We are makers who love wine. We love wine so much that we created a series of wine-inspired candles and soap.
We are also makers who adore everything about the fall season. We love fall so much that we created two vegan soy candle scents that celebrate our obsession - Bourbon Apple Cider
and Big + Spicy.
We just so happen to live very close to one of the best wine regions in the country....the Willamette Valley (which inspired our soap and candle 'Tipsy in Willamette'). 
Did you know that the Willamette Valley wineries are best known for their Pinot Noir, which is widely considered to be among the world's finest? Often compared to Burgundy, Willamette Valley is the ideal growing region for growing Pinot grapes. This is mainly due to it's cool and humid climate.....which brings us to our second point. Willamette Valley is ALSO the perfect place for some stellar leaf peeping during the Fall season. This guide will take you to some of the best wineries of the Willamette Valley while also finding the top spots for seeing autumn colors in mid to late October.
Only about 30 minutes from Portland, this can be a great day trip. You can go by car, but if you don't want to drive, we have a few other more exciting options for you. There's a fun train that takes you on a wine tour of the Cascades. Even better, take the Willamette Valley Scenic Bikeway and get in some exercise to burn off all those calories you're drinking.
1. Rex Hill
Their estate-grown wines are farmed biodynamically and you can sample a variety of ways. They offer mini tours on Saturdays now, too. Flights are offered daily and range in price from $15-30.
2. Chehalem Winery Tasting Room
As one of the pioneers of Willamette Valley wineries, you must taste these wines (especially the Pinot Noir). You can visit the tasting room anytime or the winery by appointment only.
Open 7 days/week, this certified sustainable winery has flights of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir ranging from $15 - $25.
By appointment only (but worth it), this winery has tastings ranging from $30-75. The winery has some of the finest Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs in all of Oregon and maybe even in the U.S.
5. Trisaetum
It is a reasonable $20 per person to taste several estate (and award-winning) Rieslings, sparkling wines, Chardonnays, and Pinot Noirs.
6. Beaux Frères
By appointment only, this winery offers tastings of their award winning Pinot Noirs ranging from $25-75.
For many years they only sold their grapes to other wine producers, but now they make incredible Pinots and Chardonnays. Now open to the public, but you must make an appointment.
8. Gran Moraine
By the same folks who make Kendall Jackson, this winery produces a line of super-premium Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. Visitors can taste four estate wines from $20.
There are sweeping views at this US outpost of Burgundy’s Maison Joseph Drouhin. Drop-in tastings are only $10 a flight, but visitors who can reserve ahead, get an even better bargain: a 75-minute long, $30 tour of the winery followed by a comparison tasting of Drouhin’s Oregon and French wines.
10. Soter Vineyards
From one of America’s benchmark producers comes amazing Pinot Noir and sparkling wines. The winery is open by advance appointment only, for semi-private, guided seated tastings ($25) and more extensive “Provisions” tastings ($65) including food grown on the estate.
11. Domaine Serene
Okay, so this is BY FAR our TOP PICK over here at Wooly Beast Naturals due to it's mascot - Wooly, a 14-foot high wooly mammoth sculpture on a Tuscan-style hilltop—a memorial to the Ice Age events that formed the Willamette Valley. Tastings of pinots and Chardonnays are $20. An more in-depth visit includes the $60 “Exquisite” tour that ends with a seated tasting of limited edition wines.
12. Argyle Winery
Their single vineyard still wines and the sparkling wines here are among America’s best. Open daily, they offer three different tasting flights at $20 each. One fee is waived with each 2-bottle purchase.
