The Wine Valet

The owners and the driver were super nice and we had a lovely time going out to the Tulip Festival. The downside was that all of their trolleys were broken down which is really why we scheduled this to begin with. They still got us there and were nice about it but it came down to us going to a strip mall place to get a ride in an SUV when we could have just driven ourselves since it also through the whole wine thing out the window due to the SUV as well. We will likely give the whole tour thing another go when they offer up another Groupon.

The driver and the car were top notch. I was traveling in the limo and not the «Party Bus». The car was equipped with ice, mini-​bottles of water and our driver was very friendly and professional.
So why only 3 stars you ask? The wineries on our itinerary, that’s why. Of all the lovely and awesome wineries that have indoor plumbing, we visited some truly awful and mediocre places. See the reviews for all three.
The prize for the worst vineyard goes to Kristen Hill, it was a 1 star experience.
Runner up at 2 stars, Hauer of the Dauen.
The best in show at 3 stars was Walnut City WineWorks.
We opted to get the snack pack which is about $ 6.00 extra. It included hummus, cheese, salami, pita and grapes. It was filling enough and worth the $ 6.00. We also thought ahead and brought our own bottle of bubbly for the ride to and in between vineyards. Do that: it makes the ride much more fun.
I will keep my eyes open for another Living Social or Groupon and will snap it up when I see it. This is a great way to spend a Saturday.
Fingers crossed they will make some improvements to the itineraries.

I went here because of the Living Social deal. I actually thought it was another place that I pass by all of the time, but it was somewhere completely different. So, my neighbor and I went in for the tasting. I didn’t like the décor first of all… not even sure what to call it. We tasted 7 wines, and I liked maybe 2 of them. The owners were friendly and I liked that they had a presence there. At the end they asked us which bottle we would like and I had said something from the tasting, but they weren’t offering a free bottle of what we tasted. That was very weird to me. Why would I want to have something I haven’t tasted, for if I didn’t like it I wouldn’t back to buy it. I’ve never been to a wine bar that did that. The owner was nice and let me taste the couple I was interested in. Glad I did get to taste those. I’m thankful for the free tasting and wine, but I’ve had better. I drink a lot of wine and know what I like. So, I was overall disappointed in the experience.

Wine tour (Groupon) was so disappointing. Three wineries promised… One of those being the Wine Valet. Huh? Costco wine. Seriously.
But it just gets better… Food promised is grocery store platters that you have to eat BEFORE getting on «trolley» (did I mention this is actually a super uncomfortable bus?) at 10:30 in the morning. Then a super long drive to a winery that is in a weird warehouse like building (unchilled white wine because they don’t have proper tasting facilities). Gesh. Our group arrived, almost 30 people, and it was like they didn’t know we were coming. I love discovering new wineries, but I do have one solid requirement… The wine has to be drinkable. Unfortunately, the red wine at Hauer of the Dauen doesn’t meet that requirement. White wines were drinkable. But warm. On an 80 degree day in summer. Just disappointing, you know. With all the fine wineries… As others have noted.
Next, a stop at Artisanal Wines in Newberg. Fine winery, but personally, I like tasting rooms at vineyards, not at off-​site locations. The deli at the corner did a great business though — because by 2:30 in the afternoon, people were hungry. Go figure.
We were supposed to be back at strip mall «tasting room» by 3:30, but sadly, we were held hostage until 3:55. We stopped for gas ($ 20 worth, btw) off I-​205 and thus delayed our return. Upside: When we pulled into gas station, we thought the Food Mart might have been the next tasting room. Yeah, it was that sort of wine tour.
Highlight of the trip was getting off the bus, oops I mean trolley, so quickly.
Apparently, my tour-​mates were as anxious for the dreadful experience to end as we were. No lingering for us, thankyouverymuch.
Save your money and just hire a friend to drive you around for the day. Or go to Safeway and get a 6 pack of wines (save 20%) and open your own tasting room.

Went on their wine tour. Through groupon. Driver was so nice. However, they obviously have no klout with the nice wineries because our three «wineries» were 1. A tasting room in Newburg 2. the ugliest, ghettoest «vineyard» I’ve ever been to, and 3. back to the pick up location for wine tasting. Having been on 4 other wine tours in Oregon, this was the least impressive. Everyone in my group said this was the worst wine tour they’d ever been on and we were super disappointed in not being able to show a visitor to Oregon, how lovely Oregon wine country could be.

Great owners, super friendly people — that’s all the good I can list.
The wine and food are not up to what you can get at a decent middle of the road place in Portland, and there are a ton of places where you can get great food and wine in town. The wine isn’t anything special and most of it is not good.
The disconnected décor and being located in a strip mall make this an overall odd experience that you don’t need to have.

WOW! Totally impressed! Talking about being at the right place at the right time… Opened doors and welcoming connection to a great wine bar where name The Wine Valet speaks for itself! The owners made it their personal business to give all a tour of the facilities treating everyone like family with exceptionally friendly personable service. Lets not forget the wine! Their wine list boasts of some of the best local and NW Wineries. Special occasions, wine tours and events are available for not only ‘winers’ but friendly personable family & business service with Twilite Limousine & Tour Company/​Portland Trolley.
If your looking for that special place to hang out while having a great glass of wine or want to plan that special event I recommend The Wine Valet wine bar/​wine tours/​event space! Call ahead for times of operation or
. Also on
. Perhaps I will see you there!