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So You Want to Learn More About Wine?

Interested in learning more about wine, including wine making, wine regions, wine grapes? Are you a wine novice? Casual wine enthusiast thirsty for knowledge? Or maybe a long time wine lover looking to formalize your education? Welcome to the world of wine certifications where you can spend a little or a lot for bragging rights…

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March 8, 2024

Meet Cassie the Wine Tour Dog!

    If you have been following us on social media since June of last year, you have seen our Bernese Mountain Dog pup grow from a 12 lb baby to a 65 lb adolescent. This breed is well-known for their friendly personality and we have encouraged these traits by socializing her from Day 1….

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February 16, 2024

Willamette Valley AVA Celebrates 40 Years! Plus 2023 Highlights

2023 was a great year for the Willamette Valley! We received recognition from major wine magazines and newspapers including being called “The Next Napa” as well as placing in many top 10 and top 100 wines of the world lists. Though Pinot Noir continues to be our claim to fame, accolades are pouring in for…

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January 25, 2024

A Visit to Portugal: Willamette Valley vs Douro Valley

  Just last month, we here at Triangle Wine Country Tours were lucky enough to vacation in Portugal after a family wedding in Italy. Portugal, an amazing, beautiful and historic country, is home to the Douro Valley, the country’s primary wine region, much like Willamette Valley is Oregon’s primary wine region. I was struck by…

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November 14, 2023

Innovation at Oregon Wineries!

The Willamette Valley is renowned for its Pinot Noirs. Fully 70% of its vineyards are dedicated to this “heartbreak” grape. This grape is notorious for being delicate, picky, prone to mildew, as well as difficult to perfect but when all goes right it compares to the best Burgundies in France, and brings wine enthusiasts from…

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February 17, 2023

Newberg: The Gateway Town to the Willamette Valley!

Where does the Willamette Valley start? Geographically speaking, if you drive in from downtown Portland, south on Route 99, in under an hour you will reach the first wineries in the town of Newberg. Complete with vineyards, scenic tasting rooms and production facilities, Newberg is truly the gateway to the best of Oregon wines! Once…

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December 16, 2022

The Heart of the Willamette Valley: McMinnville

You know you have arrived when the New York Times makes you the centerpiece of an article. McMinnville had this honor last week when the Frugal Traveler did just that. Entitled, “Sip Oregon Wine Country, No Driving Required”, McMinnville was highlighted as the rare wine region accessible by public transit from the city center and…

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November 19, 2022

The Story of Regenerative Vineyard Farming in Oregon: Part II

In part I I discussed the history of Biodynamic farming in Oregon and its connection to regenerative farming. Here I am calling out several estate wineries who walk the walk on Biodynamic and regenerative farming in the Willamette Valley:   Montinore Estate, Forest Grove (5) is a vineyard keeping regenerative practices alive, and, with 200…

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September 26, 2022

The Story of Regenerative Vineyard Farming in Oregon, Part I

Even though Oregon only produces one percent of the wines made in the United States, this states accounts for 52% of total vineyard acres that have received biodynamic® certification from Demeter USA  Oregon has the highest percentage of biodynamic wineries of any state: 15 are officially Demeter Biodynamic certified, while another 30 wineries claim to…

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September 6, 2022

Angry Birds: Raptors and The Willamette Valley

      I was reading the  New York Times magazine last Sunday (yes I am a Luddite, I get it delivered) and an article caught my eye. It was called “Angry Birds: The Art of Ancient Falconry at the Jersey Shore”. 1 Why? First, both John & I were raised in Jersey (no I…

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July 29, 2022