As the days grow longer and warmer, wine lovers know that one thing is on the horizon—wine festival season! These festivals are an incredible opportunity to explore wines from various wineries, engage with winemakers, and experience the vibrant community that makes Oregon wine country so special. With so many festivals happening, we’re narrowing the focus to those near McMinnville. Mark your calendars and plan your visit now!
Yamhill-Carlton AVA Spring Tasting
Celebrating 20 Years of Exceptional Wine: Set in the gorgeous setting that is Abbey Road Farm, this festival showcases more than 35 wineries and delicious bites (many of which feature produce from the farm) from Abbey Road Farm chefs. Spring for the VIP option, which gets you an extra hour, elevated bites, such as Abbey Road’s famous truffle burgers and mussels escabeche as well as bonus pours.
Who’s Pouring?
- Gran Moraine
- Belle Pente Vineyard and Winery
- Elk Cove Vineyards
- Ken Wright Cellars
- Willakenzie Estate
When: Saturday, May 3
VIP: 10 AM – 1 PM or 2 – 5 PM (afternoon VIP sold out)
General Admission: 11 AM – 1 PM or 3 – 5 PM
Where: Abbey Road Farm, Carlton, OR 97111
Tickets: VIP – $125, General – $75
Get Tickets
AAPI Food & Wine Fest
Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May: There couldn’t be a better time to support AAPI-owned wine and food purveyors. The third annual AAPI Food & Wine Fest has a dedicated board and committees working to advance diversity in the food and beverage industry one bite at a time. As part of the festival, they’ll be offering a VIP lounge that will feature Chef Carlo Lamagna from Magna Kusina on day 1 and Chef Peter Cho from Hanoak & Jeju on day 2. Additionally, they plan to offer wine educational opportunities for AAPI restaurateurs this year.
Who’s Pouring?
Who’s Cooking?
When: Saturday & Sunday, May 17-18, 11 AM – 5 PM
Where: Stoller Family Estate, Dayton, OR 97114
Tickets: VIP – $125, General – $75
Get Tickets
Flavors of the Foothills
An Immersive Wine & Food Pairing Experience: The McMinnville AVA and McMinnville restaurants have teamed up to offer a new wine and food tasting experience called Flavors of the Foothills. Take a walkabout in downtown McMinnville’s Bindery Event Space while indulging in thoughtfully crafted food and wine pairings and you’ll get an immersive experience that screams McMinnville. Take advantage of the food and wine pairing seminar add-on during the morning to really get a better understanding of why these collaborators selected their pairings.
Who’s Pouring?
Who’s Cooking?
When: Saturday, May 24
Seminar: 10 – 11:30 AM
Walkabout: 12 – 3 PM
Where: The Bindery Event Space, McMinnville, OR 97128
Tickets: Seminar & Walkabout – $65, Walkabout only – $45
Get Tickets
Indie Wine Mixer
Discover Boutique Wines and Independent Winemakers: If you are looking to experience boutique wines from scrappy winemakers who wear all the hats in their small business, look no further than the Indie Wine Mixer. Every year, this event is hosted over Memorial Day Weekend and this year it will be at Ricochet Wines for the first time. Enjoy wines from 40 independent producers that you will not likely find anywhere else while catching some live tunes and snacking on food from a selection of food trucks. 5% of ticket sales go toward a charitable organization (to be announced soon
Who’s pouring?
When: Saturday & Sunday, May 24-25, 12 – 6 PM
Where: Ricochet Wine Co., McMinnville, OR 97128
Tickets: Single Day – $45, Weekend Pass – $65
Get Tickets
Rising Tide Wine Fest
Exclusive Tastes from Small Producers: The second annual Rising Tide Wine Fest offers a rare chance to taste wines from small-scale producers without tasting rooms. Enjoy music from DJ Jimbo and delicious eats from Let’s Roll PDX and Trellis Wood Fired Pizza Oven, all with a fun nautical theme.
Who’s Pouring?
When: Saturday, June 21, 4 – 7 PM
Where: Elk Cove Vineyards, Gaston, OR 97119
Tickets: $50, $10 discount for industry folks
More Info
Queer Wine Fest
The World’s First LGBTQ+ Wine Festival: Returning for its fourth year, Queer Wine Fest is an inclusive celebration of queer-owned and queer-made wines. Hosted at Remy Wines, this festival is a vibrant and welcoming space for all wine lovers. More details to come—mark your calendar!
Who’s Pouring?
When: Sunday, June 29
Where: Remy Wines, Dayton, OR 97114
More Info
Drink Pink Rosé Festival
A Summer Celebration of Rosé: There is no summertime drink more perfect than rosé. So why not have a summer wine festival centered around this gorgeous pink libation. This year’s 12th annual event also features dancing to live music, nibbling on tasty bites, and shopping with local craft and food vendors. Consider the VIP package which includes preferred parking, an insulated wine glass, and access to the VIP lounge, which includes shaded and indoor seating as well as private restrooms. 5% of ticket sales go to McMinnville non-profit, With Courage, an organization that supports local families that have been impacted by a breast cancer diagnosis.
When: Saturday, July 26, 12 – 4 PM
Where: Stoller Family Estate, Dayton, OR 97114
Tickets: VIP – $125, General – $75
More Info
About the Author: James Howe (she/her), Visit McMinnville staff writer, has lived in McMinnville since 2009. Some of her favorite McMinnville memories include playing the flute in Second Winds Community Band, acting on stage at Gallery Theater, and co-founding and annually producing Make Music McMinnville.