Many people have questions when it comes to touring Oregon wine country.  If you are looking to do your first wine tour / tasting or you are a veteran wine enthusiast our goal is to make the day fun and exciting and get your party safely from each winery to the next and home again.

Please browse through our FAQ's about wine tours.  If you don't find the answer you are looking for, please email us at info@TourOregonWines.com.  We will get back to you with an answer as soon as possible.

Why should we use your company for a wine tour?
     TourOregonWines.com offers the best private chauffeured wine tours from the Portland /
     Vancouver area through the Willamette Valley AVA.  We can also service the Salem area and
     Columbia River Gorge wineries.  We can even design custom tours to meet your party's needs.

*** UPDATED FAQ ***
What should we look for when hiring a wine tour company?
     This is simple.  QUALITY.  There are a lot of people in the area who are putting their limousines
     out for $65 an hour.  Remember the old saying, "You Get What You Pay For!" Well that applies
     here as well.  Our company provides high quality, professionally dressed chauffeurs who are
     familiar with wine country and the wineries we visit.  We also provide clean, dependable
     vehicles that you want to travel in.  Some companies are running cars from the 1990's.  You
     are paying good money for your tour, demand good service and equipment.  If you have the
     opportunity, ask to preview the vehicle and meet a chauffeur a few days before your tour.  A
     reputable company will be happy to demo their vehicles and have you meet a chauffeur.

How far is wine country from Portland?
    Newberg & Dundee, OR are located approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour southwest of downtown  
    Portland depending on traffic conditions.  If you have dinner plans after your wine tour please
    allow for approximately 1 hour of travel time after your tour ends to get back to the Portland
    downtown area (more during weeknight rush hour).

How early should I book my tour?
     Tours book up fast.  As soon as you know the date you would like, please give us a call.  Yamhill County is
     fast becoming one of the premier wine destinations in the world.  Spring, summer, and early fall are the
     busy season, while harvest happens in late fall.

Do you pick-up and drop-off in Washington?
     Yes.  Your tour will be longer due to the extra travel time to and from your pick-up location. Our Client
     Service Reps can give you more information on Washington pick-ups and drop-offs.

What type of payments do you accept?
     TourOregonWines.com accepts Mastercard, Visa, American Express, and Discover.  We also accept cash on
     the day of your tour, however, we require a credit card to hold the reservation.   We do not accept personal
     checks at this time.

What are you office hours?
     Our office is open from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Mon.-Fri. and 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Sat. & Sun.   You are
     welcome to leave a message on our voicemail if you miss us.  We will return your call as soon as possible or 
     the next business day.

Can we smoke in the vehicles?
     To ensure a pleasant tour for all, we do not allow smoking in our vehicles at any time.  Our chauffeurs are
     more than happy to pull over to allow you time to smoke, or you can smoke in designated areas at the
     wineries.

Can you pick-up / drop-off our group up at the airport?
     If your party is flying into PDX specifically for a wine tour we can arrange for pick-up in Area 5
     for your party.  Upon completion of your tour we will drop you off back at the airport to catch
     your flight.

How long are your wine tours?
     Typical wine tours are 6 or 8 hours long.  Most vineyards / wineries open at either 11 or 12 and
     close between 4 to 5 pm.  Depending on where your pick-up location is you could be looking at
     a commute time of up to an hour and a half each way.

What if it rains on my tour date?
     The tasting rooms are open rain or shine.  With that said, there are some wineries our vehicles will not
     travel to in extra wet weather due to road conditions.

What does the company charge for Wine Tours?
     Tour charges vary depending on length of tour, vehicle chosen, and number of people in your
     party.  While some companies charge a per person fee for their tours, TourOregonWines.com
     charges by the hour in the vehicle you select.  If you fill the vehicle at its seating capacity, your
     per person rate is less.

Can we get more than one pick-up / drop-off location?
     Sure!  Because our tours are by the hour we can accommodate multiple pick-ups / drop-offs.

What kind of vehicles do you tour with?
     TourOregonWines.com can accommodate your party with everything from luxury sedans through
     stretch SUV limousines and mini-buses.  Please visit our vehicles page to see more about your
     vehicle options.

Do we have to tip the chauffeur?
     TourOregonWines.com wants your experience to be easy and comfortable.  Our Client Services
     Representative will quote your tour with the driver gratuity (20%) included in the price.  If your chauffeur
     has demonstrated exceptional service to your party you are more than welcome to give the chauffeur an
     additional gratuity, but it is not necessary.

Can we drink alcohol in the vehicle?
     Oregon law currently permits consumption of alcohol by persons over 21 years of age in our
     vehicles.  You may consume alcohol with minors present in the vehicle, however, if a minor
     consumes any alcohol while on the tour the chauffeur will immediately end the tour and return
     you to the original pick-up location.

Are the wineries / vineyards open year round?
     Yes, most of the larger tasting rooms are open year round with the exception of major holidays.  It is best
     to consult one of our Client Service Representatives to ensure the wineries you want to visit will be open on
     your tour date.

How many wineries / vineyards do we visit during a Wine Tour?
     This really depends on three things- 1) how long is your tour, 2) how long you spend at each winery, and 3)
     the proximity of the wineries to each other on the tour.  Most tours can comfortably visit 4 or 5 wineries
     during a tour.

Do you provide lunch or are there places to eat along the way?
     First, we highly suggest you have a hearty breakfast the morning of your tour.  This will help you get
     through the day with energy.  If your party would like to enjoy a lunch during your tour, we can arrange for
     a gourmet "picnic lunch" to be eaten at select wineries.  A small additional per person charge will be
     added to the tour charge.  If you would prefer to eat lunch at a restaurant in the wine country we can
     certainly recommend a few that have had rave reviews from past clients.
   
How much are the tasting fees?
     Tasting fees vary between wineries ($5 to $20 per person).  Some tasting fees are per glass,
     some per "flight".  Select wineries  will waive the tasting fees when you purchase a bottle(s) of
     wine from them.  Please Note- not all wineries charge a tasting fee.

Does TourOregonWines.com pay the tasting fees?
     No.  Please plan to have cash or a credit card available to pay the tasting fees at each winery.

Can we choose the wineries / vineyards we want to visit?
     Absolutely.  If you have specific wineries / vineyards you would like to visit we will be happy to put them on
     your tour schedule.  If you only have one or two that you would like to visit, we can fill in the remaining time
     with wineries / vineyards near your selections.

Can you recommend any wineries?
     Yes.  Upon making your reservation let the Client Service Representative know what you want to visit and   
     we can design an itinerary to suit your needs.  In addition, our chauffeurs are familiar with the wineries and
     can offer suggestions "on the fly" should a winery not be available.

We want to visit a winery that only does tasting by appointment, who makes the appointment?
     TourOregonWines.com will be happy to make a reservation at the wineries who only taste by appointment. 
     When you book your reservation with us, we will make the call for you.

I am from out of town, can I ship wine to my house (how do I ship wine)?
     Maybe.  Certain laws restrict wineries from shipping wine to designated states.  The wineries
     are familiar with those states and can further assist you.  We have been told that you can ship
     wine to yourself if you are from out of state.  Ask a Client Service Representative for more
     information.

Do I need to be 21 years old to tour? Can we bring children?
     People under 21 are more than welcome to join you on your tour.  Most wineries and vineyards will let you
     have children in the tasting rooms, however, they will not under any circumstances serve alcohol to anyone
     under 21.  To more thoroughly enjoy your tour we suggest you find other arrangements for your under 21
     crowd.

What is your refund and change of tour date policy?
     Once you secure your reservation with a credit card, a 25% cancellation policy is in effect up to 48 hours
     prior to the start of your tour.  If you cancel within 48 hours of the start of your tour the entire amount of
     the tour will be charged to your credit card.  If you have to postpone your tour, we will gladly work with you
     to arrange another tour date. 

Do wineries give tours of the facility?
     Select wineries will give your party a "behind the scenes" tour with advanced notice.  Occasionally wine
     makers will give people an impromptu tour if they aren't busy.