Chapter 4: Visiting Oregon Wineries

Most every winery allows you to purchase their wines in any quantity you desire. Most offer a discount if you purchase a half or full case of wine, and even allow that case to consist of any combination of their wine (called a “mixed case”).

For example, you could purchase a mixed case consisting of four bottles of Cabernet Merlot, two bottles of Sauvignon Blanc, three bottles of Pinot Noir, and three bottles of Pinot Gris.

While you should not feel compelled to purchase any wine, doing so is a way of showing your thanks for the winery welcoming you in.

A tasting room is just what it sounds like. It is designed to host visitors, display the various wines for sale, and most importantly, allow visitors to sample some of the wines.

Depending on the size of the winery, the tasting room may be simply a room, or a small building. Depending on the winery’s location, the tasting room may be located on the winery’s property, or in a nearby city.

Tasting rooms typically feature a winery’s different wines, and may also have additional products, cheeses and foods, and other accessories.

It depends. Most Oregon wineries offer a 5-10% discount on the purchase of a case of wine. It also depends on the specific wine you are purchasing. You should inquire about specific discounts, and other sales, when you visit a winery.

No. While most Oregon wineries do have some sort of tasting room facility, others may be located off site, in part of a grocery store, in a separate town, or even across the state.

Some of Oregon’s smaller wineries have no tasting facilities, as their wines are direct distributed to local vendors. However, most of these wineries do have some form of tasting room representation, as in a wine bar, or may offer a special tasting during events throughout the year.

If you’re not sure whether an Oregon winery has a tasting room, view our Winery Directory. It will quickly show you which wineries have tasting facilities:

View the Oregon Wineries Directory

It depends. Some wineries may allow you to wander through a portion of their vineyard, and some may request that you remain near the tasting room property.

Wineries are very concerned about the spread of pests (such as Phylloxera), which can be carried on your shoes, and can be transferred from one winery to another. Throughout Oregon’s winegrowing history, pests and diseases have destroyed acres, even entire crops, so be sure to ask the staff at the winery before you go wandering among the grapes.

If you are permitted to walk in the vineyards, you are in for a real treat! Few things can compare to holding a wonderful glass of wine in your hand, as you stroll past the very grapes that make that wine possible!

Most Oregon tasting rooms are open from 11am to 5pm. Some are open only on weekends, while others are open seven days a week. Some have shorter hours, and some are open later in the day. If in doubt, it is best to call ahead before you visit a winery.

It depends. While most wineries welcome walk-in visitors, some are not open to the public, and require advance appointments before you may visit.

Also, wineries frequently host events closed to the public, or may be closed without advance notice. It is best to call ahead and just make sure.

It depends. Some wineries provide complimentary tastings of their various wines. Other wineries may ask you to pay a dollar or two to sample their wines. If the winery is tasting a special or reserve wine, the fee may be upwards of $10-20 per person.

During the Thanksgiving Weekend, many wineries host special tasting events. These cost from between $5 and $10 per person, allow you to sample a wide array of special and reserve wines, include complimentary food and cheese to accompany your tasting, and also allow you to keep your tasting glass.

Before visiting a winery, you can call ahead and inquire if there is a tasting fee. However, for the experience of sampling fine wines, talking with the tasting room staff, and enjoying a wonderful afternoon at an Oregon winery, the tasting fee is probably minimal.

Yes! Depending on how busy a winery is, you may stay for only ten minutes, or as long as an hour. Because visitation times may vary, you might consider planning to visit two or three wineries in one afternoon. Make sure that you have a designated driver for such an event, as when you taste, the ounces of wines can add up quickly.