Willamette Valley Wine Tour Review: Archery Summit & Abbey Road Farm

Have you been Wondering About Whether a Willamette Valley Wine Tour is worth your money? I’ve got The Inside Scoop!

During a recent trip to Portland, Oregon, I participated in a Willamette Valley wine tour that included exclusive tastings at two iconic Willamette Valley wineries: Archery Summit Winery and Abbey Road Farm. Both tasting experiences were so phenomenal that I knew I needed to share them with you on the blog!

In this post I will highlight the nuances and details of both wine tasting experiences, as well as share some of my honest thoughts and opinions about both of the wineries I visited. There are hundreds of wineries in the Willamette Valley region to choose from, and obviously I couldn’t visit them all (though, I wish I could!). That being said, I will also share some general tips for going on a Willamette Valley wine tour based on my experience.

I’ll also make sure to include an FAQ at the bottom of this post to help guide you in your planning process for visiting the famed Willamette Valley region. Without further ado, let’s dive right into the juicy details of my experience and whether taking a Willamette Valley wine tour is worth your money.

This experience was hosted in partnership with Archery Summit and Abbey Road, as well as Stay22; however, all remarks and thoughts expressed in this blog post are entirely my own. This post also contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, I may earn a commission. I use various programs to include affiliate links in my blog posts to keep my content free for all to read. Should you choose to book through any of my links, thank you so much!

Don’t forget to book your hotel or B&B for your trip to Willamette Valley wine country!

There is a difference between booking a wine tour vs. booking a wine tasting at one singular winery. Usually, a wine tour will take you to 2 or 3 wineries in the region. Lunch is often provided during a wine tour, as well as transportation and pick-up/drop-off from your hotel or accommodation.

I highly recommend booking a wine tour if it’s your first or second time participating in a wine excursion. You’ll get to sample a variety of wines from different wineries, and transportation is taken care of for you! This is the type of experience I enjoyed, and will reference throughout this post.

Wine tastings are usually at one specific winery and are often booked directly through the winery. Travelers typically must organize their own transportation, but it may be provided or organized through the winery. Lunch is typically not included in a singular tasting session, but there are sometimes snacks and light bites to accompany your sampling. Booking a wine tasting at one singular winery is a good idea if you love a specific type of wine and aren’t concerned about transportation!

2. Significant Focus on the Wine-Making Process

Each winery has their own unique wine-making processes and preferences. One of my favorite parts about the wine tour I went one was that I got to learn about how each winery puts their own unique flare into the wine-making process. There is a significant focus on education during most wine tours, and staff from the wineries are often excited to share this knowledge with wine tour participants.

Usually, wine tours include a facility walk-through and a tasting in the tasting room. During both of these parts of the tour, participants will get to ask questions and learn from the experts onsite. It’s a fun experience regardless of whether you’re a wine connoisseur or a newbie!

Come prepared to learn about the wine you’re sampling and the facility within which you’re sampling it. Being open to learning and getting an education is one of the most enriching parts about touring wineries in the Willamette Valley region!

3. You’ll Learn About What Makes Each Winery Unique

No two wineries are the same, and there are literally hundreds of different options to choose from in the Willamette Valley! One winery might be more elegant and focused on delivering a luxury experience for guests, while another winery might take a more laid back approach and focus primarily on the farm-to-table ethos of the experience.

This was how I felt about Archery Summit compared to Abbey Road Farm respectively. Both were wonderful in their own ways but they were definitely very different. Plus, they both had different specializations when it came to their wine production processes! Archery Summit focused heavily on Pinot Noirs, while Abbey Road Farm offered a variety of high-quality wine varietals.

One of the most fun parts about doing a wine tour is that you get to have a variety of different experiences and bear witness to how unique each winery and vineyard truly is!

4. You’ll Get to Sample a Variety of Wines

It’s no surprise that you’ll get to sample and taste a lot of varietals of wine during your wine tour. Specifically, the Willamette Valley is famous for its Pinot Noirs. You’ll likely taste several Pinot Noirs during your wine tour, but you’ll likely also get to taste other wines like Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, and Rose.

It’s important that you remember to pace yourself throughout the tasting to get the most out of your experience!

For reference, I’ve included photos of the tasting menus from both Archery Summit and Abbey Road Farm in this post below (see the respective sections for the images). As you’ll be able to tell, there is a strong emphasis on Pinot Noirs and some Chardonnays thrown in the mix, too!

5. Wine Tours Tend To Last For At Least a Half-Day

Typically, wine tours last between 4-5 hours for half-day tours and 7-8 hours for full-day tours. I suggest not trying to plan anything else for the day of your wine tour, regardless of whether it’s a full-day tour or half-day tour.

After my half-day wine tour, I definitely felt a bit exhausted and in need of a nap. I was glad that I budgeted time in afterward instead of needing to run out to another engagement. Full-day wine tours will likely leave you feeling even more tired, so make sure to give yourself the rest you need!

Archery Summit Winery – Thoughts & Experience

Archery Summit is located in the Dundee Hills AVA (American Viticultural Area ), and this winery is known for its beautiful, scenic vineyards and elegant estate. There is a stunning deck with outdoor seating, as well as interior seating and a tasting room inside a wine cave!

Archery Summit is also famous for its high-quality Pinot Noir, and they also produce delicious Chardonnay. My personal favorite out of the 5 wines we tasted was the 2021 Dundee Hills Estate Chardonnay. Normally, I’m not a huge Chardonnay fan but this one wow-ed me! My second favorite was the 2021 Dundee Hills Arcus Vineyard Pinot Noir.

During my visit, my group got the experience our tasting in the cave and it was awesome. You walk through a cave-like hallway lined with barrels of wine before entering a cozy, intimate cave structure with lounge seating, table seating, and high top seating. There is plenty of room for a large party (or several!) in the cave.

At the end of our tasting, each table we occupied was brought salted caramel macaroons and they were delicious! The sweetness of the macaroons perfectly balanced the dryness of the Arcus Vineyard Pinot Noir. I was in heaven!

At this time Archery Summit offers three unique tasting experiences for guests to choose from, all of which require reservations:

• The Arrow Flight – Tasting House ($65 per tasting; 60-90 minutes per visit in Tasting House)
• The Arrow Flight – Caves ($65 per tasting; 60-90 minutes per visit in Cave)
• Legacy Cave Tour and Tasting ($95 per tasting; 90-120 minutes per visit)

I really loved my experience at Archery Summit–the ambiance, the wine, the estate… All of it was incredibly elegant and luxe. I’d highly recommend a visit to this winery if you’re visiting the Willamette Valley!

Archery Summit is located at 18599 NE Archery Summit Road, Dayton, OR 97114.

Abbey Road Farm – Thoughts & Experience

Abbey Road Farm is a totally different experience all together and I adored it, as well! It’s located roughly 15-20 minutes away from Archery Summit winery, so it could make a great stop or landing point if you’re planning to do a Willamette Valley wine tour!

Located at the heart of the Willamette Valley in Carlton, Oregon, Abbey Road Farm is an 82-acre site farmstead property with a tasting room, event space, and Bed & Breakfast where guests can sleep in a renovated grain silo! It’s literally the perfect choice if you’re looking for a home base in the Willamette Valley region. There is a gorgeous yard with a fire pit to enjoy in the evenings and the interior windows open up to the yard, turning it into a fun indoor-outdoor space during day or night!

Abbey Road Farm produces a diverse array of small-batch wines on-location including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and other varietals. According to their website, “Abbey Road Farm Estate Vineyard highlights 15 organically-farmed varietals grown on 42 gently sloping acres, including unique ones like Trousseau, Grüner Veltliner, Mondeuse, Mencia and Godello.” ¹

Guests can choose to indulge in their wine in the tasting room or in the yard with stunning vineyard views. Plus, guests can take a self-guided stroll around the property with their wine to marvel at the views, meet the lovely farm critters, or simply enjoy a bit of fresh air. I loved the casual yet detail-driven ambiance of the farmstead and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to roam around the property with my wine-in-hand.

Abbey Road Farm definitely captures the innovative spirit of the Willamette Valley region, and balances it with a steady focus on crafting a high-quality, sustainability-focused experience.

During my tasting at Abbey Road Farm, I tried 5 wines and loved literally every single one of them. If I was forced to pick a favorite, I’d choose the 2022 Estate Trousseau Rose. I am a big Rose fan, and this one was refreshing and delightful! I did appreciate how Abbey Road farm gave us a variety of different offerings to sample (I love Pinot Noir but it started to feel a bit heavy after the 5th glass of it across two different vineyards!).

At this time Abbey Road Farm offers two unique tasting experiences for guests to choose from, both of which require reservations:

• White Wine Flight Tasting Experience ($35 per person; 90 minutes in length)
• Red Wine Flight Tasting Experience ($35 per person; 90 minutes in length)

There are food options available for purchase, and wine club members can bring in their own outside food. Plus, another amazing perk of Abbey Road Farm is that they’re dog friendly! I’ll definitely be coming back with Harold in the near future to enjoy a flight (or two).

Abbey Road Farm is located at 10280 Northeast Oak Springs Farm Road, Carlton, OR 97111.

FAQs About Wine Tasting in Oregon

Where to Stay in Willamette Valley Wine Country?

There are several great spots to stay in the Willamette Valley region. Based on my personal experience at Abbey Road Farm, I have to make that my first recommendation for travelers looking for a relaxed, unique wine country experience. Guests get to sleep in a renovated grain silo on the 82-acre farmstead property and get all the cozy perks of enjoying a B&B (namely, free breakfast!).

The Setting Inn Willamette Valley is also another great option among wine country tourers because of its convenient location near Newberg, Oregon. Plus, this B&B also offers free breakfast! You’ll definitely want to fuel up before heading out for the day on your Willamette Valley wine tour.

A third great option for your home base in the Willamette Valley is Gaard House in Carlton, Oregon! This property boasts several unique perks onsite such as a tennis court, an outdoor patio, pool table and darts, as well as a fire pit outdoors.

If you’re planning to book a wine tour that leaves from Portland, you could also easily stay in downtown Portland to get a fun city experience, as well! I recently stayed at KEX Hotel in southeast Portland and I LOVED it.

🤩 Stay in a renovated grain silo at a B&B in the heart of Willamette Valley wine country!🤩