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Side Quest: Drinks with a View? Wine Not

Posted on July 12

Ben McBee

People sit in red adirondack chairs at Amaterra Winery, looking out over the Tualatin Valley and a sloped vineyard. The setting sun peeks through a stand of tall evergreen trees.

Amaterra’s view of the Tualatin Valley is unrivaled, stretching to the horizon. Soak it in from the upper or lower patios. (Amaterra)

Wine tasting is a treasured pastime in the Willamette Valley, a region whose renown continues to grow on the world stage. As such, it becomes harder and harder to stand out among industry peers, but Amaterra certainly sets the bar high (on top of the West Hills, in fact).

A 15-minute drive from downtown Portland — consider taking Uber or Lyft for safety — takes you to the multi-level tasting room, restaurant, and production facility, where oenophiles can savor vintages from Amaterra and its sister label 51Weeks Wines, as well as charcuterie boards, tartines, and a dinner menu with dishes that celebrate each season.

The wines are made with grapes cultivated on the slopes below and in nearby growing regions like Eola-Amity, Dundee, Yamhill-Carlton, and Chehalem, using a state-of-the-art, gravity-flow approach that preserves the delicate flavors and aromas for your palate.

Before getting too deep in our cups, it’s important to note that Amaterra is a private, membership-based winery. However, non-member guests are welcome to experience its traditional wine tasting (12-4 p.m.) and dinner (4:30 p.m. to close). Just be ready for the one-time $25 fee, which can be applied as a credit to the purchase of two or more bottles to-go following your visit.

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