McMinnville is all about the wine…and also apparently, UFOs. With such an eclectic profile, many tourists make this city which is just an hour south of Portland a must-see stop. McMinnville is known as the capital of Oregon’s wine industry. Boasting most of the Willamette Valley’s best-known vineyards, pinot lovers from all over the country flock here just to sample the grapes. As far as the downtown scene, many have deemed it “quaint chic.” It has some of Portland’s quirkiness and hipster attitude but done in a more picturesque and charming way. With ample restaurants, pubs/bars and of course tasting rooms, visitors can get a delicious meal, a craft beer and always the perfect pinot noir—the grape for which they are wildly popular.
The folks of McMinnville love their festivals. They love showing off their downtown which seems to be straight out of a Rockwell painting, and of course they love their food and drink. From the International Pinot Noir Celebration (what else), to the McMinnville Wine & Food Classic, to Turkey Rama, every season in McMinnville brings a reason to celebrate.
Other than wine, people know McMinnville for their UFO sightings. Pictures of supposed UFOs were taken in 1950 and generated so much buzz that they were eventually published on the cover of Life magazine. What did the city do, you guessed it, started an annual festival: the UFO Festival—second only to the one held in Roswell.
The people here are also serious about their organics. They have the nation’s largest organic food coop owned by farmers. Perhaps that’s why Bon Appetit named it one of “America’s Foodiest Towns.”
Winter is the wet season and it is cool, with daily highs hitting around 40 degrees.
Spring is mild and nice. The highs are in the 60s and it is a dryer season than the winter.
Summer is a fun time to visit. The weather is warm (highs in the low-80s) and dry. The city has several summer events, including a Pinot Noir Festival.
Fall is mild. The weather is consistent throughout the days, as daily highs are only about 10-15 degrees above the daily lows. Highs are typically in the 60s.