Domaine Serene Winery

If, by some fabulous stroke of luck, you've talked your significant other into a romantic weekend in the Willamette Valley... don't, whatever you do, blow it by going to Domaine Serene early in the day.

Time your visit for later in the afternoon. Because this is a romantic place where you'll both want to linger ~ for as long as they'll let you stay.

Domaine Serene might be as close to Napa as you're ever going to get in the Willamette Valley. A picture-perfect setting with spectacular views, an incredible tasting room and (bonus!) a very knowledgable crew of bright, friendly people who really and truly love their jobs and love the wine, too.

Now, this is a little embarrassing. Domaine Serene probably wins more awards than all the other Willamette wineries, combined.

One woman in our group whole-heartedly agrees. She joined their wine club and bought a bottle of Syrah for her Father, too. The rest of us couldn't muster the same excitement. We'll attribute that to our unsophisticated palettes. Or, maybe we were just too preoccupied with the fabulous view.

We did, however, unanimously agree that if you can visit two wineries in the Willamette Valley, Domaine Serene should be one of them. We'll tell you about the other one later.

Domaine Serene's name says it all. Their tasting room is currently open Wednesdays through Sundays. Willamette Valley. Find them at 6555 N.E. Hilltop Lane, Dayton, Oregon. A hop, skip and a jump from a polar opposite, yet equally delightful, tasting experience.