Oregon now has 393 wineries and 16 winegrowing regions in the state. And it was through a press release that I learned about a great new resource to help plan your summer wine tour (of course, in addition to a copy of Pacific Northwest Wining & Dining!). The release says, “Prompted by the continued growth of Oregon wine country as a travel destination, the Oregon Wine Board has created an online portal to access all of the tools necessary to plan a memorable trip.  The Oregon Wine Explorer(TM) is an invaluable online destination that makes it easy to plan a trip to Oregon wine country by providing a virtual tour with turn-by-turn directions of the state’s wine regions. The Wine Finder Tool, which links with the Explorer, allows Oregon wine enthusiasts the ability to search and order Oregon wines to enjoy at home.

 In addition, the Oregon Wine Board has partnered with eight regional wine organizations to create the new “Discover Oregon Wine Country” tool kit.  This comprehensive package includes an overview brochure of the state, plus regional maps with winery/vineyard listings, and provides visitors with everything needed to plan a discovery trip. 

 “Green-focused” travelers might want to consider picking up a hybrid rental at Enterprise Rent-a-Car locations around the state and at all major Oregon airports and heading out to wine country to check out the many Oregon wineries and vineyards that have adopted green building practices, sustainable winemaking and agriculture and pursued certification.  To learn more check out the Green Getaways package in the Portland-metro area, a partnership with the Oregon Wine Board and Travel Portland.