The city of Portland, Oregon has been gaining a lot of traction over the last few years as a quality place to live. In fact, US News ranked is at the #22 city in America last year. One of the key features of being a “desirable place to live” is the culture within a city, and food & beverage is a big part of that culture.
Portland happens to be just a stone’s throw from the Willamette Valley in Oregon which is one of the finest wine regions in the country. This area is known for the Pinot Noir but there are some additional incredible varietals grown there. The Tualatin Valley is a small part of the overall Willamette Valley that is known for its “farm-to-table” mindset, one that the region has had long before it became trendy.
Wine tours are very accessible throughout the region. If you like a guided tour, there’s an amazing six-hour trip out of Portland from Oregon Tour Co. that visits four separate wineries, giving you an amazing taste of what the region has to offer. Or if you’d rather take yourself, here’s a great itinerary for you to follow.
For cool spots within the city of Portland, there are some amazing options. Portland Wine Company is a full-service winery with a gorgeous tasting room and an event space. They’ve got a really interesting array of brands that produce wines across a wide range of varietals.
Oregon Wines on Broadway is one of Portland’s foremost wine shops and tasting bars. They feature small-batch and limited distribution wines from around Oregon and even offer a wine club.
In true Portland fashion, there’s a shop known for being “Portland’s weirdest.” Check out Pairings to get every part of your personality matched to a bottle of wine. They do events and have really knowledgable staff who can pair any wine to just about any cultural aspect you can think of.
The most fun part of Portland is the individuality of each neighborhood and the businesses that inhabit them. Take your time in the shops, talk to the staff and learn everything you can about this cultural haven.
