Oregon

Perfecting Pinot: The Art of Wine in Oregon’s Willamette Valley

Program No. 23989RJ
Oregon’s Willamette Valley produces 70% of the state’s wine. Meet local winemakers, learn how to pair wines with food and get an insider’s look into this growing industry.

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Protecting the Environment

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At a Glance

While Oregon produces a mere 1% of the nation’s wine, many of its blends have received some of the highest quality ratings in the industry. Journey into the heart of the Willamette Valley to meet local winemakers at their vineyards, visit farms to learn about sustainable agriculture, and sample some of the region’s famous Pinot Noir with experts who share advice on wine pairing. Gain insight into the lives of workers who make these vineyards what they are today, and hear how raptors are often used as an environmentally friendly way to control pests in vineyards. Due to accommodations limitations, single rooms are limited and roommate matching is unavailable for solo travelers.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking over varied terrain at vineyards and farms.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

What You'll Learn

  • Delight in wine tasting events at local vineyards, visit local farms for a farm-to-table meal, and learn how to pair Pinot Noir with your favorite foods.
  • Discover sustainable alternatives to traditional agriculture practices through a demonstration on falconry.
  • Learn about the impacts and contributions of seasonal and migratory workers on the wine industry.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
Bob Vinatieri
Bob was introduced to travel at age two, riding in a TWA Super Constellation cockpit from Kansas City to Amarillo. Travel has been his vocation for over forty years, and he has visited all fifty states, six continents and over fifty countries. Bob enjoys leisurely walks along both mountain trails and urban cityscapes. Highlights on his programs include discussions of geology, climate transitions and human histories. You can always find him with a camera, photographing wildflowers and the epic landscapes of the Pacific Wonderland.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Bob Vinatieri
Bob Vinatieri View biography
Bob was introduced to travel at age two, riding in a TWA Super Constellation cockpit from Kansas City to Amarillo. Travel has been his vocation for over forty years, and he has visited all fifty states, six continents and over fifty countries. Bob enjoys leisurely walks along both mountain trails and urban cityscapes. Highlights on his programs include discussions of geology, climate transitions and human histories. You can always find him with a camera, photographing wildflowers and the epic landscapes of the Pacific Wonderland.
Profile Image of Jeff Peterson
Jeff Peterson View biography
Dr. Jeff Peterson, a professor at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon, has lived and worked in much of Latin America. He is a faculty member of the Wine Studies Program through the Evenstad Center for Wine Education and led the founding of Linfield College’s Wine Studies Program, the only wine studies program in the United States to focus on the liberal arts approach to the wine industry. He also founded Vinum Docet, which uses wine as a way to explore history, culture, and food.





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