Charlie was the best guide and created a unique wine tasting experience for us. His recommendations were excellent and we met with incredible wine makers and winery owners. His knowledge of wine and the region made it highly educational yet in a casual manner. We highly recommend touring with Charlie. read more

Had a wonderful day with Charlie at OWG! A memorable and educational experience! read more

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Charlie was a wonderful guide for our day and thought of all the details. All the reservations at the wineries were taken care of as well as our reservations for lunch. Would highly recommend booking Charlie for your next wine tour. read more

We had a fantastic day touring special spots in the Willamette Valley on a perfectly curated tour. Charlie took the time to listen to us about our preferences and (lack of) wine knowledge and then suggested and created a memorable, delightful tour. Charlie is incredibly knowledgeable, approachable and a kind and gracious host. Thank you Charlie for helping us expand our knowledge of wine and sharing some truly amazing wineries. We highly recommend touring with Charlie whether you're a first timer or a seasoned collector. Charlie is truly in the business due to his love of wine and the Willamette Valley. He's and absolute expert and will hand pick the perfect spots based on each individual's preferences. Thank you, Charlie! read more

Oregon Wine Guides - Wine Tours Near Me

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Charlie Garrell is an amazing wine guide! His passion, knowledge and love for wine is evident from the moment you meet him to the time you say your "good-bye" after the tour concludes. He's a wealth of knowledge when it comes to wine and shares it through stories and relatable references- not just through "scientific" terms. He's a delight to be around, very humbled by the fact that he gets to share his passion for wine and life with others. 100%++ recommend! read more

I'll admit, I'm hard to please when it comes to wine tastings and food and wine education in general. Most of these businesses are either built to cater to large corporate team building events, or to bachelorette parties - so basically booze cruises. Charlie at Oregon Wine Guides, however, has somehow managed to create a business that combines class with some serious wine education at a very reasonable price. You get a guide with many years in the wine industry who explains the ins and outs of the AVAs in Oregon wine country and tailors a tour to your tastes. I told Charlie about the kinds of wines I like and gave me some examples of wines and vintages, and he customized a tour which was a variant of the Hidden Gems tour and totally delivered! it was 6 hours well spent in great, enjoyable company. We got special treatment at all the wineries we visited, meeting with the head wine makers in 2 out of the 3 wineries we visited. Unlike some other wine tours I've been on, the folks in the tasting room were actually delighted to see Charlie pull up... and the 1:1 interaction with the actual folks making the wine was a great experience. Oh, and the Cadillac Escalade certainly makes the tour just a wee bit special :) read more

This is the best wine tour we have ever done. Charlie called us after we booked, asked our preferences and did not disappoint. We had exclusive access to premier vineyards with one on one sommeliers. These vineyards are out of the way one of a kind and wines exclusive to those who either live there or visit. Charlie makes sure your tour is intimate. If you are looking for an experience please book. You will not be disappointed. Cherie and Ryan read more

I recently got to go on a wine tasting tour with Charlie and other hoteliers in the area, and what a treat! We toured 3 different wineries that each offered a completely different experience. Charlie was very knowledgeable about the wine making process and how it differed at each winery, as well as the history of the Willamette Valley. There was so much we did in one day, but it didn't feel rushed at all. I would definitely do this again, and highly recommend a personalized tour by Charlie! read more

We recently had the pleasure of touring Willamette Valley with Charlie from Oregon Wine Guides. From the first contact we were impressed with Charlie's desire to customize our wine tour experience. It only got better. The moment we met him at our hotel, his wealth of knowledge and passion for all things wine related was apparent and fascinating. We were treated to wineries we otherwise would never have found, insider secrets, and a truly customized experience that left us in awe. We would 100% recommend Oregon Wine Guides to anyone who wants an authentic and personalized experience with a well informed and gracious host in Willamette Valley. If you are at all hesitant about booking- don't be! Take it from us, it's worth it. read more

I had the good fortune to take a tour with Charlie on a Weds afternoon in March. From the first phone call, to the pick up, the tour, and the drop off he was the consummate pro. Going to the Willamette in March may seem off season but it was 70 and sunny and the tasting rooms were almost empty. Given I was a single we made great time and covered six different wineries/tasting rooms. Charles is very observant and super flexible therefore he has the ability to makes decisions as to your next stop based on what he sees you like as the tour progresses (this is the epitome of a custom tour). Charlie adds as much or as little as you like to the entire process, trust me if you want to go deep on all things wine related he is your man! The superb commentary along with the lunch, the charcuterie board, the water, the wine country maps are all great touches along with the nice new Lexus SUV. Be very confident with Oregon Wine Guides, this company is top notch. One last bit of advise, make sure you call Charlie before you go, this is a full blown custom tour so he really needs to know all about what you like, what you don't like and what you want to cover while you are in the Willamette. read more

Charlie Garrell is more than a wine tour guide. He is a Willamette Valley ambassador and educator. Prior to visiting Oregon's Willamette Valley, Charlie and I had a discussion about what my husband and I were looking for out of the experience and what we wanted to gain from our trip. From this discussion, he prepared three different scenarios for possible tours for us to select from based on our interests and his recommendations. The only issue was that we wanted to do all three! They were carefully planned out regarding timing, his knowledge about the wine, the atmosphere and the personality of each place. We were fascinated with Charlie's knowledge and the education he provided us throughout the day. Words I would use to describe him include smart, thoughtful, patient and personable. He knows just the right balance of interacting with his guests and leaving them to taste their wines and appreciate the gorgeous views. Charlie's relationships with local wineries are invaluable as he often knows the wine makers firsthand which allows for introductions and the ability to ask questions of them. Charlie is also a foodie and will recommend great dining spots in Portland and the Willamette Valley. We spent one night in Portland after staying in the Valley, and absolutely adored the restaurant he recommended (it was fantastic)! We are very thankful to Charlie for providing us with such a memorable experience and opening our eyes to some new wines (we joined two wine clubs and can't wait for our first shipment next month)! If you are considering a trip to Willamette Valley wine country, look no further than Charlie from Oregon Wine Guides for a special experience. read more

I've been on a couple of these day-long guided wine tours, and this one is the best I've seen. In my view, there are four main reasons why you want to hire Charlie: (1) Knowledge; (2) personalization; (3) flexibility; and (4) personality. I'll explain. (1) Knowledge. Charlie knows his stuff. Of course, he's not the only guide in the area to have worked in the wine industry before--he's worked in wine cellars as well as tasting rooms--but he's also deeply curious and excited about understanding wine generally, and he can easily converse on theories of viticulture, geology, local history, market shifts, and industry politics, in addition to the basics of making wine. Ask him a question and you'll get a great answer. (2) Personalization. Charlie's love of wine is infectious, and he wants YOU to have a great time, too. As a result, he goes out of his way to make sure the day focuses on what YOU want. If you want to hit the big time $$$ producers, consider it done. Want to try some of the lesser-known grapes and winemakers in the area? He knows them all. Don't have the budget to buy cases but want to get a sense of Willamette does best? That's what I wanted and I got it. When I was shopping around for guides I had a brief phone conversation with Charlie and the next morning he sent me two potential itineraries, each tailored to what I said I was looking for and each of which looked like an amazing day. I think this element really sets Charlie apart. If there are things you like--or things you DON'T like--beware some of the guides who always hit the same four places, collect their money, and call it a day. There are over 700 wineries in the Willamette Valley. Charlie will help you get what you came for. (3) Flexibility. In some ways this is an element of personalization but I want to talk about it separately. Before the day starts, Charlie will have a wonderful time planned for you. But if you want to call an audible and change things up, that's no problem at all. For example, we had planned to do three or four wineries on my tour. But the first two tastings were faster than we expected, so Charlie offered to take me to a different area after lunch to try a different set of wines. I was thrilled. This is the first time I've seen this attitude in a guide, and it made the day so much better. (4) Personality. Finally, Charlie is a fun guy. He's not just a robot with a fancy car (although he does have a very nice car). He's kind, funny, down-to-earth, and a great conversationalist. I was sorry for our day together to end. All in all, I highly recommend Oregon Wine Guides. If you're looking to get to know Oregon wines, this is your guy. read more

Charlie is very knowledgeable of Willamette wine (level 2 somm), and his thoughtfulness is what makes his tours so special. We wanted to visit more hidden gems wineries, and Charlie delivered exactly that. He also chose places that offered spectacular views so it is the entire experience that becomes special. The charcuterie plate he makes is an absolute delight and perfect pairing with tastings. I will definitely call Charlie again for our next tour! read more

My wife and I recently went to Portland and the Willamette Valley. We were very fortunate to have Oregon Wine Guides recommended to us. Charlie Garrell is the owner and a great host. He picked us up at our hotel in Portland in his Escalade. He picked 3 Vineyards that he thought we would enjoy after just a little bit of information. He scheduled some private tastings, which made us feel super special. He had a charcuterie plate for us. He made a lunch reservation for us at Dundee Hills Bistro. He is knowledgeable on the area, the wine, and the Vineyards. We had a great experience and recommend Charlie highly. read more

Charlie at Oregon Wine Guides was the best wine tasting experience my husband and I have ever had! We've been tasting throughout Sonoma, Napa, Santa Barbara, Virginia, and New York and have never had such an enjoyable and educational experience. Charlie is extremely knowledgeable about wine generally and the Willamette valley specifically. He is also well connected at the vineyards (having worked at White Rose) and knows the best spots to customize a tour to your needs. Whether you're looking for the best wine, good value or just great views - he can make it happen. We had an intro call with Charlie before our tour and from my vague descriptions of wine I generally like and my desire to get a great representation of the best of Oregon pinots he created a stellar itinerary. We went to Sokol Blosser, White Rose, Vista Hills, and DePonte. All wonderful, but offered a great variety of tasting experiences, wine, and price points. He even capped the tour off with a delightful cheese & charcuterie plate at our final stop! He can read his guests well and will offer the right balance of knowledge/touring, while also leaving you with your party to enjoy. His car is also very comfortable. We can't wait to go back and taste with Charlie again! Highly recommend Oregon Wine Guides to anyone in the Portland / Willamette Valley region. read more

Our wine tour with Charlie was a highlight of our trip to Portland. We are newbies when it comes to wine, and Charlie led us through a fantastic wine crash course throughout the day. He gave us knowledge that we've been able to take back home and use as a foundation to keep exploring wine. Charlie asked great questions before the tour to guide us to the best fits of vineyards to visit. It was an added bonus to get to hear more from the vineyard owners and servers at the tasting rooms as a result of the relationships Charlie has cultivated in the industry over many years. Charlie's wine tour is sophisticated and unpretentious. Cannot recommend him enough. read more

Charlie is one of the most knowledgeable wine guides you will ever have, and he knows everything about Oregon wines. He knows the region, the soil, the history, and just about every damned person in the business. He is personable and warm, and I cannot over emphasize how great our 2 day experience with him was. Trust me, he is the guy you want for a tour of the Oregon wine country, unless you truly want to have a lesser experience. In which case, find someone else. This guy is the best. read more

If looking for a wine adventure in Oregon's beautiful Willamette Valley, Charlie Garrell is the man! Our experience in utilizing Charlie as our Oregon wine guide was unforgettable. Having a background in both the painting business and in fine dining, Charlie turned a sommelier hobby into a bold career change. His passion is apparent but unpretentious and non-judgmental. No matter what level of experience one has with wine, Charlie can teach as much or as little as one desires to learn--and he is great at reading a room for social cues to individualize your day. As pinot noir novices, we learned the beauty in the varietal's complexities, having over 12,000 combinations of flavors in its profile, versus the mere 4,000 possible in a craft beer; and how to describe them a bit. Want to talk about science and structure? He's got it. Want to sit back and just enjoy all the wine? He will get you home safe. It was a truly personalized experience, and he helped us ship our wine back to Texas at the end of the day. We happened to get engaged on our trip with Charlie, and he helped to make our day extra special! A fascinating, kind guy and a wonderful service we would recommend again and again and again! Kendra and Rob read more