A Holiday Weekend in Wine Country

A Holiday Weekend in Willamette Valley Wine Country

November 2025

This blog post includes our Black Friday Weekend offers along with our suggested 2025 Thanksgiving Weekend 3-day itinerary complete with recommendations on where to stay, shop, dine, explore and of course taste wine! All are recommended by our team for their festive holiday allure, gracious hospitality and thoughtful curation.

The holidays are best celebrated at a slower pace—a philosophy we hold dear at Flâneur Wines. This Thanksgiving weekend, we invite you to embrace the art of the leisurely wanderer and explore Oregon wine country with intention, curiosity, and a glass (or several) in hand.

Whether you’re escaping the chaos of Black Friday or simply seeking a long weekend immersed in world-class wine, exceptional food, and the warmth of small-town hospitality, Carlton and the surrounding Willamette Valley have everything you need to slow down and savor the season.

Private Reserve Tasting of Flaneur Wines in Carlton Oregon

Exclusive Thanksgiving Weekend at Flâneur

Friday, November 28th through Sunday, November 30th

Join us at the Flâneur Grain Elevator Tasting Room for a number of very special, limited-time offerings:

Thanksgiving Weekend Flight | $40

Experience five remarkable wines that tell the story of our estate vineyards and the passage of time. We are pouring a flight of reserve wines that do not typically make it onto our Classic Tasting Flight. Many of these wines are member exclusive bottlings that we have unlocked to all for the holiday weekend for those visiting in person.

2020 Bon Vivant Sparkling Pinot Meunier
2019 La Belle Promenade Chardonnay
2017 Revelry Pinot Noir
2018 Cuvée Constantin Pinot Noir
2016 Bon Vivant Pinot Noir

Our Black Friday Offers:

In Person Only:

🎁 Build Your Own Gift Set for $10
🎁 20% Off 6-Packs of our special holiday selection of library and last chance wines. See wines below.
🎁 20% Off 3+ Magnums
🎁 $20 Off Gift Sets (excluding shipping orders)

Online Only:

🎁 20% Off 6 or more bottles of wines listed on our website. Use the code: GIVING2025 at checkout.

more details below!

Receive 20% Off When You Fill A 6-Pack Of Select Holiday Wines or 3+ Magnums:

Looking for the perfect gift for the wine lover in your life—or yourself? Create a custom 6-pack from our carefully curated Odds & Ends collection—rare library wines we’re pulling from our cellar specifically for these three days only—and receive 20% off when you fill a 6-pack. These are limited-production wines from exceptional vintages, many with only a handful of bottles remaining.

$20 Off Curated Gift Sets or Build Your Own for $10:

We are offering $20 off our curated 2-3 bottle gift sets when purchasing them in person (excluding orders that need to be shipped). Or we invite you to curate your own gift set for just $10.

Can’t Make It In Person? Receive 20% Off Online Orders of 6+ Bottles:

We are extending 20% off all wines listed on our website with the promotion code: GIVING2025 for Black Friday Weekend.

WIne Shop

Your Holiday Weekend Wine Country Roadmap

We’ve mapped out the perfect three-day itinerary that takes you through the heart of Willamette Valley wine country, with thoughtful stops for wine, food, and local holiday charm.

Where to Stay

Set your home base in Carlton or McMinnville with quaint and beautiful small town charm in the heart of wine country.

Inn On The Ground – Boutique accommodations with sophisticated wine country style
The Atticus Hotel – Modern comfort meets small-town charm in McMinnville

Above Photo by Inn The Ground

Day One: Friday, November 28th – Discover Carlton

Morning: Caffeinate & Stroll

Start your day at The Carlton Bakery – a wine country classic for fresh-baked goods and excellent coffee.

Take a leisurely stroll down Carlton’s charming Main Street, then shop local at the boutique at Park and Main for curated gifts and local treasures.

Morning Wine Tasting:

Abbott Claim – Elevated tasting of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with delightful table side caviar service. Taste in their caves with a personal wine expert to guide you through their wines.

Lunch:

Blind Pig – Laid back and delicious! This local favorite serves up truffle burgers, banh mi, bulgogi fries and a solid wines list in a relaxed atmosphere.

Afternoon Wine Tasting

Make your way to Flâneur Wines to experience our exclusive Thanksgiving Weekend Flight in the historic Grain Elevator. Take in the cozy charm of the century old building while you enjoy an educational tasting of our Chehalem mountains and Ribbon Ridge Estate Wines. Build your custom holiday wine gift set from our rare library collection.

Evening: Dinner

End your Carlton day at Hayward Restaurant – farm to table concept with a creative twist offering thoughtful, ingredient-driven cuisine located downtown Carlton.

Or…

Make a detour to the Stillwater Holiday Market in McMinnville for local vendors, festive finds, and holiday cheer before or after dinner.

Above Photos by Hayward

Day Two: Saturday, November 29th – A Day in McMinnville

Morning

Start fresh with coffee at Alchemist Jam – this hidden gem making home made jam along with exceptional coffee and sourdough pastries. You can find them in a hole in the wall shop downtown McMinnville. Pro Tip: get there early before things sell out. And, ask for some jam in your latte.

Late Morning: Shop Third Street

Wander Third Street in McMinnville for holiday gifting and décor. Third street is filled with hidden treasures, but we’ve listed some stops we consider Mcminnville Must-go’s:

Mes Amies – Women owned lifestyle shop in Oregon wine country. Features an extensive range of independently designed women’s clothing, natural fibers.
Nash & Nichol – A new modern mercantile in the heart of historic Downtown McMinnville. Offering home decor, gifts, furniture, clothing and everything you need to inspire.
La Belle Casa – Mom & Daughter owned Gift Shop with curated holiday décor, clothing for babies to adults and elegant home furnishings.

Lunch

Choose between:

Cypress – Mediterranean-inspired flavors located in the Atticus Hotel downtown McMinnville.
Pura Vida Cocina – Fresh, vibrant Latin cuisine on 3rd street downtown Carlton. The guava margarita is to die for.

Afternoon

Relax and explore McMinnville at your leisure, or head back to your accommodations to recharge before the evening festivities.

Hot Tip: If it’s the fully immersive Wine Country experience you’re looking for, stop in for a pint at The Bitter Monk, located right in the middle of all of the downtown action. Chances are you’ll run into a winemaker or ten – this is a hot spot for all of the wine industry locals, day or night.

Evening: Choose Your Adventure

Option 1: Head to Historic Third Street in McMinnville for the Santa Parade & Tree Lighting at 5pm. Watch Santa arrive on a fire truck and witness the community tree lighting—a beloved tradition that kicks off the holiday season.

Option 2: If a quieter craft is more your speed, join the Winter Wreath Workshop at Mac Market (5-7pm) to create your own festive décor.

Dinner

Grab a New York-style slice at Honey Pie Pizza at Mac Market – casual, delicious, and the perfect end to your McMinnville day. Be sure to grab a cocktail at Day by Day Bar and check out the Well Spent Market while you’re there for the imported and domestic goods like cheeses, dry goods, olive oils and more.

Late Night

It wouldn’t be a proper trip to McMinnville if you didn’t hit up HiFi Wine Bar at least once!

Every Saturday night from 6:00-10:00pm their guest DJs light up the room with soulful sounds and good vibes, paired with an exceptional rotating wine list, a pool table and hospitality that will meet you wherever you are on your wine journey. A perfect place to end a night in Willamette Valley Wine Country.

Above Photo by HiFi Wine Bar

Day Three: Sunday, December 1st – Wine Country Tour

Sunday is a day for wanderers—for leisurely reflection and experiencing life at the pace it was meant to be savored. Embrace your inner flâneur as you meander through the valley, letting curiosity guide you from vineyard to vineyard, discovering wines that tell stories of time and place. These wineries are some of the Flâneur team’s personal favorites, and for good reason.

Morning

Fuel up at Alea at Mac Market for one of their signature breakfast sandwiches and seasonal treats—the new hot spot in McMinnville’s craft district.

Late Morning: Head to Dundee Hills

Bergström Wines – Experience Dundee Hills classics from one of Oregon’s most respected family wineries. Their estate Pinot Noirs showcase the region’s signature terroir.

Midday: Provisions

Soter Vineyards – We recommend booking their signature Provisions Tasting including still and sparkling wines paired with a stunning lunch. You won’t be disappointed.

Afternoon

Patricia Green Cellars – Honor a legacy of single-vineyard estate Pinot Noirs from one of the valley’s early pioneering women winemakers now crafted in her honor. The down to earth hospitality and wines speak for themself.

Evening: Dinner & Music

Dinner at Grounded Table – McMinnville’s culinary destination for innovative, locally sourced cuisine.

Late Night

Cap off your weekend at Thistle Restaurant for Patrick’s signature and classic cocktails and late-night fun.

Above Photo by @cheryljuetten & Soter Vineyards

Festive Community Events

Carlton Events: The City of Carlton is hosting festive community celebrations:

Tree Lighting at Ladd Park – December 6, 5-6pm
Santa Comes to Town – December 13, 10am-2pm
Free Holiday Crafting for Kids – December 22, 1-3pm

McMinnville Holiday Happenings: Merry McMinnville transforms the town into a winter wonderland:

Santa Parade & Tree Lighting – November 29 at 5pm on Historic Third Street – Watch Santa arrive on a fire truck and witness the community tree lighting
Glide & Gather Winter Market – November 29-December 22 (Fridays 4-8pm, Saturdays 12-6pm, Sundays 12-4pm) at the OMI Parking Lot. Ice skating, local vendors, and hot cocoa await!
AAPI Holiday Market – December 6th, 5-8pm at Mac Market

Visit Carlton Events

Explore the full calendar at Visit Carlton for additional happenings throughout the holiday season, including Ladies’ Night specials and Small Business Saturday celebrations.

Kid-Friendly Activities Throughout the Weekend

Traveling with young ones? The Glide & Gather Winter Market features ice skating, local vendors, and holiday cheer (November 29-December 22, Friday-Sunday in McMinnville).

Plan Your Visit

Flâneur Wines
168 S Pine Street, Carlton, OR 97111
Open Thursday-Monday, 11am-5pm
Book Your Tasting | (503) 899-4120

The holidays are meant to be savored, not rushed. We look forward to welcoming you to the Grain Elevator this Thanksgiving weekend, where exceptional wines, warm hospitality, and the spirit of the flâneur await.

Remember: Life functions best at a slower pace. Curiosity leads to significance. And great wine is always worth the journey.

Tag us in your wine country adventures! Follow @flaneurwines on Instagram.

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Celebrating Nouveau Day: A Toast to Tradition and Our Third Gamay Vintage

November 2025

Every third Thursday in November, a joyful ritual unfolds across the wine world. At the stroke of midnight, bottles are uncorked, celebrations commence, and the cry echoes from Beaujolais to Portland: Le Nouveau est arrivé! Nouveau Day is here.

This year, as we craft our third vintage of Gamay Noir from our La Belle Promenade Vineyard, we find ourselves drawn deeper into this centuries-old tradition that celebrates transition – from harvest’s intensity to winter’s quiet, and the simple pleasure of gathering together.

Closeup of a Flâneur La Belle Promenade 2024 Gamay Noir botttle label

The Story of Nouveau Day

The tradition traces back to the 1800s, when Beaujolais vignerons would gather after the exhausting harvest season to toast their labors with the season’s first wine—young, vibrant, and bursting with the energy of freshly-picked grapes. What began as a local custom evolved into a global phenomenon. In 1985, the French government officially designated the third Thursday of November as the release day for Beaujolais Nouveau, transforming a regional celebration into an international moment of revelry.

The timing is serendipitous. In the United States, Nouveau Day arrives just one week before Thanksgiving, making these youthful, food-friendly wines the perfect companion to our holiday tables. It’s a celebration of gratitude, of the year’s harvest, and of the simple joy of a well-made glass of wine shared among friends.

Why Gamay? Why Here?

When considering what to plant at La Belle Promenade, we think about more than just varietals—we think about the conversation between vine and soil, between place and expression. Gamay Noir found its voice in our volcanic soils.

We’re honored that this dialogue has resonated beyond our estate—VinePair recently recognized our efforts by naming us among the Best Gamays from the Willamette Valley in 2024.

The Willamette Valley sits on a similar latitude as Burgundy, France—both regions blessed with that elusive quality that allows finicky, expressive grapes to thrive. While the parallel isn’t exact (we’re at 45 degrees, Burgundy slightly north), what matters more is our shared cool-climate sensibility. The maritime influence from the Pacific, our volcanic Jory soils, the interplay of warm days and cool nights—these elements create a terroir that speaks the same language as the great vineyards of France, even as it articulates something distinctly Oregonian.

Gamay thrives in this environment. At La Belle Promenade, our Gamay vines are rooted between 700 and 850 feet in elevation, where northeastern and southwestern exposures bring balance and nuance. The volcanic soils—ranging from fractured basalt to deep Saum soils—add layers of complexity to each vintage. This is terroir speaking through the grape: mineral, floral, alive.

Putting harvested grapes into a larger container

Crafting Nouveau: The Art of Carbonic Maceration

The magic of Nouveau wines lies in their method. We employ partial carbonic maceration—a technique where whole grape clusters ferment in a sealed, carbon dioxide-rich environment. This process is a study in chemistry and intuition.

Inside each intact berry, intracellular fermentation begins without the intervention of yeast, yes, you read that right: Fermentation begins inside the berry. As the cells inside each individual grape morph, sugars and malic acid begin breaking down while synthesizing a range of aromatic compounds. It’s this esterification—the creation of fruity esters during carbonic fermentation—that gives Nouveau wines their distinctive ethereal quality. Think of those bright notes of red berries, that subtle whisper of bubble gum or kirsch, the lifted floral aromatics that seem to dance above the glass. These are the fingerprints of carbonic maceration, the signature of a wine made to be enjoyed in its exuberant youth.

Our approach is both spirited and intentional. We use 100% whole clusters, native yeast fermentation, and neutral oak to let the fruit and terroir shine through. The wine is meant to be drunk young—ideally within two years—when it’s at its most vivacious.

Flâneur Gamay Noir: A Love Letter from the Chehalem Mountains to Beaujolais

2025 marks our third Gamay vintage, and with each release, we’ve grown more confident in our understanding of how this noble grape expresses itself in our corner of the Willamette Valley.

Bright red fruit—juicy cherries and raspberries—takes center stage, complemented by earthy, mineral notes that ground the wine’s exuberance. The whole cluster fermentation and partial carbonic maceration create a playful balance of fruit and subtle tannins. It’s both spirited and profound, juicy and high-toned, with layers of vibrant red fruit punctuated by that distinctive florality that makes Gamay so compelling.

This is an easy yet sophisticated drinking wine. Light on its feet, refreshing when slightly chilled, it captures that delightful tension between elegance and approachability. It’s a wine that invites you to slow down, to wander through flavor the way a flâneur wanders through Life—with curiosity, with presence, with joy.

Nouveau Day Meets Thanksgiving: Perfect Pairings

One of the great pleasures of Nouveau wines is their versatility at the table, particularly the Thanksgiving table. The bright acidity, red fruit profile, and subtle earthy notes make Gamay a natural companion to the season’s flavors.

Turkey: Whether white meat or dark, Gamay’s fruit-forward character and gentle tannins complement both. The wine’s acidity cuts through rich gravies while its red berry notes echo the cranberry sauce.

Stuffing & Dressing: The herbal, earthy qualities in our Gamay mirror the sage, thyme, and herbs that season traditional stuffing. The wine’s structure stands up to sausage-based dressings while maintaining enough delicacy for lighter preparations.

Roasted Root Vegetables: The earthy notes in the wine find kinship with roasted carrots, parsnips, and squash. The wine’s acidity balances any sweetness in glazed or caramelized preparations.

Cranberry Dishes: Those bright cherry and raspberry notes in the wine create a beautiful harmony with cranberry sauce, whether jellied or freshly made with orange zest.

Green Bean Casserole: The wine’s lightness and acidity cut through the creaminess while its fruit notes complement the vegetables.

Serve it slightly chilled—around 55-60°F—to accentuate its refreshing qualities and make it even more food-friendly.

Arden dinner table full of plate of food

Celebrating with Arden

This Nouveau Day, we’re thrilled to collaborate with Arden in Portland, where the Flâneur team will be sharing our 2024 vintage alongside barrel samples of our 2025 Gamay, offering a rare chance to taste the evolution, to see how this grape continues to reveal itself through our terroir, and to celebrate the harvest with fellow wine lovers. To join us you can find tickets HERE.

There’s something profound about tasting a wine that was just picked weeks ago—it’s alive in a way that aged wines, for all their complexity, cannot replicate. Nouveau wines capture a moment in time, a snapshot of the vintage, the raw expression of place before time softens and transforms it.

The Spirit of Flâneur

As we gather to celebrate Nouveau Day, we’re reminded of why we chose our name. The flâneur—that leisurely wanderer of 19th century Paris—understood that the best discoveries come when we slow down, when we observe with curiosity rather than rushing toward a destination.

That same spirit animates our winemaking. We dry-farm organically. We allow native yeasts to guide fermentation. We craft wines that reflect place and vintage rather than impose a predetermined style. And we make wines like our Gamay Noir—wines that invite exploration, that reward attention, but that also simply delight when you’re looking for an easy, sophisticated glass to share.

This Nouveau Day, whether you’re joining us at Arden or opening a bottle at your own table, we invite you to wander through the flavors of our third Gamay vintage. Taste the volcanic soils of the Chehalem Mountains, the cool Pacific influence, the careful work of hands that tend these vines throughout the year.

Raise a glass to tradition, to terroir, to the joy of harvest. Le Nouveau est arrivé.

Only 30 cases of our 2024 La Belle Promenade Gamay Noir are left. Join us at Arden in Portland for Nouveau Day celebrations, or visit our Carlton Grain Elevator tasting room to experience our portfolio of estate wines.

buy our gamay noir