Wine Country Thanksgiving in Oregon's Willamette Valley runs across two weekends in 2026: Friday, November 20 through Sunday, November 22, and Thursday, November 26 (Thanksgiving Day) through Sunday, November 29. Those dates come from the Willamette Valley Visitors Association, the region's tourism body, and the event calendar kept by the Willamette Valley Wineries Association, the winery trade group. The visitors association calls it one of the valley's longest-running traditions, though it does not give a founding year.

How it works

There is no single ticket and no central venue. Individual wineries and tasting rooms put on their own events across both weekends, and you plan your own route. According to the two organizations, the events typically include guided tastings with winemakers, special releases and rare wines, food and wine pairings, live music and holiday shopping. Wineries that close over the holiday itself often hold their open house the weekend before, which is one reason the event spans two weekends. Pre-Thanksgiving events tend to feature new fall releases and wine club exclusives.

The wineries association keeps the official calendar on its site, with a trip builder that lets you save events and share the list with your group. Both organizations note that events keep being added, so check the calendar again the week you travel.

A few events already on the calendar

  • Holiday Market in the cellar at Dobbes Family Winery in Dundee, November 21 and 22.
  • Thanksgiving Sparkling Weekend at Balsall Creek in Newberg, November 27 to 29, with what the winery describes as its first flight of all its sparkling wines, plus discounts on sparkling vintages.
  • Holiday Vine Wreath Workshop Series at Barking Dog Wine and Art Gallery in Carlton, a ticketed event where each ticket covers wine, instruction and materials.

Fees and reservation rules vary by winery, and neither organization publishes a general price. Treat every stop as its own booking: read the event listing, then confirm on the winery's own site whether you need a reservation or a ticket.

The Giving Season deals

Wine Country Thanksgiving sits inside a longer program called The Giving Season, a set of tasting room offers that supports the Oregon Food Bank Network. Offers vary by winery and may include savings on full cases, discounted visits, sip-and-stay packages, and free or discounted shipping when you buy multiple bottles. If you plan to ship wine home, ask about the shipping offer at the counter before you check out.

Where you are going

The Willamette Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA, a federally recognized grape-growing region) was established in 1983 and runs from Portland in the north to Eugene in the south, covering about 5,372 square miles. The wineries association counts more than 700 wineries and 11 nested AVAs inside it: Chehalem Mountains, Dundee Hills, Eola-Amity Hills, Laurelwood District, Lower Long Tom, McMinnville, Mount Pisgah (Polk County, Oregon), Ribbon Ridge, Tualatin Hills, Van Duzer Corridor and Yamhill-Carlton. Pinot noir is the valley's signature grape, alongside sparkling wine, aromatic whites and other reds.

That size is the main planning fact. The wineries association advises picking a cluster of nearby wineries rather than crossing the valley, and allowing at least 90 minutes per tasting. It also notes that many wineries are appointment-only, though some now take walk-ins.

Getting around without driving

This is a rural region in late November, so arrange the ride first. The wineries association says public transit serves Portland and Eugene but that a car is needed to explore wine country beyond those cities, and that taxis and ride-share services can be difficult to find in rural areas. Its recommendation for anyone visiting several wineries is to book a wine tour or private transportation in advance. Local touring companies supply the vehicle, a guide and a designated driver; the association lists its touring partners on its tour companies page.

Two other practical notes from the association: cell service in wine country can be spotty, so load your route into your navigation before you leave, and many wineries offer non-alcoholic options for anyone in the group who is not tasting.

Your next step

Open the Wine Country Thanksgiving calendar on willamettewines.com, choose one weekend and one cluster of wineries, then book your driver or tour before you book the tastings. Holiday weekends are when transportation runs out first.

Wine shipping rules vary by state, and some states limit or bar shipping wine directly to consumers. Check what your state allows before you order.

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