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Willamette Valley Vineyards
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Willamette Valley Vineyards

Oregon, USA

Well Reviewed

5.00
9Reviews

About Willamette Valley Vineyards

Winemaking at Willamette Since He Was 10

Jim's initial foray into "winemaking" was largely driven by a sense of mischief. At the age of 10, he took it upon himself to free his mother's frozen Concord grape juice and attempted fermentation based on the instructions he discovered in the family's encyclopedias. The origins of Willamette Valley Vineyards can be traced back well before its establishment in 1983 by vintner Jim Bernau. His father, an attorney from Roseburg, was engaged by California winemaker Richard Sommer to obtain one of the first winery licenses in Oregon following the end of Prohibition.

The Beginning of Willamette Valley Vineyards

In 1983, motivated by the actions of winemakers relocating from California, Jim undertook the task of clearing an old pioneer plum orchard in the Salem Hills, which was obscured by scotch broom and blackberry vines, to cultivate Pinot Noir. Lacking the financial means for drip irrigation, he manually irrigated the vines, employing 17 sections of 75-foot garden hose to ensure the young plants survived their inaugural summer.

The Winery through the Years

Willamette Valley Vineyards has developed its estate vineyards through strategic partnerships, including a merger with Oregon wine pioneer Bill Fuller of Tualatin Vineyards, established in 1973, as well as collaborations with the O'Brien family for Elton Vineyard, founded in 1983, and the planting of Loeza Vineyard in 2015. The winery exclusively sources its barrel-aged Pinot Noir from its estate-grown vineyards and diligently cultivates nearly 500 acres in the valley through hand farming. Since its establishment in 1983, the winery has prioritized land stewardship as a fundamental aspect of its winemaking philosophy. We engage in environmentally sustainable farming practices and were instrumental in the creation of the Low Input Viticulture and Enology (LIVE) program.

Visiting hours

Monday
11:00 – 18:00
Tuesday
11:00 – 18:00
Wednesday
11:00 – 18:00
Thursday
11:00 – 18:00
Friday
11:00 – 20:00
Saturday
11:00 – 18:00
Sunday
11:00 – 18:00

Languages offered for tours

🇬🇧English🇪🇸Spanish

Wine types

Red WineWhite WineRose WineSparkling Wine

Grape varieties

Pinot NoirChardonnayPinot GrisPinot BlancRiesling

Experiences

1 experience available

Oregon Wine Escape: Tasting & Vineyard Tour
30 min

Oregon Wine Escape: Tasting & Vineyard Tour

Enjoy outdoor wine tasting with local cuisine and a guided winery tour in Oregon's scenic Tualatin Estate

From €32Request to book

More Information About Willamette Valley Vineyards

Address

8800 Enchanted Way Southeast, Turner, Oregon 97392, United States



Testimonials

5.0· 9 reviews

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