Any recommendations for nice lodgings around the Dundee Hills area or thereabouts? Or restaurants?
For Hotels, the Allison. For a B&B, the Abbey Road Farm B&B or in downtown Mac, A’ Tuscan Estate.
For food, Try Ruddick/Wood or Thistle for more modern. For more traditional Red Hills Provincial dining, dundee bistro, tina’s. Painted Lady is fancy.
We stayed in A’Tuscan B&B in McMinnville and really liked it.
Great breakfast!
Yes it is!
I’m a local, so I’ve never done more than a day trip to Oregon wine country, but if I did, I would probably end up at Red Hills Market more than once. It’s somewhat similar to Olive Marketplace in Walla Walla–good food that you can either eat there or take away. We usually stop there whenever we’re tasting and it never disappoints.
Thistle was fantastic last time we were down that way.
Two that I really like that are too far away are Valley Commissary http://www.valleycommissary.com and Recipe http://www.recipenewbergor.com. But I have only done lunch.
Jason
I’d +1 The Allison, but in all sincerity McMinnville has the most charm.
Try this: http://thirdstreetflats.com/ and great food is a stroll away.
Highly recommend 3rd Street Flats. As Todd notes, great proximity to all downtown McMinnville has to offer.
Ditto on staying in McMinnville.
The Hotel Oregon is quirky and good place to stay.
The Painted Lady in Newberg is arguably the best restaurant in the Willamette. There are a lot of others making very good food. Joel Palmer House in Dayton is good for mushroom dishes…but seems to have become more touristy over the years. Unless things have changed, don’t dare buy off the list and go with the $20/bottle corkage.
Locals (like Todd H, Marcus G, Peter R, Jim A, Vincent F and others) have the best feel for local dining options. Seems like all the Willamette restaurants have been steadily raising their games over the past several years. Same thing in Portland, which has undergone a culinary renaissance with excellent food that’s surprisingly affordable.
If you really want to stay in the Dundee Hills, there’s the Black Walnut near the top. I haven’t been for a few years but found it quite enjoyable. Abbey Road B&B is slightly off the beaten track but quite nice too. Lots of good options.
RT
The town of Dundee is a log jammed rat hole which should be avoided on Fridays from 4-7 and Sundays from 11-5. Check the map and utilize Highway 240.
I went over thanksgiving weekend and the food hasn’t changed. It was heavy and rich. We couldn’t finish even half our entrees and I’m not a slight man. I concur on the wine list but I’ll make a couple caveats. They do have a number of older vintages of hard to find wines. So if you’re looking for a 90s Thomas, they have it and you’ll pay for it. I chose instead, the 2011 Arterberry-Maresh Dundee Hills Chardonnay at $35–less than $10 over retail–and gave it a good decant.
Definitely take a morning stop at Carlton Bakery in Carlton just north of McMinnville. It’s an old gas station that was a favorite deli for years (The Filling Station), but now it’s an excellent bakery and makes sandwiches and such, including a delicious BLT. Carlton’s small but very charming and has lots of tasting rooms in right in town, with vineyards a few minutes away. And no 99W traffic…
Probably shouldn’t stop at Antica Terra while you are in Oregon.
Staying anywhere past Dundee is a good idea, as the traffic there is horrible pretty much all the time. I like the idea of staying in McMinnville because I’d rather not drive after a nice dinner (with wine of course). You really can’t do this anywhere else in Wine Country. Tuscan Estate and Third St flats are both really nice and easy walking distance from all the major restaurants in town. Staying at the Allison is an option but is a bit of a drive from most wineries in the Valley. If you stay there, try eating in the bar rather than the restaurant. It’s cheaper, more comfortable, and it’s the same kitchen. Staying out in the Yamptons (Yamhill/Carlton) is close to a lot of wineries but the food generally isn’t up to what’s available in McMinnville or Dundee.
As far as McMinnville is concerned, Thistle is very good, albeit a little funky. Nick’s is the best Italian food in Wine Country. Bistro Maison is good for saucy dishes, and makes the best Mussels and Frites in Oregon. Tater Tots at the Hotel Oregon roof-top bar are good if you need a late night snack. The Bitter Monk is a great place on the main drag for a beer (downstairs from 3rd St flats), with one of the best rotating tap lists in Oregon. Community Plate is a great place for breakfast and lattes. There is a new restaurant and wine bar opening in McMinnville this summer that’s called Kaos. I’m not holding my breath at this point.
Keith: Come out to Portland and we’ll do a Burgundy wine dinner 
. -mark
Go to McMinnville. Eat at Nick’s. Often.
Robert
For B&Bs, Le Puy is a very convenient location and beautiful facility run by nice people. Probably already booked for the summer. They have a nice view to my vineyard. http://www.lepuy-inn.com/
I have never, ever heard anybody complain about their experience staying at the Allison Inn & Spa - it really is top notch.
A mile above the Allison is Chehalem Ridge B&B. Amazing views and they recently paved the road, which is a bonus. http://chehalemridge.com/
For lunch or dinner, I’ll second Recipe (my neighbor) - I eat there a lot and it is always very good food and a long wine list - and very pleasant to sit on the patio. Another option in Newberg that is a bit eclectic is Ruddick/Wood - more of a gastropub compared to Recipe’s casual fine dining. It is an adventurous menu - I had the grilled chicory & cactus salad yesterday for lunch - loved it but not for everybody. Not a very long wine list at R/W.