Travel Agent - March 31, 2008 - (Page 62) DESTINATIONS PACIFIC NORTHWEST OREGON’S Pinot Noir Experiences The new kid on the wine block is all grown up and ready to serve up sophisticated wine-themed vacations OREGON’S REPUTATION AS A WORLD-CLASS WINE REGION HAS TRULY MATURED, making it a real option for those clients who like to visit vineyards and enjoy the natural outdoors. The Willamette Valley (www.willamettewines.com) in northwest Oregon is home to more than 200 wineries and also has been recognized as one of the premier Pinot Noir-producing areas in the world. If clients need another reason to travel to Oregon to taste its wine, they should consider visiting this summer, when the 22nd Annual International Pinot Noir Celebration (www.ipnc.org) will be held in McMinnville July 25-27. The event, which now draws Pinot Noir aficionados from all over the world, combines a series of festivities with educational programs. McMinnville, which is often compared to the wine regions of France and Germany, offers visitors plenty to do; its downtown historic district has been recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and is filled with interesting restaurants and shops. Additionally, 62 | TravelAgent March 31, 2008 BY RUTHANNE TERRERO during the spring and summer growing seasons, the Willamette Valley is dotted with roadside stands and farmers’ markets providing the best of the state’s agricultural offerings. Where to Stay There are many bed-and-breakfast options in the wine region; however, your first-time client to the area may want to stay in Portland, which is a 45-minute to two-hour drive to the Willamette Valley vineyards. The Hotel Vintage Plaza (www.vintageplaza.com) is the ideal place to suggest to clients who want a wine-themed vacation, since the property’s aesthetic centers on the Oregon wine story. The key conduit to that strategy is Wine Concierge Cindi Marconi (cindi. marconi@vintageplaza.com, 503-228-1212), who can arrange private tours to wine country either by limo or with Grape Escape Winery Tours (www.grapeescapetours.com). She can also assist in tailoring http://www.willamettewines.com http://www.ipnc.org http://www.vintageplaza.com http://www.grapeescapetours.com
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