New Sections & Surprising Shake-Ups: The 2026 Willamette Valley Guide
Wine Travel Beyond the Socials
My Willamette Valley Guide 2.0 is here, and it’s a big update.
After another year of deep exploration across the Valley’s 11 AVAs, I’ve refreshed every category with new discoveries, a few surprises, and yes, some shake-ups among my longtime favorites. Spoiler: not everything stayed the same. A few wines and experiences I thought were untouchable got some serious competition.
And this edition has grown. I’ve added brand-new sections: Best Luxe Experiences (for when you want to really treat yourself), Best European Experiences (because the old world is alive and well in Oregon), and Best Wine Tasting Events (because some of the best sipping happens in a crowd).
Whether you’re planning your first trip to wine country or you’re a regular making your rounds, consider this your updated cheat sheet. Grab a glass and dig in.
If you find this guide useful, the best thing you can do is share it with a fellow wine lover! And if you’re not already subscribed to Kristy’s Wine Travels, now’s a great time — there’s plenty more where this came from. Cheers and thank you!
As a lover of Pinot Noir from Oregon I found this interesting. While my favorites weren’t in your list, this gave me new ones to try. Thanks!