Yamhill County

If you are looking for a slower pace, a small town, and a setting to enjoy the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, Yamhill County may be for you. About an hour’s drive southwest of Portland, Yamhill County’s entire population of just more than 100,000 is about the same as the city of Beaverton. A third of the county is covered with commercial timber so logging is the principal economic base, but the area is becoming more well-known for its wine.

Yamhill County has over 80 wineries, and approximately 200 vineyards, and nearly every city’s downtown has one or more tasting rooms on their Main Street. Miles of rolling hills are covered with grapevines, often separated by lush forest, on beautiful vineyard estates – both large and small. In recent years, Oregon has become known for the Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris produced here, and the tourism industry has expanded beyond tasting rooms to hotels. Even if you live here, you could appreciate the beauty of a well-appointed room at Youngberg Hill in McMinnville. The Inn is perched on a 50-acre estate with sweeping views of the vineyard and valley.

McMinnville is the largest city in Yamhill County with a population near 36,000 and is home to Linfield University. It has a quaint downtown with unique boutiques, art galleries, service providers and local eateries. In addition to its burgeoning wine industry, McMinnville also features the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, which is a collection of airplane and space artifacts along with the famous Spruce Goose, a plane made entirely of wood.

Newberg is the second largest city in the county, home to George Fox University and is the one nearest to Portland, OR. Like McMinnville, Newberg has a charming downtown with brew pubs, coffee houses, wine bars and restaurants. Both cities have commercial and service districts, along with yearly community events like McMinnville’s UFO Festival, the County Fair, Newberg’s Camelia Festival, and Oregon Truffle Festival. Local wineries hold events in and around the cities and you will discover Farmers’ Markets in both cities during the warmer months.

If you desire an even smaller town, with just a few thousand residents, Dundee, Lafayette, Carlton, and Yamhill dot the landscape along Highway 99W and Highway 47 – the two major routes in the county. Each has their own unique vibe and distinct commercial offerings but there is no doubt that you are in wine country. Throughout the county, you will view picturesque landscapes of rolling hills, farmland, crops of berries, hazelnuts, tree farms, and, of course, grapes.