6750 NE Breyman Orchards Road Dayton, OR 97114

Website: http://www.domainedrouhin.com/en/

Domaine Drouhin is located in the Dundee Hills next door to Domaine Serene. It was crush time in September when I visited. As my friend and I approached the tasting room there were hundreds of yellow crates stacked up in front of the winery full of recently picked grapes. Fork lift drivers were busy at work moving the crates to the crush facility. From the outside in, the winery is very well-manicured and refined.

This winery is owned by the French family who owns Maison Joseph Drouhin in Burgundy, France. The Drouhin’s have been making wine in France since 1880. Third generation Robert Drouhin started Domaine Drouhin in Willamette Valley in the late 1980s. He recognized the potential of the Oregon soil to produce elegant Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Robert’s daughter Véronique is the winemaker and his son Philippe is the viticulturist. They have both been involved in the family’s winemaking in both Burgundy and Oregon since 1988.

The motto on their website is “French soul, Oregon soil”. That is what makes this winery unique. There is a sense of elegance. The tasting room is simple and wide open. There is an L-shaped, wood-paneled tasting bar that can accommodate several small groups at a time. The walls are cream colored and there are high ceilings, making the tasting room feel very spacious. The wine tasting experience is unique because guests get to sample their Oregon wines along-side of their French wines. I found the wines to stand up to their motto. The Drouhins’ Oregon wines reflected the French-style of wine making rather than the fruitier, earthy style wines I’ve tried from Oregon. Behind the tasting bar was another area that was set up with tables and chairs. It looked like it was set up for a small event. There were stairs that led down to the fermentation room with large stainless steel tanks.

Outside of the tasting room is a lovely terrace with high top tables and spectacular views of the vineyards and Dundee area. It was a very relaxing setting.

I would recommend this winery to others. The terrace and views alone sold me. I also think it’s a great deal to get to try both Oregon and French wines in one tasting. Out of all the wineries I visited in California and Oregon, this is the first time I got to sample U.S. and European wines side-by-side. It was a fascinating experience.