We're trying to plan a trip driving from Portland to San Francisco. We want to spend a few days in Portland, then spend 2 days in the Willamette Valley, then drive down the coast all the way to Mendocino for another wine foray.

I realize that October is harvest season, but what is your opinion of visiting wineries at that time? Since that is the main focus of our vacation, I would hate to find the small wineries closed or too busy to entertain tourists. Does anybody have any experience with this? Our dates are flexible, so if you know a particular week that would be best in October, I'm all ears.

With plane fares going up every day, I'm trying to hurry and pick our dates.

Deb

Two days is more than adequate for our wine region. As far as your timing goes, if you are talking about the first part of October then your chances for decent weather are fairly good. Mid October all bets are off. And this past October was so rainy that the wineries were scrambling to get the grapes off the vines before they got moldy. It was chaotic for many of them. Most of the small wineries are by appt only anyway, so just make an itinerary that you like and then call each place and make arrangements.

I doubt if you will have a problem with the wineries, but because some are very small and it is a busy time of year I would make appointment for the wineries you really want to tour.

Just don't believe it if someone tells you they picked 1,000 grapes then had lunch at the Dundee Bistro. It cannot be done .. not in the same year lol.

How does this sound ...
Monaco Hotel or another..in Portland..wine area is only about half an hour from town..the Coast is only 90 minutes from town..
Stay a couple,3 days in Portland, drive to the Black Walnut Inn, www.blackwalnut-inn.com , stay one night then on to the Coast..I don't think there will be a lot of hotels with minimums in October..usually there are 2 nights..stay in Cannon Beach at the SurfSand or the Inn at Arch Cape in Arch Cape innatarchcape.com ..about 10 miles south on 101..

Oregon wineries are not what you will remember about this trip

There are other wine regions in Oregon besides THE wine region.

Thanks for the replies.... so now my question is, is October not a good time of year for this trip weather wise? Will we freeze our rears off on the coast?

We usually take our vacation when all the crowds thin and prefer to go "off-season", but not if rain and cold temps will spoil our trip.

The weather on the Oregon coast in October will probably be stormy and rainy/windy. But this is actually a good thing! Its really nice to stay bundled up in a warm hotel watching the storm rage around you and the waves crashing down on the rocks. It'll probably be in the mid 50's, but knowing Oregon we CAN'T predict the weather with much accuracy. For all I know it could be relatively pleasant. But you should bet on it being cold and if there's wind then you'll definitly be cold. So bring a windbreaker and a sweatshirt and you'll be fine! Its actually lovely walking along the beach when its like that.

You cannot plan anything around the weather in Oregon
We went to the Coast when it was beautiful in Portland, it was cold and wet at the coast.
Not really "off-season" around that area-October will be a busy time around the vineyards and wineries..more traffic, more people..iffy weather-wise.
I doubt you would freeze but if it is wet, it is discouraging.

If you've got the flexibility, move the trip into September, which is usually a great weather month. As mms said, mid-October is when it usually starts raining here, and odds are good you'd get wet in the two weeks before too. You won't freeze your rears off as long as you stay out of the ocean! But regardless of when you come, bring layers, with at least one of them water repellent.

Thanks, guys, for the input. I knew I could count on you to set us straight. We are now changing our plans to either come to Oregon around Labor Day.... or maybe do a tour of the Paso Robles area in Oct. I'm sure I'll have more questions whatever we decide!


Deb

We usually have beautiful weather around Labor Day.

okay... so we totally changed our plans and have booked our flight! We will be in Portland from July 1 to July 5. I will post the whole itinerary soon to get your recommendations. Can't wait!