Hidden Gems of Tualatin Valley

Situated between Portland and the Oregon Coast, it is easy for travelers to pass through Tualatin Valley without realizing the many hidden gems they are passing by. From world-class wineries to a museum of actual gems (really!), Tualatin Valley boasts many attractions that are not so hidden or secret to those in-the-know.

Distinguished locally for carefully cultivated fruit, Abbey Creek Winery presents a small portfolio of handcrafted, premium estate wine at its winery and tasting room in North Plains. Bertony Faustin, owner and winemaker, was the first African American winemaker in the state and his documentary film, “Red, White and Black,” highlights the stories of minorities in Oregon’s wine industry.

SakéOne was the first American owned-and-operated large-scale craft-saké producer. From polishing the rice to the bottling and labeling line, each bottle is crafted in the kura from start to finish. A tour of the kura will provide a bird’s-eye view of how saké is made, and includes a peek at the only known authentic cedar koji room in the U.S. Afterward, sip an impressive flight of saké from a variety of their labels, including “G,” “Moonstone,” and “Momokawa,” served with non-traditional food pairings.

The mission of Dapper & Wise Coffee Roasters is to source and roast the best coffees they can find, to be funny slightly more often than they are serious, and to consistently offer the tastiest coffees and beverages in their cafes. Enjoying a coffee cupping at their coffee shop Insomnia Café, where the folks at Dapper & Wise teach friends and customers about coffee in a nice and un-pretentious way, and to have fun while doing all those things.

The Rice Northwest Museum of Rocks & Minerals is a hidden gem…literally. This Smithsonian-affiliated museum, chockfull of rocks, gems and gemstones, petrified woods, geodes, fossils and more, is recognized as the finest in the Pacific Northwest and one of the best in the nation. Located just west of Portland, Oregon, in Hillsboro, the museum showcases its world-class collection in a 1950s ranch-style house constructed with flagstone, myrtle wood and other materials, which earned the house a place on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Ambacht Brewing produces unique, Belgian-inspired ales, each made with local, organically grown ingredients. Ambacht’s ales are mashed at a low temperature, which gives the beer a “refreshing” dryness and “clean, toasty” flavor, and are aged for about three months, from brew day until ready to drink. Tastings here may include Ambacht’s Pie Cherry Dark Farmhouse Ale (also comes in Pale), Matzobraü, Golden Rose Farmhouse Ale, and more.

Interested in visiting the Tualatin Valley? We offer media familiarization tours to qualified media. Contact us for more information.