Cellar Season: January 1–March 31
Every winter, when the holiday rush recedes and winter’s chill sets in, vintners across the Willamette Valley celebrate the quiet majesty of Cellar Season. Savor the wines of the Willamette Valley this winter with ideas for enjoying your time at local wineries and tasting rooms.
What is Cellar Season in the Willamette Valley?
The quiet, laid-back nature of Cellar Season offers an experience you can't enjoy the rest of the year—whether you're new to wine tasting or are members at your favorite wineries. Here's a rundown of what Cellar Season is, along with what makes it so special.
Cellar Season typically runs January-March—a post-harvest, pre-springtime quiet time for wineries across the Willamette Valley. Just-harvested wines are safely tucked away in barrels, lending a relaxed vibe to regional tasting rooms.
During Cellar Season, chances are good the person pouring your wine is the person who crafted it—so there's no better time to learn about the winemaking process in an easy-going setting. Check out our beginner's guide to wine tasting to get started.
Slow down and get cozy while enjoying new releases at your favorite wineries—many of which offer fireplaces, heaters, and even blankets for keeping warm. Learn more about fire pits at wineries, distilleries, and restaurants in the Willamette Valley.
What to Know About Cellar Season
You'll want to keep a few tips in mind while visiting Willamette Valley wineries during Cellar Season. Keep these suggestions in mind when making plans.
Most tasting rooms offer reservations, especially for groups of four or more. Visit the websites of tasting rooms and wineries you'd like to visit to learn more about specific policies and, if necessary, to secure an appointment.
During Cellar Season, many wineries may close for breaks or keep reduced hours. It's often a good idea to call ahead to confirm your desired winery will be open when you'd like to visit.
Road conditions can change often—especially in winter. Use the Oregon Department of Transportation's TripCheck tool for road webcams, up-to-date alerts, closure information, and other traffic tips for the safest possible trip.
Luxury Wine Tours
Leave the planning to an expert, let someone else do the driving, and see Oregon Wine Country through the eyes of those who know it best. See why a guided tour of Oregon Wine Country might be right for you, and keep reading for specific outings.
Local outfitter Wine History Tours helps you soak up all the seasonal vibes at regional tasting rooms with its Winter Focused Willamette Valley Wine Tour.
The tour includes visits to three or four boutique wineries (depending on your preferred pace), with stops that include fireplaces for an added dose of cozy ambiance. Lunch at a local eatery rounds out the day-long experience.
