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    Urban Bliss Life » Blog » McMinnville Wine Walk

    Published: July 27, 2016 / Updated: March 6, 2020 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland · This post may contain affiliate links.

    McMinnville Wine Walk

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    McMinnville, Oregon is making the most of the growing number of wine tasting rooms and craft beverage businesses by offering a new incentivized passport program: the McMinnville Wine Walk.

    McMinnville Wine Walk Oregon UrbanBlissLife.com

    Oregon wine country keeps growing and growing.

    I feel like every time I drive down Highway 99W between Portland and the Oregon Coast, there are at least a handful of brand new sparkly winery signs. While Dundee, Newberg, Carlton, and Amity have long claimed the heart of Oregon's most publicized wine country, the college town of McMinnville, Oregon has quietly been amassing its own wine country army of tasting rooms.

    McMinnville, Oregon

    Located just west of Dundee, McMinnville is home to Linfield College and has always had an adorable, walkable, and historic downtown district. I remember going to Speech & Debate tournaments here when I was in high school, and stopping here on the way to the Oregon Coast throughout most of my life.

    So imagine my immense surprise when I showed up to learn more about the new McMinnville Wine Walk, and found the quiet, quaint streets now lined with wine tasting rooms, award-winning restaurants, and cool craft breweries.

    My, my, how you have certainly grown up, McMinnville! I fell in love with this town all over again, and the wine walk is a great way to fall head over heels (but hopefully not literally...) with this beautiful sweet town.

    McMinnville Wine Walk

    McMinnville Wine Walk Oregon UrbanBlissLife.com

    The new McMinnville Wine Walk is truly a fun experience and an excellent way to spend a day in wine country without having to drive 20-30 minutes from one wine tasting room to the next. There's also a McMinnville Wine Walk app available.

    You can pick up a blank McMinnville Wine Walk passport booklet from any of the participating locations listed on the VisitMcMinnville.com site. Within walking distance, as outlined on the map you see above that is found in the back of your passport booklet, are 20 wine tasting rooms. Twenty! All in McMinnville!

    Each passport page has a space for tasting notes, and there are, of course, incentives for collecting stamps from stops. More on that soon.

    McMinnville Wine Walk Oregon UrbanBlissLife.com

    I had the opportunity to do the McMinnville Wine Walk when it first started with a friend of mine, and it was so much fun to be able to go to so many tasting rooms within walking distance of each other! For the record: my friend drove ;)

    While we weren't able to visit all of the stops in one day (we didn't even come close!), here's my favorite tasting room so far:

    Winderlea and Brittan Vineyards

    McMinnville Wine Walk Oregon UrbanBlissLife.com

    I loved the joint Winderlea/Brittan Vineyards tasting room. It's bright and beautiful, and I adore wines from both of these vineyards.

    McMinnville Wine Walk Oregon UrbanBlissLife.com

    Two of my fave wines in this tasting room that you must try: the 2015 Winderlea Pinot Blanc ($30), pictured below.

    McMinnville Wine Walk Oregon UrbanBlissLife.com

    Also: I adore the 2013 Brittan Vineyards Gestalt Block Pinot Noir ($55).

    Also marked on the map and passport as part of the McMinnville Wine Walk are five craft beverage locations.

    My fave so far: the super cool Grain Station.

    McMinnville Wine Walk Oregon UrbanBlissLife.com

    Located across from Winderlea/Brittan (see? everything is so easily accessible!), the Grain Station is housed in a large open barn-like setting.

    Grain Station

    McMinnville Wine Walk Oregon UrbanBlissLife.com

    I am in LOVE with this space!! And, the outdoor seating is dog-friendly, so you can bring your furry friends to come enjoy one of the many craft beers brewed on site at the Grain Station.

    McMinnville Wine Walk Oregon UrbanBlissLife.com

    McMinnville Wine Walk Passport

    As you visit each marked stop, make sure you get a stamp in your McMinnville Wine Walk passport. The more stamps you collect, the more prizes you can collect!

    Collect 10 wine tasting stamps: you get a 33 Book Co. tasting notes journal, Wine Walk sticker and pen
    Collect 15 wine tasting stamps: you get all of the above plus a Wine Walk GoVino wine glass.

    You get a bonus prize for getting 10 or 15 wine tasting room stamps PLUS getting all five craft beverage station stamps! You can pick up your prizes at the super cool Evergreen Aviation Museum visitor's desk in McMinnville.

    Protip: book a stay at the McMenamins Hotel Oregon to fully enjoy the McMinnville Wine Walk experience. That way, you can drink, eat, and shop all day, and then walk a few steps up to rest your weary head. Not worrying about who is going to drive home makes the experience even more enjoyable. And, if you have the McMenamins Passport, you can take care of two passport stamps with one visit!

    Learn more at VisitMcMinnville.com

    PIN IT:

    McMinnville Wine Walk Oregon UrbanBlissLife.com

    If you're in Oregon, have you done part or all of the McMinnville Wine Walk? If you live outside of Oregon, do you have something like this where you live? I'd love to hear about it!

    I was invited to enjoy free tastings during a media preview of the McMinnville Wine Walk. As always, all opinions and photos are my own. 

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      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Monica Louie says

        August 01, 2016 at 2:09 pm

        I don't remember the last time I was in McMinnville, but I love this idea! It sounds like the perfect getaway weekend for hubby and me. We recently got Fitbits and have been going on a lot more walks. Pairing a walk with wine sounds like the perfect combination!

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          August 02, 2016 at 4:00 pm

          Ooh I love the incentive of extra steps on your fitbit while pairing wine with walking! :) Thanks, Monica!

      2. Warren @ Blog to Taste says

        July 29, 2016 at 3:09 am

        I haven't done the wine walk, but I do have to say, I agree with your assessment of McMinnville. It's grown from a tiny, pass through town into a wine mecca in the valley.

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          August 02, 2016 at 5:34 pm

          Right? I like that it's growing at a nice rate versus sudden huge skyscraper boom rate. Thanks, Warren!

      3. Mary says

        July 27, 2016 at 5:34 pm

        Such a cool collaboration they're doing down there with the wine walk! I love it down in McMinnville but rarely stay overnight down that way. This is a great attraction for folks staying there for a couple days. Spend a day out in the vineyards, and a couple just walking around the town. Soooo many awesome attractions down that way!!

        Reply
      4. Pech says

        July 27, 2016 at 2:57 pm

        I love how easily walkable McMinnville is so you can make a wine weekend with friends and stay there, have lots of wine, and no one has to worry about being the DD because of how many tasting rooms you can visit just on foot!

        Reply
      5. Brianne says

        July 27, 2016 at 1:23 pm

        Wow, 20 tasting rooms?! I definitely need to explore more of McMinnville. Generally when I go out wine tasting, I opt for vineyards (I'm a sucker for patios with beautiful views). But obviously I'm missing out on a lot of awesome tasting rooms!

        Reply
      6. Catherine says

        July 27, 2016 at 12:10 pm

        I heard about the Wine Walk on OPB the other day, and I'd LOVE to do it! I'm kind of a sucker for passport programs like this one. Also, the Grain Station looks incredible! I must stop in McMinnville the next time we pass through.

        Reply
      7. Erin @ Platings and Pairings says

        July 27, 2016 at 12:03 pm

        I definitely need to get out and explore McMinnville more! I keep hearing such great things about the wineries in that area and it's SO awesome that you can walk to most of them. Bucket list!

        Reply

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      Hi! Thanks for stopping by! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. Here you'll find my fast, easy, and delicious recipes, wine pairings, and travel guides. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

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