Wine enthusiasts rejoice! Oregon’s well known land of pinot noir has been named 1 of the greatest locations in the planet.

TIME magazine named the Willamette Valley in its list of “The World’s Greatest Areas of 2023,” calling the wine area “the subsequent Napa” noting its buzzy vineyards and hailing some progressive components in the regional neighborhood.

“The wine planet let out a collective gasp in 2021 when Champagne residence Bollinger created its initial acquisition outdoors of France: not some spot in Napa or Sonoma, but Ponzi Vineyards, which set the typical for Oregon winemaking back in the 1970s,” TIME wrote. “The Willamette Valley had actually, actually created it, but for these in the know, the ascendance of the pinot noir powerhouse in Portland’s backyard seemed virtually inevitable.”

The Willamette Valley was 1 of only a couple of destinations in the American West that created the reduce. Vancouver, B.C., Yosemite National Park and Bozeman, Montana had been also on the list.

To make the list, “TIME solicited nominations of locations from our international network of correspondents and contributors, with an eye toward these providing new and thrilling experiences.”

Nearby wine drinkers currently know all about the Willamette Valley’s numerous tasting rooms, vineyards and boutique hotels that dot the valley. Towns like McMinnville, Dundee, Newberg and Yamhill anchor the wine area, which is located southwest of Portland.

It is 1 of various superlatives earned by Oregon destinations this year. The towns of Joseph and Manzanita had been previously integrated in lists of the most wonderful locations in the U.S.

Study Extra: Highway 18 revisited: Uncovering Yamhill County’s hidden wine treasures

— Jamie Hale

503-294-4077 jhale@oregonian.com @HaleJamesB

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