East Willamette Valley WineTrail

It’s weird. You simply don’t hear much said about the wineries in the Willamette Valley east of I-5. Given the short drive from Portland, you would think that the wineries of the East Willamette Valley WineTrail would be a popular destination for wine touring fans. But such is not the case. Methinks it is a function of other winery associations (e.g., Yamhill-Carlton Winegrowers’ Association, the Wineries of Lane County, or the Southern Oregon Winery Association) that got out of the gates much earlier. I also believe that this situation will change in the not-too-distant future, and throngs of wine tourists will discover the wineries of East Willamette.

This is rich farm country. It’s picturesque, to be sure, with plenty of side trips to exercise your Visa. Definitely, no visit here is complete without a field trip to Silverton’s Oregon Garden, featuring the only Frank Lloyd Wright–designed home in the Pacific Northwest.