notes from 2 recent tastings in the valley
With the summer season finally here, I’ve been out and about again making my way around the wineries of the Willamette Valley! This time, I visited two wineries in the Dundee Hills AVA: White Walnut Estate and Alexana Winery. They’re less than ten minutes apart from each other, yet offer completely different experiences. Neither one disappointed. Let’s get into it!
white walnut estate
White Walnut’s vineyard site, located in the heart of the Dundee Hills, was formerly a walnut grove before owner Chris purchased the land in 2013. Today, the estate is planted with roughly 60 acres of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, producing wines that have quickly gained recognition for their quality and craftsmanship.
The tasting room is available by appointment only, and the experience includes a tasting of four wines guided by Chris himself. He only hosts one group at a time, meaning each visit receives his full attention, which is something I really admire. Tastings take place inside the winery in a thoughtfully curated and absolutely gorgeous space, with tables set among both the fermentation vessels and the barrel room.
Chris walked me through the tasting in the barrel room, where we chatted about White Walnut, the wines, our respective journeys in wine, and pretty much everything else related to the industry. I immediately felt welcome, and the hospitality was top-tier.
White Walnut focuses exclusively on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, which is a relatively uncommon approach in the Willamette Valley. While these are the region’s flagship varieties, many wineries also produce wines from grapes such as Gamay, Syrah, Riesling, or Pinot Blanc. White Walnut, however, has committed itself entirely to these two varieties.
The winery produces around 4,000 cases annually, with its first vintage released in 2018. Chris draws on experience gained throughout his wine career and utilizes a combination of wooden fermenters, concrete eggs, and clay amphorae in the winemaking process. Notably, there is no stainless steel used in production. I could really tell these techniques brought an added layer of texture and complexity to the wines.
One thing I found especially interesting was that White Walnut doesn’t have any social media presence. When I brought it up, Chris explained that he prefers doing things the old-fashioned way through word of mouth. It’s a philosophy I genuinely respect and one that reflects the winery’s humble, low-key approach.
The tasting lasted about an hour and a half, and I had a great time getting to know Chris while exploring the wines. Truly, these are some of the best wines I’ve tasted in the Valley so far, and I don’t say that lightly. Each wine was layered, balanced, and constantly evolving in the glass.
2024 Warden Hill Road Chardonnay
Saline and mineral-driven with notes of oyster shell, citrus blossom, and fresh herbs. Bright acidity and a subtle briny character make this an elegant, seafood-friendly Chardonnay.
2024 White Walnut Vineyard Chardonnay (2023 was awarded #16 Top 100 U.S. wines of 2025 – James Suckling)
Incredibly layered and constantly evolving in the glass. Green apple, lime zest, and citrus gradually gave way to golden apple and lemon curd.
2024 Worden Hill Road Pinot Noir
Dark cherry, plum, orange peel, licorice, and tobacco are complemented by hints of bonfire smoke and baking spice. A darker, more structured expression of Pinot Noir.
2023 Apple Field Vineyard Pinot Noir
Vibrant and expressive with red cherry, blackberry, violet, and rose petal. Fresh berry notes give the wine an energetic, summery feel.
Overall, I was extremely impressed with White Walnut and really appreciated the level of intentionality behind both the wines and the experience itself. It manages to feel elevated without ever becoming intimidating. And seriously—you need to try these wines.
White Walnut Estate Visitor Info
Location: Dundee Hills AVA, Willamette Valley
Known for: Small-production chardonnay and pinot noir, private tastings with the winemaker
Food: None
Vibe: Intentional, intimate, educational
White Walnut’s website
alexana Winery
The next stop of the day—after lunch at Dos Mundos in Newberg (seriously, some of the best Mexican food in the area)—was Alexana Winery. I’d been wanting to visit for quite some time, so I was excited to finally check it out.
Alexana sits on a unique property along the edge of both the Dundee Hills and Yamhill-Carlton AVAs. Because of its location, the estate contains two distinct soil types: Dundee’s famous red jory soils and the marine-sedimentary soils more commonly associated with Yamhill-Carlton. This gives the winemaking team the opportunity to explore how different terroirs influence the wines. They also have sister properties in Napa Valley and Argentina, so there are different flights to choose from that include some different wines, such as cabernet sauvignon and malbec, that you may not normally get to taste in the Willamette Valley.
My friend and I even tasted two Pinot Noirs side-by-side that showcased these differences. The Lava Lands Pinot Noir is sourced from vineyards planted in the red jory soils, while the Marine Ridge Pinot Noir comes from marine-sedimentary soils. It was fascinating to compare them directly.
We visited on a Tuesday afternoon, and the property was incredibly quiet, with only one other table occupied during our tasting. Honestly, it made the experience even better. The atmosphere felt peaceful and unhurried, allowing us to fully enjoy the wines and the setting.
There is plenty of seating both indoors and outdoors, including an upper deck overlooking the vineyards and lawn seating closer to the vines. I can imagine weekends are much busier, but our midweek visit felt like having the place almost to ourselves.
The space strikes a nice balance between upscale and relaxed. We sat outside on the upper deck, which offered beautiful views across the valley. As a fun side note, Abbey Road Farm—another standout winery I’ve reviewed—is visible directly across from Alexana. It was also one of the hottest days we’ve had so far this summer, so that first chilled glass of white wine really hit the spot!
Our host, Ian, was fantastic. He took the time to explain both the wines and the vineyard thoroughly while still keeping the tasting approachable and conversational. I especially enjoyed the white wines in the lineup, though the Pinot Noirs offered a great look at the different expressions of Dundee Hills fruit.
Here are my notes from the tasting:
2024 Hillsides Pinot Gris
White flowers, honey, and lemon cookie notes are balanced by refreshing acidity. Rich enough to be interesting while remaining bright and easy to drink.
2023 Alexana ‘Signature’ Chardonnay
A richer style of Chardonnay with flavors of lemon curd, vanilla, graham cracker, and lemon shortbread. Creamy and approachable without feeling overly heavy.
2022 Alexana ‘Estate Vineyard’ Pinot Noir
Red cherry and dried plum are layered with forest floor and earthy undertones. A classic representation of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir.
2023 Alexana ‘Lava Lands’
Ripe raspberry, red cherry, and black currant lead the way in this fruit-forward Pinot Noir. Plush and approachable with plenty of Dundee Hills character.
2023 Alexana ‘Marine Ridge’ Pinot Noir
Similar red fruit notes to the Lava Lands bottling but with more earthy complexity and a longer finish. Damp soil and woodland notes add depth.
2022 Alexana ‘Pommard Clone’ Pinot Noir
The darkest wine in the lineup, showing black cherry, blackberry, baking spice, and earthy notes. Structured, concentrated, and built for aging.
Overall, I really enjoyed my time at Alexana and am so happy I finally had the chance to visit. Between the views, excellent hospitality, great company, and solid wines, it ended up being a stand-out experience. I’d also say the wines serve as a great representation of what the Dundee Hills can produce, making Alexana a reliable stop for anyone exploring the Valley.
Alexana Winery Visitor Info
Location: Dundee Hills AVA, Willamette Valley
Known for: Estate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and terroir-driven wines showcasing multiple soil types. Wines from sister wineries in Napa Valley & Argentina
Food: Charcuterie boards & light snacks available
Vibe: Upscale, scenic, relaxed
Alexana’s website
final thoughts
These two tastings were a great reminder of just how much diversity exists within the Dundee Hills AVA. Despite being less than ten minutes apart, White Walnut and Alexana offer completely different experiences.
White Walnut feels intimate, intentional, and deeply personal. The one-on-one tasting with Chris provides a rare opportunity to hear directly from the person making the wines, and the wines themselves were some of the most compelling I’ve tasted in the Valley. Every bottle seemed to evolve with time in the glass, revealing new layers and nuances with each sip.
Alexana, on the other hand, delivers a more traditional tasting room experience with sweeping vineyard views, polished hospitality, and a strong lineup of wines that showcase the character of the Dundee Hills. The side-by-side comparison of Pinot Noirs grown in different soil types was especially memorable and highlighted just how much terroir can influence a wine.
If you’re planning a wine tasting day in Dundee, I’d highly recommend pairing these two wineries together. You’ll get two distinct perspectives on Willamette Valley wine, excellent hospitality, and some seriously beautiful vineyard views along the way!
See you at the next tasting 🍷
Thanks for reading 🙂
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