MCMINNVILLE, Ore.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Oregon’s Wine Country adventurers will soon have a new resource when sipping their way through the Willamette Valley. Willamette Valley Vineyards (WVV) is launching an offshoot of the winery, the Willamette Valley Vineyards Wine Center, located in historic downtown McMinnville.

The Willamette Valley Vineyards Wine Center, which opens to the public the weekend prior to Thanksgiving on Nov. 21 and 22, intends to serve as an informational hub for the Willamette Valley wine community. The wine center will feature concierge staff members who will be available to help visitors plan and maximize their visit with tour route suggestions, local tour and tasting reservations, and offer dining and lodging recommendations. The center hopes to bring tourism to the city of McMinnville as well as to the surrounding region.

In addition to help planning the trip, the wine center will also provide an educational experience for the consumer. Daily complimentary, reserve and comparative wine tasting will be served as guests are encouraged to explore the center’s displays, including offering AVA (American Viticultural Area) maps, soil samples, information on sustainable growing practices, and rolling images of the valley projected on a nine-foot by five-foot screen.

“We look forward to spreading the gospel of Oregon Pinot Noir through collaboration with our fellow winemakers,” said WVV Founder Jim Bernau. “Our industry has a long history of collaborative and innovative efforts as well as a strong commitment to sustainable practices that have been put in place to assure a tasty tomorrow.”

The Willamette Valley Vineyards Wine Center will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Willamette Valley Vineyards was founded in 1983 by Bernau after an inspirational visit to the west-to-south facing slope of volcanic flow in Turner, Ore., where the winery is now situated. Best known for its acclaimed Pinot Noir, WVV wines are distributed throughout the United States, Canada, and the Pacific Rim. WVV manages 300 acres of vines, which are all certified sustainable, LIVE and Salmon Safe. For more information, call (800) 344-9463 or visit www.wvv.com.