Travel Q&A | Combining Portland with wine touring

Q: I am planning a trip for my girlfriend's 40th birthday. There will be three women traveling. We would like to spend enough time in Portland then head to the wine country.

— Candace

A: Three women traveling? Passing through Portland? Before moving onto wine country (Willamette Valley, I presume), you've got to check out Hip Chicks Do Wine, a "boutique" urban micro-winery at 4510 S.E. 23rd (www.hipchicksdowine.com). Laurie Lewis and Renee Neely are the two hip chicks, and they do know their wine. Stop in for a tasting and some advice before leaving Portland.

You'll find everything you need to know about the Willamette Valley wine country at www.travelportland.com. The valley runs 150 miles from the Columbia River in Portland south through Salem outside Eugene. You won't have time for all 200 wineries, so do your homework, consult the "hip chicks," and book one of the B&Bs or hotels recommended on the Web site. So many choices: Consider the Black Walnut Inn in Dundee (www.blackwalnut-inn.com) surrounded by a 12-acre vineyard; or the Maresh Red Hill Vineyard Retreat (www.vineyardretreat.com), also in Dundee, nestled among family-owned vineyards, orchards and forests, with views of Mount Hood.

Carol Pucci,

Seattle Times staff reporter

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