Oregon’s wine country is some of the most picturesque scenery the state has to offer.
One of the reasons I chose this area as my home is how quickly I’m able to get to the beach, while also having easy access to Portland’s city nightlife.
Each of Yamhill county’s cities offer a different experience, from quaint and cozy slow-living, to bustling shopping and live music. If you’re looking for wine country real estate, you’ll want to know which community has the vibe you’re looking for.
Here’s what I love about each of the cities in the Yamhill County area (click to jump)
McMinnville
McMinnville sits at the epicenter of Oregon’s wine country, and is home to Linfield University. Surrounded by hundreds of vineyards and wineries, McMinnville is a great spot for wine aficionados, but if the best you can do is tell red wine from white wine you’d be welcome here too.
The city’s tourism organization, Visit McMinnville, offers an up-to-date resource list of community activities and events, as well as a complete list of local shopping, dining, lodging, and entertainment options.
Newberg
Home to George Fox University, Newberg is a historical town with strong Quaker roots and modern conveniences. Locals love the farmhouse brewpubs, wine bars, antique shops, and fine dining.
Newberg’s Chehalem Cultural Center offers classes, events, and community celebrations throughout the year, providing the city with rich cultural experiences.
Dundee
Located close to Newberg, Dundee is a great place for slow living and fine dining. With many of the residential areas located in the Dundee Hills, homeowners here can enjoy the views of the many surrounding vineyards.
A favorite local hike is the Harvey Creek Trail, a 1.5 mile hike through a wooded area, including a picturesque stream and stunning vista views. Dundee’s quick access to Highway 99W means easy commuting into Portland in one direction and McMinnville in the other.
Carlton
Carlton boasts nearly two dozen tasting rooms, making this small community the highest tasting room per capita of any other town in the country. Carlton is the perfect town for taking a walking tour of tasting rooms in a quaint community with a down home feel.
Carlton’s downtown offers top-rated restaurants, city parks, and an outdoor swimming pool, all of which make for unpretentious country living.
Dayton
Best known for the award-winning fine dining experience of the Joel Palmer House, Dayton was Oregon’s first city to be designated as a national historic resource.
The many historic homes and buildings in the city are featured on a self-guided tour.
Sheridan
Close to McMinnville, but without the bustle of a bigger city, Sheridan offers small town living on the South Yamhill River.
Less than an hour from the Oregon Coast, Sheridan is Wine Country’s gateway into the many hiking and camping opportunities in the Tillamook State Forest.
Amity
To the west of Salt Creek is Amity, a small rural community that sits the midst of the picturesque Yamhill valley.
Tourists come for the annual Amity Daffodil Festival in the Spring, and year-round for the small-batch fudge made by the monks of the nearby Brigittine Monastery.
Lafayette
Lafayette sits between Dayton and Carlton, and is a great jumping off point for multiple award-winning wineries. Stoller Family Estate, Anne Amie Vineyards, and Winter’s Hill Estate are all a few minutes’ drive from the center of town.
A favorite hiking trail with stunning views can be found on the property of Our Lady of Guadalupe Trappist Abbey.
Yamhill
Eleven miles Northwest of Newberg is the city of Yamhill. This small town is the former childhood home of notable authors Beverly Cleary and Nicholas Kristof.
Yamhill is close to Bald Peak State Park and Wapato Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Though it’s without a library of its own, residents of Yamhill can get free library pick-up and delivery from the McMinnville Public Library.
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