Cellar Season in Newberg

Winter in the Willamette Valley is Cellar Season for our wineries. It’s a time when the wine is quietly aging in the barrel post-harvest and the vineyards outside have lost their leaves, creating a dramatic landscape to savor from inside a cozy tasting room. Things run at a slower pace, and it’s the perfect time for more in-depth food and wine experiences: tasting menus, winemaker-hosted tastings, and industry events where you’ll rub shoulders with the buzziest names in Oregon winemaking. Cellar Season (January-March) also happens to coincide with Oregon truffle season, so check out our post all about the Truffle Trail and plan one of your most delicious trips of the year…

Exclusive Winter Wine Events at The Allison Inn & Spa

A Celebration of Willamette Valley Sparkling Wine (January 13th, 2024) kicks off the new year with a walk-around tasting of sparkling wines from ten local producers, paired with seafood-inspired bites from the chefs at JORY. Later that evening, The Allison will host a five-course seafood and sparkling wine pairing dinner. Each event is ticketed separately.

The Oregon Chardonnay Celebration (February 24th, 2024) at The Allison Inn is the ultimate tasting experience showcasing the Willamette Valley’s other prized grape. Taste Chardonnays from over 50 producers and see for yourself why wine critics nationally are recognizing these rising stars of white wine. The wines will be accompanied by bites prepared by The Allison’s executive chef Jack Strong and guest chefs from around the region.

The Allison’s annual Cuvée Stroll (March 16th, 2024) presents a lineup of top Willamette Valley wineries, culinary artisans and chefs in a walk around tasting to benefit the Yamhill Enrichment Society. The culinary team at JORY will also host a five-course winemaker dinner to toast the Cuvée weekend the night before (March 15th).

Special Lodging Rates During Cellar Season

Shhh… We’ll let you in on a local’s secret: while this is the most delicious time of the year, it’s also the most affordable, when our luxurious hotels offer discounted rates and packages as well.

The Allison Inn & Spa is offering 15% off rates on the weekends of the above events, including Sparkling Weekend (Jan. 12-14), Oregon Chardonnay Celebration Weekend (Feb. 23-25), and Cuvée Stroll Weekend (Mar. 15-17).

During Cellar Season, The Dundee Hotel will offer a complimentary barrel tasting and mini wine flight for two at Furioso vineyards with booking up to two guests any one of their luxe suites. To book, use code cellar24! for stays between January and March.

The Holiday Inn Express Newberg is also offering discounted rates for cellar season. Each booking includes a king or double queen room, breakfast and parking.

Elevated Experiences for Your Winter Itinerary

These upscale offerings are perfect to round out an indulgent vacation in the valley:

Anacreon winery’s Epicure Experience begins with a tour of the wine estate in the Chehalem Mountains, followed by a tasting of six wines, paired with seasonal food pairings from Chef Erik Caballero and his culinary team.

The Painted Lady remains one of the most exceptional meals in wine country. Chef Allen Routt creates a seasonal tasting menu where each dish is a work of art.

REX HILL winery’s stunning tasting room renovation included adding a host of culinary offerings to their menu. For the full experience, book the Somm’s Table, where REX HILL’s most exclusive wines are paired with dishes from executive chef Billy Brownlee.

Rosmarino Osteria Italiana is the only restaurant in Oregon to make it on Open Table’s list of 100 top restaurants in America. Chef Dario Pisoni and his team prepare handmade pastas and a menu of Northern Italian dishes, including family recipes. Rosmarino is open for lunch and dinner, but for the ultimate experience, book one of Dario’s wine pairing dinners on Friday and Saturday nights.