A Four-Day Wine and Beer Tasting Adventure
Whether your preferred varietal is Pinot Noir or an aromatic Rose, Tualatin Valley has you covered. And if your tastes include a good Porter or hoppy IPA, then you have the makings of a Tualatin Valley wine and beer tasting adventure!
DAY ONE: Explore Tualatin Valley Wineries
Start your exploration of Tualatin Valley with breakfast at the French-inspired La Provence. An innovative menu, savory bakery items and a variety of coffee drinks make this one of the area’s best spots for breakfast and brunch. Enjoy your meal–prepared with local ingredients–on the patio overlooking Progress Lake.
The first winery stop is Hamacher Wines, an artisan wine producer of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Owner and winemaker Eric Hamacher founded his label in 1995 and also is one of the founders of the Carlton Winemakers Studio, along with his wife, Luisa Ponzi and partners Ned and Kirsten Lumpkin of Lazy River Vineyard.
Next, continue your wine tasting journey at Blizzard Wines. This small-production winery has taken the next stop in its evolution by opening its own stunning tasting room during the last weekend of April 2017. Winemaker Dana Blizzard and her family still holds strong ties to the land and the wine that it creates. Wine tasters can expect delicate Pinot Noirs that are made from the winery’s own estate, as well as big reds using grapes from Eastern Washington. The estate vineyard’s soil has glacial deposits that produce a unique Pinot and Chardonnay.
Next, visit Árdíri Winery & Vineyards. With a vineyard and tasting room located in the heart of the beautiful Chehalem Mountains AVA, Árdíri specializes in Willamette Valley and Napa Valley Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. The winery sits on a beautiful East-facing slope with a view of Mt. Hood and the intervening hills. The open air facility with adjoining patio, fireplace, three fire pits, and a poured black cement tasting bar combine to create a “destination” winery where guests are encouraged to relax and enjoy a glass of wine.
For dinner, travel to Tualatin Valley neighborhood of Bethany, and enjoy a unique meal at Bethany’s Table. This “freestyle” bistro offers a selection of seasonal selections prepared with local, sustainable and organic ingredients. The dinner menu features an array of items, including vegetarian, gluten-free and pescatarian.
DAY TWO: Explore Beer and Saké
No visit to Tualatin Valley is complete without a visit to SakéOne, the leading American owned and operated brewer of craft saké in America. Bottled under four distinct brands (Momokawa, Moonstone, G, and Peaceful River), SakéOne leads the fast-growing category with distinct styles, flavor infusions and a penchant for education and sharing their unique beverage.
Discover Tualatin Valley’s craft beer scene with lunch at Ridgewalker Brewing. Enjoy a flight of Ridgewalker’s Pacific Northwest-style beers, which are brewed on site. India Pale Ale (IPA), American brown ale, American amber/red ale, and American stout provide a great introduction to Oregon craft beer.
After lunch, explore the 1-mile trail at Fernhill Wetlands, in Forest Grove. Take in the sights and sounds of this popular nature area and find tranquility at the Water Garden, designed by Hoichi Kurisu, and international landscape architect acclaimed for creating healing gardens.
Next, take in the sights as you travel to the city of Tualatin and enjoy a beer-focused dinner at Stickmen Brewing. The brewery serves individual-sized wood-fired pizzas made from a pizza oven imported from Italy. This Oregon craft brewery has earned several accolades, including winning a gold medal at the Oregon Beer Awards in 2016. The Stickmen Brewing Company Tualatin Beer Hall features a variety of craft brews, including year-round, seasonal and experimental beers, as well as barrel-aged and nitro beers.
DAY THREE: Wine Time
Treat yourself to a Nordic breakfast at Broder Söder. Chose from a host of Scandinavian delicacies, such as Danish thickened cream pancakes, Swedish hash, and Norwegian potato flatbread with eggs.
After lunch visit the newly constructed “Tasting House” at Alloro Vineyard, where you will sample rich, complex handcrafted Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and late-harvest dessert wine. Alloro’s vineyards are farmed in a sustainable manner, protecting the environment, nurturing soil health and ensuring premium wines from vintage to vintage.
Next, soak in the views at Hawks View Winery. Owned by famed California wine-making Ponte family, Hawks View produces a variety of Oregon wines made from grapes throughout the Willamette Valley, including Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and sparkling wines.
Later, for dinner, go to Central Beaverton and check out MiNGO. This restaurant is known for its “simple” Italian food made with local, organic ingredients. This multi-award-winning restaurant features seasonal menus prepared with fresh-made pastas and cheeses, and boasts a variety of entrees, pastas and pizzas.
DAY FOUR: Before You Go…
Before leaving Tualatin Valley to return home, enjoy lunch at Cafe Murrayhill. This is a family restaurant situated on a beautiful pond in Beaverton. The cafe serves a delicious weekend brunch and lunch, and sources all ingredients locally.
Drink responsibly. Please do not drink and drive. Bring a designated driver.