notes from 2 recent tastings in the valley
It’s time for another “2 stand-out wineries” post!! This was a much-anticipated day for me, because my friend and I finally visited two of the most talked-about wineries in the Valley right now: Lucidwild Estate and Soter Vineyards.
I’m not going to lie, I went into this day with extremely high expectations for both places due to all the attention they’ve been receiving. These two wineries and the experiences they offer are, in my opinion, on completely opposite ends of the spectrum. Each surprised us in their own ways. Let’s dive in! 🍷
Lucidwild Estate
You may recognize the name Lucidwild Estate from the amount of attention it’s been getting online, especially on social media. I can’t scroll through Instagram without seeing at least one post about this winery. But honestly, for good reason.
Lucidwild was described as the “Disneyland of the Dundee Hills” by The Oregonian, and personally, I think that’s incredibly accurate. Driving up the steep hill to the tasting room honestly feels like going up the big hill at Splash Mountain, if you know what I mean. It builds suspense and anticipation. As you wind around the twists and turns, you’ll pass animals grazing and giant signs displaying accolades like “LIVE Certified” and “Salmon Safe.” It all felt a little in-your-face to me, mostly because it’s the only winery I’ve visited in the area that’s done this.
The tasting room itself is absolutely stunning. It’s incredibly modern, with a sleek interior and open-air spaces that make everything feel polished and luxurious. It’s probably the largest tasting room I’ve ever been to, but it’s honestly much more than just a tasting room. Inside are multiple tasting spaces with patios, private event rooms, a barrel room that doubles as an event space, lawn seating, and even a speakeasy with a full cocktail bar and record studio for members. They were kind enough to take us on a full tour after our tasting so we could see all of the spaces.
Walking in for our tasting, they knew exactly who we were and took us out to a beautiful spot on the terrace. Right away, it gives big “party” vibes with house music blasting throughout the property. We were there early in the day so it wasn’t too crowded yet, but judging by the amount of seating, I imagine it gets packed on weekends.
I’m going to coin this now: this place feels like it belongs in Ibiza, Spain. It gives luxury-party energy in a way that’s completely different from pretty much every other winery I’ve visited in the Valley so far. It honestly felt like we should’ve been overlooking the ocean and yachts rather than vineyards and farm equipment. Unexpected for the Dundee Hills, but somehow, it worked.
Our hostess, Massi, was awesome. She was so kind and welcoming and made the whole experience feel seamless. We tried six wines total: a sparkling, a white, and several reds (Massi also threw in a bonus pour, thank you queen). Each wine came paired with a bite-sized snack, which was such a nice touch and something I honestly wish more wineries did. They also had my last name printed on the tasting menu as a welcome message, which totally surprised me. Such a thoughtful detail.
Here were my notes from the tasting, along with the pairings:
2021 “Brut” Sparkling
brioche, crème fraîche, smoked trout roe, lemon zest, chervil
Punchy with notes of brioche, green apple, golden apple, and toast. Refreshing and very light on the palate.
2023 “Hidden” Chardonnay
crostini, whipped chèvre, pear & elderflower mostarda, chervil
Citrus-forward, crisp, light, and fresh. Tasted like fresh-squeezed lemon.
2021 “Fusion” Pinot Noir
slow-roasted cherry tomato, basil, herbed cheese, croustade
Cranberry and pomegranate notes. Very light-bodied with a short finish.
2021 “Beast” Pinot Noir
phyllo, chèvre, shiitake, chive
Blueberry, blackberry, baking spice, and barrel notes. Youthful and punchy with earthy, leathery characteristics and a little vanilla.
2023 “Chosen” Pinot Noir
pinot noir-marinated strip loin, shallot, rosemary, garlic
Hard to pull notes from on the nose. Rosy and violet-driven with a leathery palate and another fairly short finish.
2023 “Renegade” Pinot Noir
My favorite wine of the tasting. Almost reminded me of a gamay. Blackberry, plum, cherry, pomegranate, and even a little prune juice on the palate. Still a shorter finish, but definitely the most memorable pour for me.
Honestly, the wines themselves were not my favorite I’ve tried in the Valley, especially considering the price point. I also think the overall experience is really what you’re paying for at Lucidwild, and maybe the focus isn’t entirely on the wines themselves. Personally, when I go wine tasting, I want the experience to feel wine-forward, and there’s a lot happening here that can distract from the wines.
That being said, I really applaud them for doing something completely different in the Valley. Lucidwild absolutely stands out because the vibe is so unique. It’s energetic, fun, and unapologetically over-the-top. Wine tasting is supposed to be fun, and sometimes wineries take themselves way too seriously. If you’re looking for a high-energy experience with stunning views and a beautiful atmosphere, Lucidwild is definitely worth visiting.
Lucidwild Estate Visitor Info
Location: Dundee Hills AVA, Willamette Valley
Known for: Modern architecture, multiple event spaces
Food: Full menu + bite pairing with each wine
Vibe: High energy, modern, sleek
Lucidwild’s website
Soter vineyards
Our experience at Soter felt like a complete 180 from what we had just experienced at Lucidwild. Known for their biodynamic and holistic approach, Soter has a much more low-key and humble style.
I actually had the privilege of visiting the winery during harvest this past fall and touring the production facilities with head winemaker Chris. My team and I tasted what had to be at least 12 different wines pulled straight from fermentation, which was such an incredible experience. The wines completely blew me away, and I’d been wanting to come back and experience the tasting room ever since.
Driving in, it genuinely feels like you’re in the middle of nowhere. The sign simply says “MSR” (Mineral Springs Ranch), so it’s easy to miss and honestly makes you question whether you’re in the right place. You drive up a large hill to a simple, understated building overlooking the Valley below. There are farm animals grazing nearby, and the whole property feels peaceful immediately.
Our host, Brandon, met us halfway down the sidewalk with chilled rosé in hand. After introductions, he walked us around the property, talked about the history of Soter and the land itself, and then brought us to our table. We sat inside, but the tasting room is open-air, so we still had a beautiful view.
The tasting room itself is extremely minimal, but still beautiful. There’s a gorgeous kitchen, only a handful of tables, and the whole space feels calm and intentional. It also seemed to function as a hub for the team, with people casually working on laptops and hanging around throughout the day.
The entire vibe here is peaceful. Majestic, even. I’d almost describe it as sleepy, but in the best way possible. Everything slows down there. After our tasting, we wandered around outside for a while just taking in the quiet and the view.
Our tasting included the welcome rosé, a chardonnay, and two pinot noirs (very Willamette Valley-coded), and I have to say, the wines absolutely lived up to my expectations. The pinots especially were incredibly well done, and tasting the two side-by-side was really cool because they showed such different expressions.
The thing that stood out to me the most was the hospitality style. Brandon actually sat down with us during the tasting and stayed with us for almost the entire experience, explaining the wines thoroughly and sharing more about Soter’s history and philosophy.
Soter is appointment-only, and each party is paired with a dedicated host for the duration of the tasting. It creates a really immersive experience, though honestly, it was a little unexpected for me at first. Brandon was amazing and made us feel completely comfortable the entire time, but it’s definitely not your typical tasting setup. Usually, hosts pour the wine and give you space to chat or take in the scenery. Here, it felt more like an intentional conversation and guided experience than a casual tasting.
Of course, I lost the piece of paper that I took tasting notes on, and I’m still trying to figure out which ones we had (they change their tasting based on current releases). Hoping to have notes on the exact wines we tried up on this post soon…stay tuned!
Overall, Soter is absolutely a stand-out in the Valley because of the quality of the wines, their biodynamic farming and winemaking practices, and their unconventional approach to hospitality. If you want to visit, definitely make a reservation a couple weeks in advance because it books up quickly. This place feels really special, and I deeply appreciated both the wines and the thoughtful approach to hospitality.
Soter Vineyards Visitor Info
Location: Yamhill-Carlton AVA, Willamette Valley
Known for: Biodynamic farming & winemaking, pinot noir
Food: Full menu with snacks and charcuterie. Also have tastings available with full food & wine pairings
Vibe: Serene, minimal, sleepy
Soter’s website
final thoughts
Lucidwild and Soter are definitely two stand-outs in the Valley for me, but for completely different reasons. Lucidwild is modern, high-energy, and over-the-top, while Soter feels rustic, intentional, and peaceful.
At the same time, I actually think these wineries have more in common than it first appears. Both are doing something unconventional in the Valley, whether that’s Lucidwild’s party atmosphere or Soter’s immersive hospitality and biodynamic approach to winemaking. Both experiences felt unexpected in their own ways, and I appreciate that neither winery plays it safe.
For the most part, both places absolutely met my very high expectations.
Where to next? 🍷
Thanks for reading 🙂
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