When things fall beautifully into place, there seems to be a bit of magic at work. That’s how it feels as the details of the Wine Tourism Conference Pre-Conference Excursion have started to come together and take shape.

Eugene, Cascades & Coast, excursion organizer, has been putting together all of the logistics of the excursion, and piecing together what will surely be a fun and eye-opening peak into Wine Tourism done right.

There are still spots available on the excursion. Deadline to register is November 6 (or until sold out). Cost for participation is $50.00, which does not include lodging and transportation to and from Eugene. If you haven’t yet registered for the conference, you can register for both here; if you’re already a registered participant and would like to add the excursion, you can do so via our additional activities form. We will be sending all registered excursion participants detailed information soon but you should book your transport and hotel now. See below.

Agenda

Tuesday, November 12

1:15pm – Depart Valley River Inn to Route 5 NW Wine Bar

Guests will enjoy a wine tasting and light lunch provided by Marché Restaurant. Route 5 NW Wine Bar is a newly opened venue showcasing NW wines, and owner Stephanie Pearl Kimmel is a James Beard Award nominated chef, cookbook author, and long-time restauranteur that works with local farmers to provide for her restaurants. After this sensory NW experience, participants will have a bit of time to explore the shops of the 5th Street Public Market District and can indulge in a bit of tax free shopping if they wish. (Note: If you arrive to the airport in time, you can take the free hotel shuttle. If you arrive a bit too late, Eugene, Cascades, & Coast will pick you up at the airport and take you directly to the venue.)

3:30pm – Depart for Domaine Meriwether

Education is one of the pillars of creating a successful winery experience for visitors and guests. At Domaine Meriwether, we will be participating in a Bubbles 101 tasting, where we will get a chance to experience how one of Oregon’s premier sparkling producers introduces its wines to consumers through an informative and fun interactive experience.

5:00pm – Depart of Sweet Cheeks Winery

The Southern Willamette vineyards are higher in elevation than areas to the north, and the Sweet Cheeks Winery and vineyard above Briggs Hill Valley is no exception. Our pre dinner reception at Sweet Cheeks will include a tour and tasting at this hill top location, and guests will see first hand what draws visitors to this region each year.

6:00pm – Depart for King Estate Winery

Anyone familiar with King Estate Winery knows that they consistently are setting the bar with regard to their wines, environmental stewardship, and winery experience. Participants on the pre-conference excursion are in for a treat as we will be headed to King Estate for a tour, tasting and dinner. We’ll tour the winery, grounds, gardens, and get to taste handmade wines paired with King Estate Executive Chef Ben Nadolny’s seasonally inspired dishes.

Wednesday, November 13

5:30am – Optional shuttle to Amtrak for those participants headed to the Pre-Conference Workshops in Portland

Complimentary breakfast at the Valley River Inn

9:30am – Depart Valley River Inn for an urban winery adventure

Territorial Vineyards and Wine Company along with the Oregon Wine Lab are two wineries that are a part of a growing urban wine scene. Both are located within the “Brewery District” of Eugene, and are a part of a movement that creates a sense of place for the urban dweller who also happens to be a fan of craft beverage. We’ll get to immerse ourselves into this scene for a few hours before departing Eugene for Portland.

12:00pm – Depart for Amtrak to catch the 12:36 departure to Portland

Tickets for this one-way on the Amtrak Starlight are $35.00

Excursion organizers, Eugene, Cascades & Coast, have made arrangements with the Valley River Inn for a discounted room rate of $89 for November 12. To Reserve your room, please use this link and code: 1111EUGE

To learn more about Eugene, Cascades & Coast and about all the things to do when visiting Lane County in the Southern Willamette Valley, please visit their website and sign up to receive their newsletter.

If you have any remaining questions about the excursion, please contact us: info@winetourismconference.org