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.

Experiences to book at Willamette Valley Vineyards

Top reviews

Eugene Lee
January 28, 2025
Great views and great wines. Shane our tour guide and host was very helpful and informative. He wine knowledge is immense. Many cozy places to sit and taste many different wines. EV charging is also available.
Claudia Robles Bello
November 23, 2023
We loved the place. We arrived without a reservation but they gave us a place at the bar and it was perfect. We ordered a flight of red wines and a white wine, they also have seasonal flights. The cost can vary between 20 and 25 dollars. The food menu is very good and you can also have small plates. The place has an impressive view.
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Location

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

Region

Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA

Spoken Languages

Services

Reduced Mobility Access
Restaurant
Accommodation
Parking
Bus Parking

Visiting Hours

Monday - Thursday
11:00 - 18:00
Friday
11:00 - 20:00
Saturday - Sunday
11:00 - 18:00

Wine types

Red Wine
White Wine
Rose Wine
Sparkling Wine

Grape varieties

Pinot Noir
Chardonnay
Pinot Gris
Pinot Blanc
Riesling

Other wineries in Oregon

Visitor reviews

What our community thinks about Willamette Valley Vineyards

Check out verified reviews from visitors who've enjoyed their time at Willamette Valley Vineyards.

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Reviews (9)

Eugene Lee
Reviewed on January 28, 2025

Great views and great wines. Shane our tour guide and host was very helpful and informative. He wine knowledge is immense. Many cozy places to sit and taste many different wines. EV charging is also available.

Review provided by Google

Christa Hamilton Pichler
Reviewed on November 11, 2024

We had the most phenomenal experience on our most recent visit to Willamette Valley Vineyards! We booked the chef’s tasting. Well, this experience is available for up to eight people, we were the only two on our chosen day. We enjoyed four different courses paired with four different wines. As you can see from the photos, the chef prepares them all in front of you. He talks about how he chose the flavors to complement or contrast with the wines. You also have a wine educator that is with you throughout the whole experience. She talks about the history and making of the wines as well as the food pairing. It was such a phenomenal experience! My husband and I love to travel around the world and enjoy good food and wine. This one definitely tops the list as one of our favorite experiences. Thank you, Jared and Natalie for a magical afternoon!

Review provided by Google

Dawn D.
Reviewed on November 9, 2024

Willamette Valley Vineyard, off of Turner, was worth the visit. A beautiful place for hosting events or just relaxing to watch the sunset. Watching the sunset is a must. There's plenty of outdoor and indoor seating, an indoor fireplace, and a piano. The crab drip could have used a lot more crab and less onions but the pita was plentiful. My waitress was amazing and knowledgeable of wine.

Review provided by Google

Wayne Baker
Reviewed on October 24, 2024

One of my very most favorite places! Samantha was very pleasant, professional, generous and polite! Very well done and thank you very much!

Review provided by Google

Logan Kinch
Reviewed on October 23, 2024

Booked the wine tour at Williamette Valley Vineyard and it was fantastic. Our tour was lead by Max and he was very kind and knowledgeable. We got a tour of the facility and walked around, followed by the final portion of our tour being a seated tasting paired with a cheese board. Nothing bad to say about the service. They have a good selection of wine and the pizza was really good too. Not to mention the view was gorgeous! Highly recommend if you are in the area.

Review provided by Google

Frequently Asked Questions about Willamette Valley Vineyards

Where is Willamette Valley Vineyards located?

Willamette Valley Vineyards is located in Willamette Valley, USA

What type of wines does Willamette Valley Vineyards produce?

Willamette Valley Vineyards produces Red Wine, White Wine, Rose Wine, Sparkling Wine.

What grape varieties do they plant at Willamette Valley Vineyards?

At Willamette Valley Vineyards, they cultivate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Riesling.

What languages do they speak at the Willamette Valley Vineyards?

At Willamette Valley Vineyards they speak English, Spanish.

Do they produce organic wines at Willamette Valley Vineyards?

No, Willamette Valley Vineyards is not an organic wine producer.