Wine and Dine Part 2
Willamette Valley Vineyards
Part 2 of the Willamette Valley blog is even better than the first! We visited some great wineries on the first day and had a tremendous day on the coast, but our second winery day was the best! We had the pleasure of experiencing a hands on tour and a private dinner inside a beautiful winery. There is so much fun to be had in Oregon. Let’s dive into the goods!
We started our day in McMinnville, OR. Our first stop was breakfast at Red Hills Market! I ordered the market avocado toast and it was delish! We fueled up for our first and best winery, R. Stuart. Ralph(our winery guide) had breakfast with us and went over the details of the day. He explained the differences of each winery and how they were unique. Let’s explore R. Stuart winery!
R. Stuart was such an amazing experience. Even after visiting Napa last year, we learned more at this winery than all of the ones combined! Mr. Stuart and his crew gave us the tour of the warehouse. They showed us their process, their testing and even let us disgorge a few bottles of bubbles (see pics below). We tasted wine straight from the barrels and had all the feels! It was truly an experience that we will never forget, plus the wine and bubbles were amazing! If you’re in Oregon and have a chance, visit R. Stuart and try his amazing wines! Also, let him tell you the story behind their “Love, Oregon” bottle label! It’s the best!
Next up was Dominio! This winery served a lot of white wine and honestly, I’m not a fan of white. If you do enjoy white, this was a neat experience. They sat us in an old shed that they had renovated and it was truly unique. After snacking on Ralph’s “bites” and enjoying the experience at Dominio, we headed to Durant Olive Mill. At Durant we sampled the best olive oil that I’ve ever tasted. This was another neat experience and a good break from all of the wine! :) We piled our baskets full of “all the things” and headed home to change for a private dinner!
Ralph gave us 10 minutes to change and jump back in his van to head to our private dinning experience at Lenne Winery. We arrived to the owner greeting us on the top of a hill over looking the horizon. It was truly breathtaking. At Lenne, they explained how they were formed, the story behind their name and then let us sample their wines! It was a very neat experience. Once the sun started to set, we were seated for dinner beside a roaring fireplace. Ralph and his crew served us the most delicious dinner, with the most one of a kind setting! It was truly a once in a lifetime experience.
The bonding that we experience on these trips with one another, is truly the best! Last year we explored the Napa Valley. This year we adventured through Oregon and the Willamette Valley. Next year, we are already planning Texas, with a stop in LA. Traveling with your family and friends is something that no one can take from you. It’s memories that will last a lifetime. Until next time!