Pop the Bubbly! How to Celebrate Dundee Wine Country Style

The holidays hit differently in the Dundee Hills. Is it the glow of tasting room lights against the foggy vineyards? Or is it that crisp winter air that makes every glass of sparkling wine taste even brighter? Whatever it is, celebration feels right at home here in December.

Sparkling Lights, Sparkling Wine

Let’s be honest, everything starts with bubbles. Nothing shouts “holiday spirit” quite like the pop of a cork echoing across the room. The sparkling wine scene in Dundee is popping off in the best way possible, and it’s giving classic Pinot Noir a run for its money (while also being its best partner in crime).

You’ll find elegant traditional method sparkling at Argyle Winery (they basically wrote the book on Oregon bubbles), delicate Melon de Bourgogne at De Ponte and festive sparkling brut at Dobbes Family Estate that beg to be paired with twinkly lights and a charcuterie board.

How to bring it home: Pick up a few bottles of your favorite Dundee sparkling wines and recreate the experience in your home (or by the patio firepit). Add a few cozy touches like blankets, twinkle lights, and toast to something small like having all your favorite people in one room. Here in Dundee, celebration doesn’t need a reason, it's a mindset.

Feast Hard with Friends

No holiday season is complete without top tier food, and Dundee delivers. The dining scene here feels celebratory by nature, especially in winter when farm-to-table takes on a cozy, indulgent twist with indulgent soups, hardy entrees, and meals that you’ll wish you could re-create at home every evening this winter.

Make a reservation at Tina’s Restaurant, a local gem known for its ever-changing seasonal menu and intimate feel (their wild mushroom risotto is a winter dream). Or head to Trellis or Wooden Heart for something a little more casual but both are equally delicious. Their small plates are perfect for sharing, and the wine list is a true love letter to: you, from: the Willamette Valley. Get apps and drinks at one, then migrate down the road for entrees and dessert at another.

And if you’re craving a relaxed, fireside kind of meal, Red Hills Market never disappoints. Their wood-fired pizzas, local cheeses, and rustic charm hit the spot after a day of wine tasting or holiday shopping with the family. 

How to bring it home: Host your own “Dundee Dinner Party.” Light some candles, give your bestie the aux, and cook with local ingredients like Oregon hazelnuts, chanterelles, roasted root veggies, and pair the meal with a Dundee Hills Pinot Noir or flight of bubbles, chardonnay, and pinot! The secret to celebrating like you’re in the Dundee Hills? Keep it local and make sure the conversations last longer than the meal.

Events That Bring the Energy

If you’ve been tasting in the winter months, it is no secret that the Dundee Hills don’t slow down in winter, they shine bright. December brings a full lineup of cheerful, community-driven celebrations that make the valley feel like one big family gathering.

Kick off the month with Woodshed Wine Company’s Sip and Shop where you can peruse their elevated gift shop the first weekend of December. For all the mountain feels in the Dundee hills, visit the first ever Apres-Ski inspired party at Lucidwild lodge - enjoy stunning views from the SkyTerrace fireplaces while enjoying limited production LucidWild wines and bites crafted by Estate Chef Mason. Durant Vineyards continues the holiday spirit by hosting interactive wreath-making workshop on the 6th (with mulled wine, naturally) and a chance to shop their artisan market for gifts. If you’re really looking to get into a niche skill, Ambar Estate is taking it up a notch and offering a live glass blown ornament class on the 13th!

How to bring it home: Take inspiration from these gatherings by hosting your own at-home wine tasting night with friends. Invite each guest to bring their favorite local wine, set up a “mini flight,” and pair them with Oregon-inspired bites. Ideas like cheese from Briar Rose Creamery and a charcuterie selection from Red Hills Market come to mind immediately. Encourage conversation by asking everyone to share one thing they’re celebrating this season to spread the grateful energy as we head into the new year. 

The Art of Celebrating Small

Visiting Dundee has taught me that confetti isn’t (always) necessary, sometimes the slow exhale on a crisp winter morning is all it takes to know every day here is worth celebrating. Joy shows up quietly and it’s worth noting each and every moment that brings a smile to your face. Celebration isn’t just for the big moments, it’s about noticing the beauty tucked inside the ordinary ones and the community of Dundee truly makes that its mission. 

How to bring it home: This holiday season, jot down the small things that make you pause… a ‘tiny celebrations’ list if you will. It could be the lights that glisten on the patio, a glass of Pinot with an old friend, or maybe a shared meal with someone you’ve always looked up to. Keep it somewhere you look often and allow yourself to realize that gratitude and celebration blur together both deeply rooted in what’s right in front of you.

Your Dundee Holiday Roadmap

If you’re visiting this season, here’s your plan:

Start with a bubbles tasting at Argyle and proceed to wander across the street to the lovely Red Hills Market for lunch. Find yourself a new favorite Pinot at Dobbes Family Estate or Purple Hands Winery after lunch and while you’re there, make sure to book a reservation at one of the hot dinner spots like Tina’s, Trellis or Wooden Heart. Lastly, don’t forget to grab a few bottles from your favorite wineries to take home, because the best kind of souvenir is one you can share with your friends and family later.

After sixty years of being rooted in the Dundee Hills and twenty years as an official AVA, these rolling hills have taught us that life isn’t about waiting for big occasions. It’s about creating them.

Pop the bubbles, cozy up with loved ones, and cheers to this season of celebration! Clink, Clink!