If you’ve already explored some of the incredible tasting rooms featured in part one of our Salem wine-tasting guide, get ready for more! Oregon’s Willamette Valley is home to many breathtaking vineyards and top-tier wineries. In this follow-up, we’ll take a look at 11 more vineyards in the Salem, Oregon area where you can experience the beauty of the region and discover even more of Oregon’s finest wines.
Ankeny Vineyard
Ankeny Vineyard has been crafting estate-grown wines since 1980. This family-owned vineyard specializes in estate-grown wines, with Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris being their signature focuses. Ankeny Vineyard’s tasting room is known for their relaxed, friendly atmosphere, beautiful farmland views, and wood-fired pizzas that pair perfectly with their wines. They host live music events and seasonal gatherings, making it a great spot to enjoy wine and community. For more information, visit their website.
Cristom Vineyards
Cristom Vineyards is known for their unwavering commitment to “land, stewardship, and craftmanship.” Their estate is located in a volcanic hillside in the Eola-Amity Hills, with beautiful views of the vineyards, gardens, and surrounding mountains. The team at Cristom has a 100-year plan for the land, knowing that each of the decisions they make today will impact the estate in the future. Cristom has a variety of options for wine tasting, from seated tastings on their patio to educational tours of the vineyard. For more information, visit their website.
Evesham Wood & Haden Fig
Evesham Wood & Haden Fig are known for their small-lot, certified-organic wines and “simple-is-best” philosophy, focusing on producing wines with minimal intervention. Their cozy tasting room in the Eola-Amity Hills offers an intimate wine-tasting experience with views of the surrounding vineyards. Visitors can enjoy well-rounded tastings of both labels. Private tours and picnic tastings are also available. For more information, visit their website.
Left Coast Wine
Left Coast Estate is a family-owned vineyard, winery, and working farm in the Willamette Valley, dedicated to sustainable farming and environmentally conscious practices. Their 500-acre property includes oak savannas, gardens, eight honeybee hives, and 160 acres of vineyards. They also largely use solar energy to power their vineyard operations. Left Coast’s tasting room offers indoor and outdoor seating options, wood-fired pizzas and other seasonal foods, and great views. For more information, visit their website.
Bjornson Vineyard
Bjornson Vineyard, established in 2006, is a family-owned vineyard tucked into the Eola-Amity Hills. Known for their sustainably farmed wines, Bjornson focuses on crafting estate-grown Pinot Noir, Gamay Noir, Rosé, Chardonnay and Auxerrois. Their tasting room offers beautiful views of the surrounding vineyards and distant mountains. Their operations are powered by renewable energy from solar and wind. Bjornson also frequently hosts special events, providing a well-rounded wine-tasting experience in the heart of the Willamette Valley. For more information, visit their website.
Van Duzer Vineyards
Van Duzer Vineyards, located in the Van Duzer Corridor AVA, is known for its cool, windy climate that produces exceptional Pinot Noir and other varietals. Founded in 1998, this family-owned winery offers a spacious, modern tasting room with panoramic views of the surrounding vineyards and coastal range. Visitors can enjoy wine flights on the outdoor patio, which is perfect for taking in the vineyard’s scenic beauty. Van Duzer is committed to sustainability, using wind power and eco-friendly farming practices. The winery also hosts special events like live music, wine festivals, and more, making it a go-to spot for wine lovers just outside of Salem. For more information, visit their website.
Stangeland Vineyards & Winery
Known for their small-lot wines, Stangeland Vineyards & Winery emphasizes minimal intervention in their winemaking process to highlight the character of their Eola-Amity Hills estate-grown grapes. Sustainability is key at Strangeland, with grapevines strategically planted to prevent soil erosion. The vineyard practices dry farming and no-till land management to promote healthy, organic soils. Their newly-reimagined tasting room offers a cozy and intimate atmosphere, reminiscent of one’s personal living room. For more information, visit their website.
St. Innocent Winery
Founded in 1988 with a rich family history, St. Innocent Winery is a well-established name in Oregon’s wine scene. Their tasting room just south of Salem provides wine flights, bottles, and a “Sip & Savor” experience, which pairs five wines with four seasonal small bites. Visitors can also enjoy monthly brunches, winemaker dinners, and extended Friday hours, making it a well-rounded wine-tasting destination. For more information, visit their website.
Illahe Vineyards & Winery
Family-owned Illahe Vineyards & Winery focuses on minimal-intervention winemaking, using sustainable, old-world techniques like hand-harvesting and horse-powered grape transport. Their gravity-flow winery and wine cave utilize natural slopes for energy efficiency, and solar power and rainwater harvesting further reduce their environmental impact. Illahe’s tasting room offers serene vineyard views, with guided tastings and tours available for visitors to explore their unique winemaking process and learn more about their sustainable practices. For more information, visit their website.
West Hills Vineyards
West Hills Vineyards, located on a historic estate, offers scenic wine-tasting experiences with deep ties to Oregon’s history. The property—once home to Oregon’s 18th governor—is now a restored vineyard and tasting room committed to sustainable practices like using BioChar to restore soil health. The tasting room is modern and welcoming, with outdoor seating areas that allow guests to enjoy the vineyard’s natural beauty. Known for their relaxed atmosphere, West Hills Vineyards also hosts live music, food trucks, and other community events throughout the year. For more information, visit their website.
Johan Vineyards
Johan Vineyards, located in the Van Duzer Corridor AVA, is a certified Biodynamic® estate committed to sustainable winemaking. They focus on native-yeast fermentation and minimal intervention to highlight the unique characteristics of their land. Visitors can enjoy a guided tasting experience or vineyard tour in their rustic setting, while learning about their eco-friendly and regenerative practices. For more information, visit their website.
Next time you’re ready to explore Oregon wine country, be sure to visit these additional wineries and vineyards around Salem. With so much to discover, there’s always more to enjoy in Salem’s wine-tasting scene. Cheers!
Looking for more places to go wine tasting around Salem, Oregon? Read part one of our guide here.
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Aug. 19th, 2024