Oregon's Willamette Valley is home to some of the world's finest wines. And the Yamhill-Carlton AVA boasts some of the area's best wineries. Our Yamhill-Carlton wine guide takes a look at our favorite wine tasting experiences in the region.
Located in the northern Willamette Valley less than an hour south of Portland, the Yamhill-Carlton AVA (American Viticultural Area) is home to more than 50 wineries.
While we haven't had the chance to visit all of them (yet!), we have tried many of the wines from this region. And, we've made quite a few stops to Yamhill-Carlton wineries over the years. We've been thrilled to see how the area has grown into one of the top AVA's in Oregon wine country.
In this guide, we'll explore our favorite Yamhill-Carlton wineries and provide some tasting notes on wines we loved.
Table of contents
About the Yamhill-Carlton AVA
Established in 2004, the Yamhill-Carlton AVA is nestled between the Coast Range to the west, the Dundee Hills to the east, and the Chehalem Mountains to the north.
The timeworn soils here are comprised of quick-draining, rough marine sediments. This is ideal for growing wine grapes, as it reduces the growth of vine leaves, helping the fruit itself ripen more fully.
While it boasts more than 50 wineries, all of the AVA's more than 100 vineyards are planted at elevations between 200 and 800 feet above sea level. These elevations take advantage of microclimates ideal for growing Pinot Noir.
And while it's best known for producing world-class Pinot Noirs, you can also find exceptional examples of Pinot Gris and Chardonnay here.
Plus, its location makes it ideal for a day trip if you're visiting Portland or live in the metro area.
About this wine tasting guide
This guide will be updated when new information is available, but please do visit each winery's website for the absolute latest wine tasting reservation details. As we know, things are changing extra fast these days.
All of the wineries featured here are ones that Alain and I have personally visited and enjoyed. We've been wine tasting in the Willamette Valley for more than two decades. And some of the most memorable wine tasting experiences have been in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA.
Thank you for supporting these Oregon wineries!
Abbey Road Farm
Located on more than 80 acres of vineyards and farmland in Carlton, Oregon, Abbey Road Farm includes a winery, tasting room, and a Bed & Breakfast, as well as a working farm. It strives to use sustainable energy when possible in al aspects of the property, including the wine making.
The Abbey Road Farm Estate Vineyard grows 15 different varieties, including harder to find ones like Grüner Veltliner, Mencia, and Godello. But if your'e looking for some great Pinot Noirs or Chardonnays, you won't be disappointed.
Many bottles fall within the $25-$50/per bottle range, and you can save up to 20% on bottle purchases by joining the wine club. We visited with a group of friends and found the staff super friendly and knowledgeable. They have plenty of space inside their tasting room and outside to accommodate small to medium sized groups. Currently, online reservations are limited to 8 people or less.
Wines: Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Grüner Veltliner, Tempranillo, Syrah, and more
Wine tasting experience:
8 guests max.
Reservations required
Wine Tasting Hours:
Daily 11:00 am - 5:00 pm
Wine Tasting Room:
10280 NE Oak Springs Farm Road
Carlton, OR 97111
(503) 687-3101
For more info, visit the Abbey Road Farm website
Anne Amie
High on the hillsides of the Chehalem Mountains overlooking the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, you'll find the beautiful vineyards of Anne Amie. The long, straight drive on the gravelly road leading up the winery leads visitors right to the tasting room. And once you have a glass of wine in hand, step outside to enjoy the breathtaking views.
Anne Amie predominantly produces Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Blanc wines. Their estate vineyards are herbicide-free and the winery is LIVE certified (which supports environmentally and socially responsible winegrowing).
Wines: Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Müller Thurgau
Wine tasting experience:
Wine flight: $20 per person, 6 guests max. (fee waived with a wine purchase of $75 or more or with wine club membership)
Reservations required
Wine Tasting Hours:
Friday – Tuesday: 10am – 4pm
Wine Tasting Room:
6580 NE Mineral Springs Rd
Carlton, OR 97111
503-864-2991
For more information and to make reservations, visit the Anne Amie website
Et Fille
For 20 years, the winemakers at Et Fille have been producing some of the regions top Pinot Noirs and sparkling offerings.
Et Fille (French for “and daughter”) is a reference to the father-daughter co-founders Howard and Jessica Mozeico. After her father passed away, Jessica assumed operations and currently is the lead winemaker.
Pinot Noir takes center stage at Et Fille and they're some of the finest in the area. They're elegant and complex, yet approachable all at the same time. Their Newberg tasting room is located right downtown -- and it's well worth a visit!
Wines: Pinot Noir, Rosé, Voignier, Sparkling
Wine tasting experience:
Wine flight: $20 per person (waived for Club Members or with minimum purchase)
Time limit: 60 minutes
Reservations highly encouraged
Wine Tasting Hours:
Friday – Tuesday: 12pm – 6pm
Wine Tasting Room:
718 E. First Street
Newberg, OR 97132
503-538-2900
For more information and to make your reservation, visit the Et Fille website
Gran Moraine
Gran Moraine is part quaint, part quirky. The team here produces excellent wines, and they aren't afraid to poke a little fun at the misconception that wine tasting has to be stuffy -- a large neon sign proclaiming the tasting room as a "flavorscape" greets you as you walk in.
The focus here is on Oregon Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Sparkling wines. Whether you opt for the wine tasting flight on its own or add the Culinary Creations (three paired platings) to your visit, the warm, friendly, and knowledgeable staff will make sure you feel welcome. We went for the latter and it didn't disappoint.
The 2018 Dropstone Pinot Noir ($80), with ripe fruit flavors and a smooth, elegant finish, was one of favorites. The 2017 Yahmill-Carlton Chardonnay ($80) was another stunner. Aged for 15 months in a combination of French oak and stainless steel tanks, it's zippy and fresh. We also recommend the 2017 Σ (The Sum) Pinot Noir ($75) from sister winery Zena Crown Vineyard. It's focused and refined, with rich red and black fruit flavors.
The Culinary Creations tasting menu included a juicy fried chicken sandwich which was perfectly paired with 2014 Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine, along with Pacific NW salmon served with the 2018 Dropstone Pinot Noir. For dessert, a decadent take on s'mores was paired with the 2017 Yamhill-Carlton Chardonnay. It's a great -- and tasty -- way to elevate your wine tasting experience.
Wines: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sparkling Wines
Wine tasting experiences:
Tasting flight: $35 per person, 6 guests max. (fee waived with a wine purchase of $60 or more or with wine club membership)
Culinary Creations Tasting Flight: $35 (wine) + $50 (three plated pairings prepared by chef Dustin Joseph of Biscuit + Pickles) per person
Reservations required for all tasting experiences
Wine Tasting Hours:
Daily: 11:00am - 5:00pm
Wine Tasting Room:
17900 NE Woodland Loop Rd
Yamhill, OR 97148
503-662-5454
For more information and to make your reservation, visit the Gran Moraine website.
Read our review of Gran Moraine and the Culinary Creations Tasting Menu.
Lenné Estate
Situated on a steep, south-facing slope that is ideal for grape growing, this 21-acre estate vineyard was first planted in 2001. Owner Steve Lutz recognized that the site's soil was both well-draining and low in nutrients, helping to produce grapes that tend to be more concentrated, with richer, more complex characteristics.
While that bodes well for the Pinot, Chardonnay, and Rosé wines they produce, your chances of finding a bottle at your local grocery store may not be as fruitful. Lenné is primarily a direct-to-consumer producer, relying mostly on wine club memberships to drive growth. That also means they offer robust wine tasting experiences to entice prospective members.
The standard flight consists of a chardonnay, and four pinot noirs. They include the 2018 Lenné Chardonnay, a bright and crisp wine, with notes of pear and green apple, as well as the 2016 South Slope Pinot Noir ($55) -- velvety smooth, and beautifully balanced with a long finish.
As with many wineries in the Willamette Valley, Esteé Estate focuses on Pinot Noir. In general, the ones we tasted had more body, with slightly richer tannins. They also had luscious, more complex aroma and flavor characteristics.
Wines: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Rosé
Wine tasting experience:
Wine flight: $20 per person (fee waived with purchase of 2 bottles of wine or with wine club membership)
Reservations required
Guided vineyard tours and private tastings are also available
Wine Tasting Hours:
Thursday – Monday: 11am – 5pm
Wine Tasting Room:
18760 NE Laughlin Road
Yamhill, OR 97148
503-956-2256
For more information and to make your reservation, visit the Lenné Estate website.
Read our review of Lenné Estate and its tasting room.
Pike Road Wines
Specializing primarily in Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris, Pike Road sources all of its grapes from the northern Willamette Valley. And they believe that great wine value doesn't always have to come at a steep cost. In fact, all of theirs are priced in the $16-$50 range.
Pike Road is the sister winery of Elk Cove Vineyards, which consistently produces highly rated Pinot Noirs. And that winemaking experience is evident Pike Road's family of wines. Wine Enthusiast awarded 90 points to their 2019 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. And it sells for just $20 a bottle!
The tasting room is located in the heart of downtown Carlton and features a patio for outdoor seating. If you're new to Carlton wineries and Oregon wines in general, the Pike Road wines are excellent introductory options at affordable prices. If you're already familiar with Oregon wines, then you'll fall in love all over again.
Wines: Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Rosé
Wine tasting experiences:
Wine flight: $20 per person (fee waived with purchase of 2 bottles of wine or with wine club membership)
Reservations required
Wine Tasting Hours:
Wednesday – Monday: 12pm – 6pm
Wine Tasting Room:
105 W Main St.
Carlton, OR 97111
503-852-3185
For more information and to make your reservation, visit the Pike Road Wines website.
Read our review of Pike Road Wines and its Carlton tasting room.
Soter
The primary focus at Soter is Pinot Noir. They consistently produce robust, complex vintages that can be savored now but will also age well. However, if bubbly is more your taste, you will be delighted with what Soter has to offer. In fact, the first wine produced at Soter more than two decades ago was a Brut Rosé, and that tradition carries on today.
Soter Vineyards is nestled on Mineral Springs Ranch, a 240-acre Biodynamic farm and vineyard located in the heart of Yamhill-Carlton AVA. We've visited their hilltop tasting room several times of the years as members of their wine club and can say that their wine pick up parties are among the best in the area, featuring well-paired, delicious small bites.
The private wine tasting experiences at Soter are also second to none. The attentive staff and intimate setting help create an exclusive atmosphere, where you sit back, relax, and enjoy the beautiful setting.
Along with their estate grown wines, Soter also produces wines under the Soter Origin Series, North Valley Vineyards, and Planet Oregon labels.
Wines: Pinot Noir, Sparkling Wines
Wine tasting experiences (for non-wine club members):
Wine flight: $80 per person, 6 guests max. ($35 is waived with the purchase of a bottle of equal or greater value)
Reservations required
Wine Tasting Hours:
Daily
Wine Tasting Room:
10880 NE Mineral Springs Rd
Calrton, OR
503-662-5600
For more information or to make your reservation, visit the Soter website
Tendril Wine Cellars
For more than 20 years, winemaker Tony Rynders toiled for some of the region's top wineries, including Argyle and Domaine Serene. In 2008, he started the Tendril Wine label -- the name is an homage to the grape vine.
As with many other wineries in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, much of the focus at Tendril is on Pinot Noir. The White Label Pinot Noir ($52 for the 2011 vintage) has smooth tannins with brighter fruit flavors. The Tightrope Pinot Noir ($70 for the 2016 vintage) is a bigger, jammy, whole cluster Pinot Noir with nice structure and delicious dark fruit flavor.
But if you're looking for something a bit more playful, Tendril's sibling line: Child's Play. With an energetic Pinot Chardonnay, flirty Rosé, playful Pinot Noir, and merry Zinfandel, Child's Play offers a light-hearted approach to enjoying wine.
Wine varietals: Pinot Noir, White Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Chardonnay
Wine tasting experiences:
8 guests max.
Reservations highly recommended
Wine Tasting Hours:
Wednesday-Sunday: 11am - 4pm
Wine Tasting Room:
130 W Monroe St.
Carlton, OR 97111
For more information or to make your wine tasting reservation, visit the Tendril Wine Cellars website.
Read our review of Tendril Wine Cellars and the wine tasting experience.
Learn more about the Yamhill Carlton AVA
For more wineries, restaurants, and lodging info for Yamhill-Carlton wine country, visit YamhillCarlton.org
More Oregon Wine
- Dundee Wineries Tasting Guide
- Best Oregon Pinot Noir to Drink Now
- Roseburg Wineries
- Where to Stay in Oregon Wine Country: The Vintages Trailers Resort
These are all wineries that we have personally visited and enjoyed, and believe you will enjoy, too! Our winery features are from a mix of personal visits and media visits. All photos and opinions are our own.
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