Dundee Hills WineTrail South

No doubt Oregon wine lovers have their top 10 picks in terms of great wine. And, no doubt that the list would be heavily weighted toward wines of the pinot noir variety. Think Oregon wines; think pinot. Think pinot noir and you no doubt focus on the Dundee Hills, and more specifically the wineries of Dundee Hills WineTrail South. And why not? With names like Domaine Serene, Domaine Drouhin Oregon, Archery Summit, De Ponte Cellars, Sokol Blosser and others, your tasting room excursion is a guaranteed hit.

On this WineTrail you will discover that these pinot noirs differ remarkably from the pinots that you might have had down the road in McMinnville, using grapes from different viticulture areas. The culprit in this difference is the soil of the Dundee Hills, which results in wines that are lighter and fruitier than other meatier pinots. Someone above must have determined that a wine was needed to match perfectly with Northwest Seafood, summer salads, grilled chicken, and light pasta dishes. He succeeded with the creation of these pinot noirs from the Dundee Hills.

Speaking of food, if you haven’t packed a picnic, it’s a quick trip to the town of Dundee, McMinnville, Dayton, or Carlton where restaurants and bistros abound to cap off a perfect day. The same is true for lodging. The fact that you won’t find dining or overnight accommodations at the wineries of the Dundee Hills reflects their focus in life – making great wine.