Oregon Wine Tasting Tours

Taste the grape. Taste the land from which it came.

Scroll

Personalized Wine Tours Just For You

We offer wine tasting tours Thursday through Sunday only.

See each wine tour for scheduling details.
Reserve your tour with a $50 non-refundable deposit.

A Taste of Oregon

Oregon Vine2Wine Tours is dedicated to giving you a unique wine education. There are over 400 wineries and over 20,000 acres of grapes planted in Oregon, so it isn’t easy to know where to go tasting. Our tour guides are well trained in the specialties of Oregon wine and its grape growing regions.
We feel that the wines you taste should reflect a true sense of place. We will take you to boutique wineries that are not widely known and and preserve the distinctive flavor of Oregon. We intentionally select limited production, terroir driven wineries that don’t over manipulate their wines with science or the overuse of oak which can detract from the regional flair. Oak isn’t a bad thing but it should not overwhelm the fruit of the vineyard. We walk our groups through basic wine making, learn about wine faults, discuss wine and food pairings and go over what methods winemakers can use to mask or enhance the character of where the grapes come from. You will often talk with the owners, winemakers and viticulturalists at the cellar door. These tastings are very personal experiences designed to match your interest with your guide there every sip of the way.
Oregon Vine2Wine is about experiencing Oregon’s finest scenery and regional AVA’s while tasting world class wines.

Wine Tasting in Oregon

Taste The Wine! There’s a lot that goes into that glass. We will have you interacting with the owners and the winemakers while you taste their wine! We will have several discussions before, during and after the tasting regarding how to taste and what you are tasting.
This is a little bit of wine 101, but it is more than that. We will explore some science behind the wine. We will discuss topics such as yeast strains, clonal selection, oak impact, fermentation variables, etc. There are many factors that can detract from the sense of place that makes a wine special. The winemaker has decisions to make that influence the outcome, making them a part of the terrior.
Tasting wine is more than determining if you are smelling cherries or currants. It is also about appreciating when a winemaker produces a wine that shows a sense of place.

Meet Oregon WineMakers!

Meet the the Oregon wine makers who craft the wine. These people put their heart and soul into the finished wines they share directly with you. You will feel and appreciate their passion. It is a different experience when you hear the true stories of the wines of which you are tasting. We want you to feel the passion and the sense and the hard work that goes into what you are tasting. Sometimes, we will explore the winery, other times we will trek through the vineyards while we taste. Every time we will taste the wines crafted by passionate winemakers who want to display the essence of place.

Learn Winemaking from the Pros. A complete wine education.

  • Owners and/or winemakers of boutique Oregon wineries will explain how they make their wine from harvest to bottling.
  • We will explore methods of wine making that are commonly used that mask terrior and take away the wines sense of place.
  • We will go over the history of Oregon wine.
  • Food and wine pairings will be explored.
  • What factors influence the score a wine receives.

Wine Tour Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy a wine tasting tour as a gift certificate?

Yes, each winery tour option is available as a gift certificate.

What can I expect to be served at lunch on a wine tasting tour?

On both the half day and full day wine tasting tour you can expect an assortment of charcuterie, cheeses, bread and pickled vegetables from Eugene area vendors.

What if I have a food allergy or dietary restriction?

We always try to accommodate all food allergies and dietary needs on our wine tasting tours, we just might need a little guidance helping you meet your needs. When you purchase I wine tour our checkout process gives you the option to share any dietary restriction you may have so that we can plan your lunch accordingly.

What time is pick up and drop off on a full day wine tasting tour?

A full day winery tour starts at around 9:30am with pick up at your location and drop off around 5:30pm.

What time is pick up and drop off on a half day wine tasting tour?

A half day winery tour starts at around 11am with pick up at your location and drop off around 4pm.

Will you pick our group up at our hotel/home or do we meet somewhere in wine country?

We will pick you up at your location and take you out to wine country. When you purchase a wine tasting tour through this website you will be given the opportunity to let us know where you need to be picked up. Destinations further afield may warrant additional charges.

What is your pick up area?

Oregon Vine2Wine Tours is based out of Eugene so most pick ups are in the Eugene area. However, if you are staying in Roseburg or Salem we can also pick you up and tour that specific region. We do not pick up from the Portland area.

Are children or pets allowed?

Service dogs are allowed on winery tours but children under the age of 21 and pets are not.

Can I pick the wineries we visit?

You can definitely make requests if you have a specific winery you want to visit. We’re committed to assuring you enjoy your time in wine country. Just know that some wineries give better wine tasting experiences than others. We have thoughtfully selected wineries we think give the finest experience as well as genuinely represent the region’s terroir. If you have a special request you may include it on the checkout form when you purchase a wine tasting tour.

How do you choose which wineries to go to?

For more than a decade we have visited wineries all over Oregon. We choose wineries that represent the terroir of that region and give informative and personal tasting experiences. There are many great wineries in Oregon to experience but we definitely have our favorites.

How many wineries will we visit?

A half day wine tour stops at 3 wineries while a full day wine tour will visit 4 wineries.

How much time do we spend at each winery?

Each winery is different and each group is different so it varies but an hour is a good estimate for an educational and fun wine tasting experience.

How many wine samples at each winery?

This varies a little bit at each winery but 4-6 wine samples (1-1.5 oz pours) are typical at each winery.

How much are wine tasting fees?

Tasting fees vary by winery. For the half day wine tour tasting fees are around $10 per person and are refundable with a minimum wine purchase (that varies at each winery). Full day wine tour tasting fees vary depending on if it is in the Umpqua Valley AVA or the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. The Roseburg area charges around $10-15 per person while the Salem area ranges from $15-50 per person. Each winery in these regions refunds the fee with a minimum wine purchase as well. For more detailed information on individual wineries please contact us.

Am I supposed to tip at the wineries?

This is optional but remember that the winery owners are very happy with you purchasing wine, while tasting staff gets paid by the hour.

How about wine tour guide gratuity?

Wine tour guide gratuity is optional but always appreciated.

Can I ship my wine purchase home?

Each winery has licenses in different states so we can inquire before you go on your wine tour if your state is one where they are allowed to ship wine.

Is there room in the vehicle for purchased wine?

There is always room for purchased wine. Some groups buy a lot of wine and we have room for it. You can also arrange to have your wine shipped directly from some vineyards.

Do you combine groups on your wine tasting tours?

One of the things that Oregon Vine2Wine Tours prides itself on is that we only do private parties for up to six people on our winery tours.

Will you add a fuel fee or taxes to the price of the winery tour?

There are no extra fees or taxes on any winery tour with us.

What is your wine tour cancellation policy?

Call Kim Design for more information 🙂

Do you combine groups on your wine tours?

One of the things that Oregon Vine2Wine Tours prides itself on is that we only do private parties for up to six people on our winery tours.

What if I don't know anything about wine tasting?

All the more reason to go on a wine tour and learn a little bit about wine! We are very relaxed and not pretentious. You will be with your friends and family so the atmosphere is relaxed and safe to explore something that can be intimidating.

What can I expect to learn on a wine tasting tour?

Wine tour topics include: Oregon wine history, why certain grapes are grown in specific places, how wine is made, food pairing ideas, what makes Oregon wine unique and lots of other wine related topics. The tour goes where the group wants it to go. Sometimes we dive into technical details about wine while other times we enjoy the way it tastes and smells.

Will we see the wine making process?

Harvest of the grapes begins in the Willamette Valley around late September depending on the amount of heat we get over the growing season. If you take a tour during the harvest you will definitely see some action.

What does terroir mean?

Terroir is a French word describing the place where the grapes are grown. That includes the climate, soil, slope of the vineyard, aspect to the sun and many other variables that can shape how the wine will taste and smell. Oregon Vine2Wine Tours is passionate about places that show off their vineyards, by not manipulating the wine with chemicals or overuse of oak barrels.

What are sulfites?

Sulfur dioxide is used in most wine making and is used to prevent oxygen from getting to the wine, increasing its shelf life. If you ever smell rotten eggs when you first pop a bottle of wine give it a swirl a few times and it will probably blow off.

What are tannins?

Tannins are what make your lips stick to your teeth after sipping on red wine. They are more pronounced in bigger red wines such as Tempranillo or Cabernet Sauvignon. They are actually a natural occurring polyphenol found in the skins and seeds of the grapes.

Why do you age red wine and not white wine?

Red wines are red because the grapes are fermented with the skins and seeds. White wines are pressed before fermentation so they have no contact with the skins. In the skins and seeds of the red grapes are tannins that can be bitter and astringent. As a red wine ages those tannins combine with pigment molecules and precipitate out leaning the tannins softer. Not all red wines age well and some white wines actually improve with a little age. This is just one of the many topics we can get into while tasting Oregon wine.

Why do I get headaches from red wine but not white?

Science has narrowed it down to tannins or histamines, both in red wine.

Why do you age red wine and not white wine?

Red wines are red because the grapes are fermented with the skins and seeds. White wines are pressed before fermentation so they have no contact with the skins. In the skins and seeds of the red grapes are tannins that can be bitter and astringent. As a red wine ages those tannins combine with pigment molecules and precipitate out leaning the tannins softer. Not all red wines age well and some white wines actually improve with a little age. This is just one of the many topics we can get into while tasting Oregon wine.

What is the difference between old world and new world wines?

The most basic difference is geographical. Wines made in Europe (France, Italy, Germany, etc.) are considered Old World because that is where grapevines first originated. Everywhere else imported the vines (United States, Australia, New Zealand, etc.) and are considered New World. In general Old World wines are described as lighter, higher acid wines that taste less fruity. New World wines are riper, lower acid levels and show more fruit. These differences are very general because a lot of the Oregon wineries we visit have a more Old World approach to their winemaking.

What is an AVA?

Stands for American Viticultural Area, which is a grape growing area that has specific climate features and similar geology. The Umpqua Valley is an example of an AVA, as is the Eola-Amity Hills. Several different wineries are in one AVA.

What wine is Oregon most known for?

Most people associate Oregon wine with Pinot Noir but there are many different varietals in this state. In southern Oregon and in the Columbia Valley it is warm enough to grow Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and other big reds. However, Pinot Noir is what has put Oregon wine on the wine map.

What is the difference between Roseburg wines and Salem wines?

Roseburg is in the Umpqua Valley AVA, a warmer climate than the Eola-Amity Hills AVA (near Salem). Because they are warmer they grow grapes that tolerate more heat such as Tempranillo or Cabernet Sauvignon. The Eola-Amity Hills is due east of the Van Duzer corridor, the low point of the coast range, where marine winds cool the vineyards. This keeps acid levels in the grapes high and is ideal for Pinot Noir. The big question for people in choosing which full day wine tour they want to take is if they like Pinot Noir or bigger reds.

Are wines more expensive in one region vs another?

There is lots of variety in the price of wine in every region. Overall, Pinot Noir tends to be the most expensive red wine while Chardonnay is generally the most expensive white wine. Even in the same region the prices can vary a lot.

Close
Sign in
Close
Cart (0)

No products in the cart. No products in the cart.





We are now open for tours Thursday-Sunday. Please call ahead to inquire about availability.

X