The Willamette Valley and Beyond
Yamhill Vineyards Bed and Breakfast is conveniently located in the heart of Oregon wine country which allows our guests access to local wineries within the Willamette Valley and easy day trips to the Oregon Coast and the Columbia River Gorge.
Wineries
The Willamette Valley is home to hundreds of wineries, a handful of breweries and a few distilleries, too. Let us help you plan your time by sharing some of our favorites.
Lange Estate in the Dundee Hills, Brook’s Wine in Amity, and Roots Wine Co in Yamhill are all family run wineries with great views, tasting rooms, and friendly atmosphere. These wineries all have one thing in common… they purchase grapes from Yamhill Vineyards, right outside the B&B door.
A five-minute drive takes you to Carlton and your choice of tasting rooms include Marshall Davis Wine – who also purchases grapes from Yamhill Vineyards, K&M, and Pike Road. The old Carlton train station is now the Ken Wright Depot tasting room. While tasting their wines check out how lovely it is. The outside patio is inviting you to really sit and relax in the summer. You can walk to many other tasting rooms and taste Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, and warm climate wines.
Making appointments at wineries affords you the opportunity to speak with the wine maker. Atticus Wine, Natalie’s Estate Winery or Big Table Farm are a few of such wineries. While visiting family owned and operated Kramer Vineyards and Elk Cove Vineyards you will be in the country. During the summer you can relax on their patios enjoying the country quiet. Seufert Winery in Dayton has a cozy tasting room where you can enjoy the vineyard designated wines in front of the fireplace in fall and winter or on the deck in the summer. Check into a private tasting that is paired with food.
Many wineries have small bites, nuts, or other items that may be purchased. Several of the wineries also serve local beer and cider. Check the winery websites for special Winemaker Dinners and Events.
Book the Vineyard Practices 101 tour with Ralph to get the full vine to bottle experience. This walking tour happens just outside the B&B door with Ralph as your guide to understand the nuances of growing pinot noir in the Willamette Valley. You can be sure Ralph knows what he’s talking about – he’s been farming this vineyard for more than 35 years.
Willamette Valley Restaurants
Are you a mushroom lover? Then Joel Palmer House in Dayton is the place for you.
Looking for casual or fine dining? Carlton has you covered for lunch or dinner. Cuvee’, Earth & Sea, The Horseradish, Carlton Corners or Barrel 47 are minutes away and locally owned.
International food choices near here include Rosmarino Osteria Italiana in Newberg, La Rambla, Nick’s Italian Café, or Bistro Maison in McMinnville just to name a few. Great food for any palette.
Willamette Valley Events
Spring
Summer
Each June for Porklandia, the restaurants in Carlton have special menu items celebrating PORK! Many of the winery tasting rooms in town also participate with pairing bites of creative pork dishes. Local Carlton Farms supplies the meats for this celebration of all things pig.
Runners from all over come for the exciting Oregon Wine Country Half Marathon. Two days of events (wine-focused, of course) culminate in the half-marathon on Sunday morning. Of the two half-marathons in wine country, this is generally the “easier” one as local roads are used for the race.
Autumn
Carlton Crush is an annual fall family fun event held in the town of Carlton. Kids and adults can compete in the Grape Stomp. The harvest festival includes food, wine and beer vendors as well as local artisan items for sale.
Winter
Christmas in Carlton is a month-long calendar of events for children and adults. The festivities start with the Tree Lighting in the main square, but continue throughout December with special shop events, a 5K run and a visit from Santa.
Other Adventures
Are you a runner? You might enjoy Fueled By Fine Wine half marathon, Oregon Half Marathon, or the 5K Santa Dash in Carlton. Favorite guest hiking areas close by include Miller’s Woods, Champoeg Heritage State Park, Glacial Erratic Rock, or Silver Falls.
Is food the adventure you are looking for? There are many incredible restaurants in the area, wine makers dinners (check out the winery sites). Special events include the International Pinot Noir Celebration, Oregon Brews and BBQ’s, Oregon Truffle Festival/Yamhill County, Bounty of Yamhill County and the Melt Down.
Music is a year-round enjoyment at some restaurants and wineries, summer concerts happen at several community parks. Wildwood Music Fest and Campout as well as the Walnut City Music Festival are special events.
Flowers can bring smiles. The Oregon Gardens, Newberg Camellia Festival, Amity Daffodil Festival, Summer Garden Tour and Faire, Portland’s Rose Garden, the Japanese Gardens, Tulip Festival, Dahlia and Iris fields are all great places to visit. Some are open all year round.
When visiting Yamhill County Oregon, besides the wineries and tasting rooms, there are distilleries and breweries. In the late spring, summer and fall farmers markets are abundant in Newberg, Dundee, Carlton, Dayton, and McMinnville.
Year round interests include The Evergreen Aviation and Space Museum, Chehalem Cultural Center, Yamhill County Historical Society and Museum, Hoover-Minthon House, self guided walking tours in McMinnville and Carlton.
If Art is your passion there are many art galleries, the Art Harvest Studio Tour of Yamhilll County and the Willamina Coastal Art Tour in the fall. Newberg and McMinnville have monthly Art walks.
Alternative methods of seeing the area can include biking, horseback riding through the vineyards, a balloon ride, or tours leaving the driving to the tour guide.
Spring and summer fun can include the Farm Fest and Plowing competitions, McMinnville’s UFO Festival, Memorial Weekend Boat Races, McMinnville Scottish Festival, St. Paul Rodeo, Crush, and Crusing McMinnville.
