Best Willamette Valley Wine Tour (Tried, Tested, Loved)

With an incredible TripAdvisor rating since 2011, Backcountry stood out immediately.

It’s rare to see that kind of consistency over more than a decade, and it gave us confidence that we were in good hands.

We’ve done the party wine bus thing before (once was enough), but these days we’re all about the small group experience.

Backcountry limits its tours to 8 people, but on our tour, there was just one other couple. It felt relaxed and personal.

After booking, we filled out a quick intake form with our preferences (see below).

Backcountry Wine Tours used that info to handpick four boutique wineries that perfectly matched our taste.

With a partner list of around 60 wineries, they’ve got the flexibility to create a tour that actually feels like your tour, not a copy-paste itinerary.

*Note: I believe they now offer three winery stops instead of four, and honestly, I think that’s the sweet spot. By the time we hit the fourth tasting, our palates were definitely starting to fatigue.

One of the best parts? Tasting fees are not included in the tour cost.

That might sound odd at first, but hear me out. It lets you choose your level of tasting: standard or reserve. 

Why did that matter to us? Because we usually opt for reserve or special tastings, and we don’t want the “standard flight” baked into our price.

Plus, some wineries waive fees with a bottle purchase (which we always end up doing anyway).

You’re paying for real expertise, thoughtful planning, and intimate access to small-production wineries not just transportation.

We felt more like a guest than a customer. For us, it was worth every penny.

One of the unexpected perks? We got to sleep in before our full day wine tour.

If you’re staying in McMinnville (and you really should), it’s charming, walkable, and full of great restaurants. Backcountry picks you up right at your door.

That alone makes this one of the most convenient McMinnville wine tours we’ve done.

Our guide arrived right on time. Warm, upbeat, and clearly passionate about wine. But not in a “let me lecture you for the next 6 hours” kind of way.

Just knowledgeable, down-to-earth, and a genuinely great person to spend the day with.

The van was spacious and comfortable. Plenty of room for us and the other couple without feeling crammed.

We stayed at 3rd Street Flats, a lovely boutique stay right in the heart of downtown McMinnville. Perfect location for walking to dinner post-wine tour.

Nichole Pro Tip: Eat a hearty breakfast and hydrate before heading out. It’s the simplest way to keep your energy (and palate) sharp through multiple tastings.

Our first stop was Stoller Vineyards, and wow, what a way to kick things off.

With open-air views of rolling hills, a sleek modern tasting room, and floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the vineyards like art, it was the most expansive and polished of the wineries we visited.

This was our “welcome to Willamette” moment.

Their Pinot Noir lineup was solid. We opted for the Legacy Tasting, which was definitely worth the upgrade.

The Legacy Nancy’s Pinot Noir stood out with its earthy complexity and long finish. Yes, we bought a bottle, which we just enjoyed at one of my favorite Virginia B&B mountain getaways! (seen in the photo below)

Nichole Pro Tip: Wineries get packed on weekends. Book your wine tour on a weekday if you can. We toured on a Monday and had a much more relaxed, personalized experience.

Next up was Maysara Winery, and we were genuinely excited about this one.

We’d mentioned to our guide that we’d enjoyed a Maysara Pinot Noir back home in Virginia, and before we knew it, he made a call and added it to our itinerary.

That’s the kind of flexibility and personalization you get with a thoughtful wine tour operator.

The winery is family-owned by the Momtazi family and proudly biodynamic.

We had an intimate relaxed tasting at the wine bar led by an incredibly knowledgeable and engaging host.

Their Jamsheed Pinot Noir stood out to me. Earthy, complex, and layered in all the right ways.

And the property itself? Absolutely beautiful.

Brightly colored flowers were blooming everywhere, and the massive stone structure made us feel like we’d stumbled into a medieval fortress … that just happens to serve really great wine.

Also worth noting: the Momtazis are featured in the new documentary SOMM: Cup of Salvation. I haven’t seen it yet, but it’s definitely next on our watch list!

With so many great wineries to squeeze in, we chose to keep things moving and do lunch on the go.

We had delicious gourmet sandwiches from The Horse Radish.

Of course, the lunch setup is flexible. If you prefer a longer, sit-down experience or want to do a wine pairing lunch, just let your guide know in advance.

That’s the beauty of a personalized tour. It’s built around you.

We next visited Harper Voit, a micro-producer known for crafting elegant, small-batch wines with intention—and serious finesse.

The best part?

Our tasting was led by Drew Voit himself, the winemaker. Yep, our guide clearly had some solid connections, and we were lucky enough to benefit from them.

Drew’s approach is all about showcasing terroir. His wines are described as a “vineyard in a bottle,” and honestly, that’s spot on.

Each of his Pinot Noirs reflects the unique characteristics of the site it comes from. You’d be amazed at how much the soil alone can change a wine’s profile. It was fascinating to taste the differences side by side. 

We purchased the Harper Voit 2014 Bieze and Perrydale Hills, which we should probably drink soon.

One detail I loved: he sources some of his fruit from Antiquum Farm, another standout Oregon winery.

Funny enough, we actually met Antiquum’s winemaker, Stephen Hagen, at a tasting back home at my favorite wine shop in Virginia.

Super cool guy, passionate and humble, and just as memorable as his wine.

Our last stop of the day was North Valley Vineyards, and it was the perfect way to close out the tour.

Perched on a hillside, the log cabin-style tasting room offered a peaceful setting to enjoy our final wine tasting.

We had a seated horizontal tasting of their Pinot Noirs, each sourced from a different AVA: McMinnville, Ribbon Ridge, and Eola-Amity Hills.

Tasting them side by side was a masterclass in terroir.

Same grape, same winemaker, but completely different expressions depending on where the grapes were grown.

It made us really appreciate the complexity of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir.

What makes North Valley even more interesting is its roots.

The project began as a collaboration between Tony and Michelle Soter. Yes, the same duo behind Soter Vineyards and Mineral Springs Ranch, and winemaker James Cahill.

These days, James is leading the charge solo, taking the brand in its own direction with the same care and precision that’s clearly reflected in the wines.

The Joinable Tour Rate (paired with another couple) is $195 per person.

Pickup and dropoff are included.

Tasting fees and lunch are not included.

My husband and I have experienced plenty of wine tours around the world, so when we say this one truly stood out, it’s coming from a place of well-earned experience.

Backcountry Wine Tours strikes the perfect balance between refined and relaxed.

There’s no rushing, no big groups being herded from tasting to tasting, and definitely no mass-produced wine poured by the ounce.

Instead, you get intimate access to small-production wineries genuinely excited to welcome you in. And because the tour is personalized around your preferences, every stop feels carefully selected just for you.

One thoughtful detail we loved: our guide carefully gathered all our wine purchases during the day and had them neatly boxed and ready to ship by the end. It was seamless, thoughtful, and completely stress-free.

If you’re searching for the best Willamette Valley wine tour, one that’s intimate, expertly planned, and fully personalized, Backcountry Wine Tours is an excellent choice.

Pretty Cool Nichole Pro Tip: Flying Alaska Airlines out of Portland, Eugene, Medford, or Redmond? You can check a case of wine for free. We definitely took advantage of this amazing perk!

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Questions about our Oregon wine tour?

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