Discover The Charming Willamette Valley Vineyard You’ve Never Heard Of

While wine is made all over the United States, California’s Napa Valley, well known for its Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Merlot and Sonoma County, popular for Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Chardonnay, still hold the gold medals for top wine regions in the country. But there’s another region gaining traction as the premier Pinot Noir producing wine region due to its lingering and gentle growing season.

The Willamette Valley, Oregon’s star wine region, is where wine lovers are flocking of late. Sheltered between the Cascade and Coast Range Mountains, this hilly valley shines for cool climate grape growing. And for wine enthusiasts, there’s a posse of new cowboys in town at Rodeo Hills.

Jared Etzel grew up in a wine producing family at Beaux Frères Vineyard, yet he wasn’t planning on following in his family’s footsteps until he took part in a harvest internship in Rioja, Spain’s famed wine region known for its red wines made from Tempranillo grapes. “The family of Artadi were outstanding people,” says Etzel. “We lived under their roof, ate spectacular food, and drank aged burgundy (we were drinking Armand Rousseau every other week!), Barolo (Guiseppi Rinaldis), and Bordeaux (all the first and second growths).”

Experiencing these flavors gave Etzel a newfangled perspective on wine. “All of these luxuries allowed us to see the side of wine that we hadn’t seen growing up (the sexy side), as our family started from humble beginnings and couldn’t yet indulge,” says Etzel. “We just saw the grit and challenge of the burgeoning Oregon wine industry without any of the true pleasures that often accompany the wine business. Needless to say, after my internship I was fully invigorated and had my mind set that I would produce fine wine where the objective was to make the best Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that will stand up to the finest burgundy.”

In 2016, Etzel dug in and planted, and, alongside his wife, Erica, Rodeo Hills was born. A fresh and sleek tasting room would follow in 2022. And, why the name Rodeo Hills? “When we were little kids, my dad piled my brothers and I in the backseat of his Volkswagen Beetle and drove us over Worden Hill Road (where Rodeo Hills is located)—the road was gravel back then and the car bucked like a bronco so the request from the kids was, ‘Let’s go on Rodeo Hill!’”, says Etzel. “The funny thing is I had to labor for a couple years until it so clearly dawned on me that the only name option is Rodeo Hills.”

Making organic farming the cornerstone of their efforts, Rodeo Hills believes that vineyard farming is extremely critical to producing vibrant and soulful wine. “I have been fortunate to visit the benchmark producers around the world and I saw the common denominator to the world’s best producers was great terroir and proprietors that are steadfast in enhancing and coaxing the best from those unique terroirs,” says Etzel. “95% of them did so via farming organically and building diverse soil health which created balanced and healthy vines.”

Of course, many challenges and joys exist with farming and winemaking, including the ever-changing natural environment and growing seasons. “Growing a vineyard is in many ways very much like raising a family,” says Etzel. “The baby vines need much more support and as they mature it is fine tuning, but the foundation is set, and it becomes much easier with every vintage. Some of the most challenging growing seasons yield the most interesting and soulful wines. It seems that the difficulty can give them a beauty mark.”

Whether you visit Rodeo Hills for a tasting, or for their “Long Lunch”, which includes a pairing of the wines with a multi-course locally sourced tasting menu, you’re sure to have a grand time at Rodeo Hills.

The Pacific Northwest, more specifically Oregon, and even more specifically the Dundee Hills AVA, is great for producing delicious wines because, according to Etzel, the wines of Oregon are stylistically in the middle of the ripeness spectrum between Sonoma Coast and Burgundy. “You get the generous fruit and silky tannin that present in the best wines from the Sonoma Coast, and you also have a lot of the acid retention and lower alcohol that is present in the best burgundy,” says Etzel. “I am very proud that now Oregon is focused to make and market wines that are specifically Oregon in style and are not trying to emulate other regions. We are super fortunate to be in the Dundee Hills AVA, as I believe we have the phenomenal Jory soil series and a very high elevation vineyard site that ripens slowly and provides the wines an iron like mineralogy with subtle ripe fruit.”

Good to Know

The Willamette Valley, a world-renowned wine region and the oldest in Oregon, is an easy one-hour drive south of Portland, past bucolic farmland and rolling hills.

Where to Stay

Rest your head at the luxurious Tributary Hotel in the charming town of McMinnville. This wine country retreat, which opened its doors in 2022, has the best hospitality around, especially given its petite size of only eight rooms. Special amenities abound. Not only will you be located within walking distance to plenty of restaurants, shops, and bakeries, but also, you can indulge in a locally driven four-course tasting menu at ōkta Farm and Kitchen, prepared by culinary masters. Guests can also experience a culinary delight that reflects the local terrain through the multi-course breakfast, complete with ingredients sourced from the Tributary Hotel’s regenerative farm and larder, delivered right to your room.

Located in a former hardware building, constructed in 1917, this historic building has a subtle sophistication on the outside, yet leaves an indelible impression when it comes to the high quality of service and hospitality. Paying homage to Oregon’s rivers and tributaries, each of the well-appointed rooms are named after a river and feature distinctive artwork and locally made trimmings.

Should you want to forgo a car rental, transportation to and from the airport, as well as through the valley for wine tastings or day trips, will be provided by the hotel. You’ll love riding in the fully electric Rivian or the hybrid Volvo throughout your stay.

The state’s first member of Relais & Châteaux, Tributary Hotel is an experience like no other and one you’re not soon to forget.