Wine Tour Itinerary: Walk the Labyrinths of Yamhill-Carlton

There are two labyrinths at tasting rooms in Yamhill-Carlton, the only two at wineries in the Willamette Valley.

Start at Fairsing Vineyard, where owners Mike and Mary Ann McNally honor their Irish heritage with a labyrinth, which have been historically important in Celtic culture. The construction of Fairsing’s labyrinth and tasting room were all built with calculations based on nature’s golden ratio, Phi. The tasting room’s walls are curved in the same arc of the labyrinth, and the mandala surrounding the labyrinth is a concentric circle echoing the labyrinth and the tasting room.

In between your labyrinths, stop at Carlton Bakery for a full lunch and delectable treats, or pause for a tasting at Soléna Estate, where you can admire incredible views and enjoy charcuterie boards and small snacks including Oregon hazelnuts or truffle chips. Soléna owner and winemaker Laurent Montalieu trained in Bordeaux and worked many vintages in Oregon (including at nearby WillaKenzie) before finally starting his own winery.

Head to Domino IV to see a remarkable vineyard labyrinth that was designed and planted by owners Patrick Reuder and Leigh Bartholemew. The labyrinth is a one-acre block made of seven concentric circles, each planted with a different Pinot Noir clone, offering guests the opportunity to see the differences between clones. Taste in the gorgeously restored barn or if it’s a sunny day, sip wine while you wander the labyrinth!