Oregon’s Wine Country: An Ideal Spot for Off-Sites, Retreats & Relaxing
Conferences in Portland have a fantastic benefit — they’re right next to Oregon’s wine country.
For wine enthusiasts, only a few places are renowned for producing the world’s best wines — and Oregon’s Willamette Valley is one of them.
Famed for its Pinot Noir — but also known for its acclaimed Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc — Oregon’s wine country is home to stunning views of verdant vineyards and more than 700 celebrated wineries. And because it’s only 40 minutes from Portland, with access provided by both chartered bus and private car services, visitors to the city can easily enjoy off-site events, wine tastings and unique meeting venues.
Across the Willamette Valley, many popular wineries offer ideal spaces for meetings, team building, tastings and events. The Stoller Family Estate, the first winery in the world to receive LEED Gold certification, offers event space for up to 150 guests, complete with panoramic vineyard views. Alongside its numerous other amenities, the Allison Inn & Spa features 25,000 square feet of event space, from bright, naturally lit indoor spaces to private outdoor terraces. Ponzi Vineyards, one of the West Coast’s most beloved wineries, not only offers gorgeous sunset views, bocce ball courts and outdoor fire pits but also indoor and outdoor event spaces with in-house catering.
Meanwhile, those visiting wine country to take a break from meetings — or those who’ve tacked a day or two onto their trip to fully enjoy wine country — will find wineries that, like so much in Oregon, are just a little bit different than those found anywhere else. The acclaimed small-batch Abbey Creek Winery is defined by the vision of Bertony Faustin, Oregon’s first recorded Black winemaker. Soter Vineyards is known around the Pacific Northwest not only for its wine but also for its high-end dining. CHO Wines, helmed by the first Korean American vintners in Oregon, has been featured on Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 list. In addition to its wine and award-winning olive oil, Durant welcomes visitors to a market full of specialty foods, local art and handcrafted pottery.
The Willamette Valley is also home to a growing number of acclaimed restaurants. In the town of Carlton, Park & Main serves up unforgettable wood-fired pizzas, while Hayward has earned recognition in 2024 as a finalist for the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant, and in 2025 as a semifinalist for Best Chef Northwest. Newberg is home to Milan-native chef Dario Pisoni’s Rosmarino Osteria Italiana, and the charming, walkable downtown of McMinnville boasts multiple breweries, galleries and shops, along with ōkta (where James Beard Award semifinalist chef Matthew Lightner creates meals with locally harvested vegetables and seafood).
The Willamette Valley makes any trip to Portland more appealing, from casual wine tastings to wine tours to visiting multiple wineries via a helicopter tour (!). When meeting attendees are ready to head home, they can stock up by taking advantage of Oregon’s 0% sales tax. Those flying on Alaska Airlines can ship an entire case of wine for free.
Portland is already an amazing place for meetings. And for those attending those meetings, the chance to experience Oregon’s wine country only adds to the city’s appeal.
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