written by Kerry Newberry

In our fast-paced world, there are too few slow-down moments. But one easy way to embrace the art of slow living is with a leisurely lunch in a beautiful place. Enter the Willamette Valley, one of the most renowned wine regions in the world. Here are just a few of the region’s wineries where lunch feels like a mini-vacation.

At Soter Vineyards (10880 NE Mineral Springs Road, Carlton; www.sotervineyards.com), most of the herbs and vegetables on the menu come from the surrounding 240-acre biodynamic farm and vineyard—also home to a herd of pictorial Scottish Highland cattle along with chickens, goats and heritage breed pigs. Book the Provisions Tasting, and you’ll feast on family-style dishes like squash bisque, poached leeks sprinkled with hazelnuts and mushroom arancini.

For Italian-inspired bites and moody vineyard views, head to Furioso Vineyards (8415 NE Worden Hill Road, Dundee; www.furiosovineyards.com), named “one of the twenty-five most beautiful wineries of the world” by Rizzoli New York. Its kitchen is open Thursday through Sunday and turns out comfort fare like savory polpette (meatballs), curry-spiced cauliflower and classic wood-fired pizzas.

Every Saturday and Sunday, Abbey Road Farm (10501 NE Abbey Road, Carlton; www.abbeyroadfarm.com) opens its charming winery bistro. Set in a cozy wine cellar, this is where chef Will Preisch adds flair to small bites like mussel escabeche toast and pork schnitzel flecked with fennel and coriander. (Definitely say hello to the farm’s personality-packed farm animals before you leave).