen Roe, Solena, Ponzi Vineyards, David Hill Vineyards, Witness Tree Vineyard, ArborBrook Vineyards, Torii Mor, Vidon, Panther Creek, Roots Wine Co., Durant Vineyards @ Red Ridge Farms (Olive oil tasting), Yamhill Valley, Boedecker Cellars
Rosé & Riesling
​Notable Rosé Wineries -
​- Forbes -
Oregon’s Willamette Valley Makes Rosé Like No Place Else On Earth
Leslie Kelly offers a who’s who of rosé wines in the Willamette Valley, encouraging readers to check out a few of the notable rosé wines in the region on their next visit. ​4 DUNDEE HILLS Rosé Itineraries Perfect for Summertime
Notable Riesling Wineries - 
Chehalem, Trisaetum** (Trisaetum's Newberg tasting room, barrel cave, and art gallery offer a picturesque setting for sipping their 96-point Riesling, one of more than half a dozen Riesling bottlings by the producer.), Crumbled Rock Winery, Daedalus Cellars, Penner-Ash Wine Cellars, Anne Amie**, Lemelson Vineyards, Bergstrom, Amity Vineyards, Elk Cove Vineyards**, Ponzi Vineyards, Willamette Valley Vineyards, Solena, Erath Vineyards, Montinore Vineyards, David Hill Vineyards, Stoller Vineyards, Argyle, Styring, Saffron Fields Vineyard, R. Stuart & Co.**, Brooks**   (an entire line of Rieslings), Hyland Estates, Yamhill Valley, Wine Country Farm Cellars/Armonea Wines (A taste of Late Harvest Riesling at Armonéa Vineyard in Dayton will have you ready to buy a case and receive a certificate to stay at the on-site B&B.)
Ice Wine - Dessert Wine & Other White Wines

​Notable Ice Wine - Dessert Wine Wineries -
Daedalus Cellars, Montinore Vineyards, Andrew Rich, Cooper Mountain Vineyards, Witness Tree Vineyard, Sineann, Elk Cove Vineyards**, Winter's Hill Vineyard, Dobbes Family Estate (Wine by Joe), Eola Hills, Ponzi Vineyards,Adelsheim Vineyards, ArborBrook Vineyards, Styring, Anam Cara Cellars (vineyard by appt only), Laurel Ridge Winery, Willamette Valley Vineyards, Anne Amie**, Styring, R. Stuart & Co.**
Notable 'Other White & Whimsical Wine' Wineries -
Dobbes Family Estate - Wine by Joe (Grenache Blanc, Viognier & Sauvignon Blanc), Domaine Serene (Coeur Blanc), DOMINIO IV* (Viognier, McMinnville, Biodynamic), Carlo and Julian Winery (Sauvignon Blanc), Winter's Hill Vineyard (pinot blanc), ArborBrook Vineyards (Sauvignon Blanc), Hyland Estates (Gewurztraminer), Eyrie Vineyards  (Melon de Bourgogne), Adelsheim Vineyards (Auxerrois; This bright and zingy white varietal (pronounced oak-sair-wah) hails from Alsace, where it generally ends up blended into the local sparkling wines. On its own, it's a superb partner for seafood. The Adelsheim family is one of only seven wineries producing the varietal in the United States), Abacela (Albariño; This crisp, clean varietal hails from Galicia in northwestern Spain), J. Christopher (Cristo Misto; a blend of sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, and Riesling), Kramer Vineyards (Muller-Thurgau), Vidon (pinot blanc & Viognier), Anne Amie** (Viognier; Spotlight on Anne Amie Viognier: Hailing from Chateau Lebeau, in the Chehalem Mountains, their 2014 Viognier is a stunning example of cool-climate viticulture. This wine is layered with intensely aromatic pineapple, peach, apricot, and passion fruit flavors mingled with Meyer lemon and jasmine petal. Balanced, crisp and dry, their barrel-fermented Viognier is an excellent match for Mediterranean stews, Thai curry and sushi.), Brooks** (Riesling and Gewürztraminer), Andrew Rich (Roussanne & Sauvignon Blanc), Cristom (Viognier), Sokol Blosser Winery (Muller-Thurgau)
Gamay Noir & Other Big Red Wine

​Notable Gamay Noir Wineries - 
Chehalem Winery,  WillaKenzie Estate, Evening Land Vineyards, Brick House*, Methven Family Vineyards, Amity Vineyards

Notable 'Other Big Red Wine' Wineries -  Eyrie Vineyards in McMinnville (Pinot Meunier), Compris in Newberg (Tempranillo, Syrah)
...more to come!​
*appt. is/may be required
**For non-pinot lovers ​
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