International Pinot Noir Celebration (IPNC) is one of the wine festivals that anchors the Oregon calendar, drawing both local visitors and international wine travellers each year.
The International Pinot Noir Celebration (IPNC) is one of the wine festivals that anchors the Oregon calendar, drawing both local visitors and international wine travellers each year. It is held at Linfield University in McMinnville, in the heart of one of USA's most distinctive wine areas. It has been running since 1987, with a long unbroken local tradition behind it.
World's premier Pinot Noir event. Three-day celebration at Linfield University. Global gathering of Pinot Noir producers and enthusiasts. Wine festivals across Europe typically combine producer tastings with food pairings, live music, and a strong sense of place. Visitors can expect access to wines from a range of producers in the appellation, alongside food stalls offering regional specialities, masterclasses or vineyard walks for those who want to learn more, and an opportunity to buy directly from producers at cellar prices. Many events run across multiple days or weekends, allowing visitors to sample different parts of the programme according to interest, and combine well with the area's wider tourism offer. The event is organised by International Pinot Noir Celebration (non-profit), which sets the tone and direction of the programme each year.
Oregon's wine country centres on the Willamette Valley — one of the world's premium Pinot Noir regions, lying along the same latitude as France's Burgundy. The valley produces Pinot Noir of remarkable elegance, with sub-AVAs including Dundee Hills, Yamhill-Carlton, Eola-Amity Hills, Ribbon Ridge, Chehalem Mountains, Van Duzer Corridor, McMinnville and the Laurelwood District each producing subtly distinct expressions. Pinot Gris and Chardonnay are also significant. Producers like Domaine Drouhin (founded by the Burgundy house Joseph Drouhin), Ponzi, Argyle, King Estate, Sokol Blosser, Adelsheim, Cristom and Beaux Frères set the regional quality reference. The smaller southern Oregon AVAs — Umpqua, Rogue and Applegate — produce a wider range of styles including Tempranillo, Cabernet and Syrah.
The 2026 edition is scheduled for July 24-26, 2026. Cost details are best confirmed directly with the organiser ahead of travel. Full programme, ticketing and updated information are published on the official site at ipnc.org. Visitors are advised to check directly with the organiser for the latest schedule, as festival programmes are sometimes updated close to the event date.
Oregon's Willamette Valley is reached via Portland International Airport (PDX), with the wine country starting just 30 minutes southwest of the airport. McMinnville and Newberg are the wine-tourism centres, with the Dundee Hills the most-visited AVA. Beyond wine, Oregon pairs its wine offering with the Columbia River Gorge, Mount Hood, the Oregon Coast and the strong Pacific Northwest food scene of Portland — one of the country's leading culinary cities.
