One of my favorite U.S. cities to visit is Portland, Oregon. The Pacific Northwest has an wealth of nature’s beauty, and the Portland area has no shortage of it. From the stunning sights of the Columbia River Gorge and surrounding waterfalls,
to majestic Mt. Hood, rising on the outskirts of the city, 
and the serene (and delicious) wineries of Willamette Valley just south of the city, 
Portland has so much to offer.
“Keep Portland Weird” is the motto of the city. This phrase really refers to the pride that the city takes in its unique local businesses, the sense of individuality you find there, and the variety of leisure activities and lifestyles that you can find there. Portland is the home to some fantastic and unique local foods. Voodoo Doughnuts, and Salt and Straw Ice Cream both originated here, and have become very popular.
Also, the nationwide fine seafood chain known as McCormick and Schmick’s originated in Portland in 1892, and you can still dine at the original downtown location, Jake’s Famous Crawfish. I’ve eaten here a few times, and it’s tough to beat the food, wines, and service! 
The Willamette Valley has been making wines for 50 years, and is known for some of the best Pinot Noirs in the U.S. – possibly in the world – as well as Pinot Gris and Chardonnay wines. The two words that best describe Willamette Valley Pinot Noirs would be that they have a prominence of cranberries and earth. As you can imagine, there is no shortage of rain in the area, however there are some drastic year-to-year differences in Spring and Fall temperatures that can cause dramatic (but wonderful) differences in vintages. The wineries are impacted by the abundance of morning fog, which impacts the south-facing vineyards the most. With rolling hills throughout the valley and even within a winery, the Pinot Noirs can vary greatly, giving a wide variety of flavors based on location and exposure. French oak barreling is widely used, giving wonderful clove and vanilla notes to the wines.
There are more than 400 wineries in this area, which stretches from Portland south to Eugene. An interactive map of Willamette Valley can be found here: Willamette Valley Wineries.
I will talk more about some specific wineries in the area in later posts, but some of my favorites that I have visited (so far), include:
- Willakenzie Estate
- The Four Graces
- Qualihurst Vineyard Estate
- Domaine Drouhin – Oregon
- Anderson Family Vineyard
Autumn is a particularly beautiful time to visit the wineries, after the harvest, and when the vines turn a beautiful golden yellow color. 
Portland and the surrounding area are also home to some fantastic brewing companies, whose beers have gotten quite popular around the country. These include Rogue, Widmer Brothers, McMenamins, and my personal favorite (with a fantastic brewpub restaurant downtown) – Deschutes Brewery. Be sure to try the Brewery Pretzel!!!
But my favorite reason to visit Portland isn’t for the wines, the beers, the food, or the weirdness. Portland is also home to my daughter and son-in-law, and my first grandchild. None of Portland’s other charms can compete with family!
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Lastly… grab a glass of wine, and ENJOY!!!
