The unique climate of the McMinnville AVA leads to fruit that ripen slowly and can hang longer on the vine than many other Oregon regions, creating wines with intense flavor and structure. The Pinots tend to be darker and more savory than other Willamette Valley AVAs, and the white wines are often acclaimed for their bright, fruit-forward profiles. Being off the beaten path a bit, this region is simply more peaceful than the crowded tasting rooms closer to Portland.
21000 SW Eagle Point Rd, McMinnville, OR 97128
Wines: Riesling, Pinot Gris, Rosé, Sparkling Wine, Pinot Noir, Syrah
Coeur de Terre is a gem of a winery hidden in its own private valley of the McMinnville foothills. Founded in 1998 by Scott and Lisa Neal, Coeur de Terre vineyard is carved into a steep, deeply wooded hillside, with a beautiful tasting room overlooking the estate vineyards. Visitors can sit on the wraparound deck to enjoy the wines and tranquility (you likely won’t have cell service here…). Winemaker Scott Neal crafts Pinot Noir from the estate fruit, as well as elegant Pinot Gris, Dry Riesling, Rosé Rustique and Estate Syrah offerings. Their unique location in the foothills results in slow and gentle ripening of the estate fruit.
Why We Love Coeur de Terre: Expressive, memorable wines on a serene vineyard southwest of McMinnville + top-notch tasting room ambience.
22734 SW Latham Rd, McMinnville, OR 97128
Wines: Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Rosé, Chardonnay, Syrah
Located in the McMinnville Foothills, Coleman Vineyards grows and produces premium Oregon Pinot Noir, Rosé and Pinot Gris. Sitting at the top of a vineyard-covered hill overlooking the valley southwest of McMinnville, Coleman Vineyards is a true family-run hidden gem. Owners Randy and Kim Coleman oversee the vineyard, make wine from fruit grown on the estate, and welcome tasters in the tasting room. The tasting room shares space with the winery, with wine barrels stacked in every corner (providing easy access to barrel samples!). Randy, Kim and their small staff are extremely welcoming and eager to share their wines and beautiful vineyard views with all visitors.
Why We Love Coleman: These are classic McMinnville AVA Oregon wines, with beautifully complex Pinot Noirs and crisp, refreshing white wines.
13546 NW Willis Rd, McMinnville, OR 97128
Wines: Pinot Noir, Rosé, Chardonnay
While technically located in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA rather than the McMinnville AVA, J.L. Kiff is just as easy to access being located about ten minutes west of McMinnville. Named for owners Joel and Laurie Kiff, this small winery made their first vintage in 2010 and opened the tasting room in 2017. The wines are made mostly from the estate Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris grapes. Joel Kiff is the vineyard manager and winemaker, Laurie oversees the tasting room and business, and their children help with harvest and draw the artwork for the labels.
Why We Love J.L. Kiff Vineyard: Joel and Laurie go out of their way to make every visitor feel like part of the family. As they say, “We love what we do and love sharing it with others!”
19390 Cherry Hill Rd, Sheridan, OR 97378
Wines: Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Pinot Noir, White Bubbles, Rosé Bubbles, Rosé of Pinot Noir
J Wrigley Vineyards is located in the southernmost part of the McMinnville foothills 20 minutes from downtown McMinnville. The Wrigley family purchased 200 acres of vineyard land here in 2006 and promptly planted Pinot Noir, Riesling, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay. The cooling winds of the nearby Van Duzer corridor cause the grapes to ripen slowly, creating wines with intense flavor and structure. The J Wrigley tasting room is a rustic-style barn with beautiful views of the vineyard, surrounding tree farms and valley in the distance. Producing 2000 cases annually, the majority of the wine is available only through the tasting room and local restaurants.
Why We Love J Wrigley: J Wrigley has come to be known both as a unique wine tasting destination as well as a beautiful wedding venue.
15765 Southwest Muddy Valley Road, McMinnville, OR 97128
Wines: Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Sparkling Wine, Pinot Noir
Maysara Winery is a family-owned operation located on a stunningly beautiful portion of the McMinnville foothills. You are sure to be wowed by the sprawling biodynamic vineyard as well as the extravagant stone and wood winery, which was constructed solely from materials found on the property. The Momtazi family has deep Iranian roots, which carries through into the interior design of the tasting room and the names of their Pinot Noir, sparkling, and white wines. The wines at Maysara are made from the estate Momtazi Vineyard, which covers over 250 acres of the property. Momtazi is a model biodynamic vineyard coveted by many local wineries. Being biodynamic, there is a complete absence of chemical use throughout the property.
Why We Love Maysara: The Momtazi family grows a variety of plants and herbs that are used to make compost teas to nourish the vines.
13101 NW Fox Ridge Rd, McMinnville, OR 97128
Wines: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Rosé
How To Reserve: Text the winery to inquire and reserve 971-237-3784
The search for wines for their wedding brought Deepak and Sinclair Sawhney to the Willamette Valley the first time. Each visit back to the valley had them falling more in love and finally they made the permanent move from Seattle into the heart of the valley. Roshni’s site is south facing and receives light throughout the day, making it a warmer site, and because the vineyard benefits from its location in the rain shadow of the Coastal Range, it also enjoys the drying winds from the Van Duzer corridor. A visit to Roshni makes you fall in love with the Willamette Valley all over again.
Why Featured: Roshni just started offering tastings from their hilltop in the McMinnville outskirts. The wines and people are great, and WineryHunters will be among the first to discover Roshni.
16250 SW Oldsville Rd, McMinnville, OR 97128
Wines: Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Rosé, Riesling, Pinot Noir
Yamhill Valley Vineyards is located on a beautiful 150-acre estate just minutes southwest of McMinnville. Over the years YVV has built a dedicated following for their wines, view and people. The tasting room is nestled at the base of the coast range foothills, surrounded on all sides by rolling hills of Pinot Noir, Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc grapevines. A sprawling deck off the back of the tasting room lets visitors revel in their surroundings while tasting the most recent vintage of wines, all grown exclusively on this property and showcasing the distinct flavor characteristics of McMinnville foothill wines.
Why We Love Yamhill Valley Vineyards: This is a foundational winery. Started in 1983, Yamhill Valley Vineyards is the oldest winery in the McMinnville AVA (American Viticultural Area).
10660 Youngberg Hill Rd, McMinnville, OR 97128
Wines: Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Syrah
Youngberg Hill is set on a 50-acre hilltop on the outskirts of McMinnville surrounded by exquisite vineyards and views. Founded in 1989, Youngberg Hill aspires to create the very best wine from grapes grown on the estate vineyard in the McMinnville AVA. The owners practice holistic farming and natural winemaking to allow the wines to express the unique terroir where the fruit is grown. The goal is to craft memorable wines while ensuring the soil, the vines, and all other plant and insect life are healthier 50 years from now. Youngberg Hill doubles as an Inn, wedding venue and event space, with live music throughout the summer.
Why We Love Youngberg Hill: Your tasting includes several block-specific Pinot Noir wines as well as Chardonnay. There is a large wraparound deck with comfortable chairs to relax in and soak up the views.
