A Visit to Lytle-Barnett and Aubaine in the Willamette Valley
With hundreds of wineries to choose from in the Willamette Valley, it can be hard to know where to start. I live in Portland and visit Oregon’s wine country as often as I can. I recently had a great experience at the Lytle-Barnett and Aubaine tasting room. In the heart of Dundee, it’s a great starting point for a day in wine country. The space is inviting, and the service is excellent, but the wines are the real draw. The two brands showcase the versatility of Oregon wine, offering pours from classic Willamette Valley Pinot Noir to sparkling wines made using méthode champenoise, all with a focus on quality. Here’s what to expect at your visit to the Lytle-Barnett and Aubaine tasting room.
The tasting room
The Lytle-Barnett and Aubaine tasting room, or LB Aubaine for short, is one of the newer additions to Oregon’s wine country. Opened in 2024, it’s the first space dedicated to pouring Lytle-Barnett and Aubaine wines, two brands known for their exceptional quality. If you’ve ever driven through Dundee, you’ll recognize the building. It’s right on the main drag through town, making it an easy stop at the beginning or end of your explorations of the Willamette Valley. Inside is a cozy space with squashy chairs and big windows. Outside is a small patio by a grassy lawn.
Dundee Bistro, conveniently located across the lawn, prepares the food served in the tasting room. I had a snack beforehand, not wanting to drink wine on an empty stomach if the menu was limited. Totally unnecessary, it turned out. Options range from light snacks to boards filling enough to be lunch for two. Expect wonderful spreads of meats, cheeses, and relishes that highlight the flavors of the wines. The service is exceptional, and the staff has a deep knowledge of the wines they pour. It’s a place where you could ask about wine nerd details like Pinot Noir clones without feeling like you’re putting anyone on the spot. If such questions don’t keep you up at night, don’t worry. It’s a judgment-free zone. You’ll get a quick orientation to what you’re drinking while you enjoy your wine.
One thing to keep in mind when visiting LB Aubaine is that it’s in the center of town, so you won’t have a view of the vineyards. If it’s your first trip to the Willamette Valley, or if you’re coming from out of town, I’d plan to stop at a vineyard or two nearby either before or after your visit so you don’t miss that part of the experience.
The wines
Lytle-Barnett and Aubaine make wine from their estate vineyards in the Eola-Amity Hills. The vineyards are close to the Van Duzer Corridor, a dip in Oregon’s Coastal Mountains that allows ocean breezes to reach the hills of the southern Willamette Valley. These conditions are excellent for the grapes, mostly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with some Pinot Meunier and Pinot Blanc. Large day-to-night temperature swings help the fruit ripen while preserving the bright acidity that’s so wonderful in Oregon wines. The LB Aubaine tasting room showcases two wineries that do different things with grapes from the same vineyards. Lytle-Barnett makes sparkling wines using the traditional winemaking method of Champagne, France. Aubaine makes still wines, specifically single-vineyard estate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
The sparkling wines of Lytle-Barnett reflect the passion of owner Andy Lytle and winemaker Andrew Davis. Through Radiant Sparkling Wine Company, Davis helps wineries in the Willamette Valley create sparkling wines using méthode champenoise. Only at Lytle-Barnett does he oversee winemaking from start to finish. The process is labor-intensive and persnickety. Part of it involves keeping the bottles on their sides for years. No one would make wine this way except those who love quality sparkling wine. It’s too much work to be a strictly business decision. The result is lovely wines that have tiny bubbles and brioche flavors similar to Champagne but with a twist that’s uniquely Oregon: they’re fruit-forward with great acidity.
Winemaker Isabelle Meunier shows the same attention to detail when creating the wines at Aubaine. Hearing about the winemaking process introduced me to the term foudre, a larger-than-usual barrel used to soften the influence of oak. The grapes come from one vineyard and often from a carefully selected section of it, giving you a clear reflection of the land when tasting the wine. The Pinot Noir shows off the Eola-Amity Hills, where red fruit notes mingle with the earthy and herbal. The Chardonnay was the star of the tasting for me. Great acid and minerality with notes of citrus and a surprising hint of banana. The oak is done with a light hand, and you don’t get the huge buttery flavors that ruin so many California Chardonnays for me. No judgment if you like a buttery Chard! A lot of my friends do. Just expect a style closer to French Chardonnay at Aubaine.
The tasting flights
You’ll have a choice between three tasting flights at LB Aubaine.
The Aubaine tasting ($40) features two Chardonnays and two Pinot Noirs from Aubaine.
The Melange tasting ($45) has two pours of Lytle-Barnett’s sparkling wines, plus a Chardonnay and a Pinot Noir from Aubaine.
The Lytle-Barnett tasting ($50) has four of Lytle-Barnett’s sparkling wines, including the Blanc de Blancs, Brut, Brut Rose, and Blanc de Noirs.
The tasting fees are waived if you buy three or more bottles.
If you’re new to Lytle-Barnett and Aubaine wines, I’d suggest the Melange tasting. It has the most variety and is a great introduction to both wineries. This tasting best showcases the versatility of Willamette Valley grapes, as well as the quality of winemaking at Lytle-Barnett and Aubaine.
Once in a while, I meet someone who either doesn’t like red wine or can’t drink it. The Lytle-Barnett tasting is a rare flight in the Willamette Valley that has only sparkling white and rosé. It’s a great option if you’re trying to avoid the ubiquitous red Pinot Noir flights. It’s also the flight I’d suggest if you’re already familiar with the still wines of the Willamette Valley and are curious about méthode champenoise in the context of Oregon wine.
If you’re not sold on sparkling wines or are looking for a flight more typical of the Willamette Valley, the Aubaine flight is a great choice. The grapes all come from Anahata Vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills region of the Willamette Valley. The still Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs on the flight offer the chance for interesting side-by-side comparisons.
My friend Colleen and I try Aubaine’s 2022 Estate Pinot Noir
Tips for visiting
LB Aubaine welcomes walk-ins. If you plan to visit on a beautiful summer weekend, a reservation will ensure you get a table during the most popular times. If you have a group of 10 or more, email the tasting room for a reservation.
The tasting room has mostly indoor seating with a small patio outside. Dogs are welcome on the patio.
Go ahead and bring the kids. The tasting room has a laidback atmosphere that welcomes families.
LB Aubaine is open all year Thursday - Sunday 11 AM to 6 PM, with expanded hours in the summer.
Learn more about the LB Aubaine tasting room and wines here on their website.
Cellar Club
If you love the wines at LB Aubaine, you might want to think about signing up for the Cellar Club, the winery’s membership program. Twice a year, you choose a 6,12, or 24-bottle allotment. Winery staff help you customize your bottle choices based on what you like in wine. Members get some perks, like free monthly tastings for up to four people, plus discounts on bottles and stays at At the Joy, the 6-bedroom luxury vacation rental property at the Anahata vineyard.
Recommendations nearby
Since the LB Aubaine tasting room is in the middle of Dundee, Oregon, you’ll be close to many other tasting rooms and wineries in the Willamette Valley. If you’re in search of more bubbles, Argyle across the street is one of the first wineries in Oregon to be known for its sparkling wines. My favorite lunch spot in the Dundee/Newberg area is also next to LB Aubaine, Red Hills Market.
While you’re in wine country, I strongly suggest spending time near the grapes. A few of my favorite vineyards in Dundee are within a 10-minute drive of LB Aubaine. White Rose Estate has incredible Pinot Noir, among the best I’ve tasted in Oregon. Torii Mor Winery is where I tried the Chardonnay that opened my eyes to the grape’s potential in the Willamette Valley. Their Pinots are also lovely. On a nice day, the patio at Durant has unbeatable views of the Dundee Hills.
Getting there
Address: 110A SW 7th St, Dundee, OR 97115
From Portland, take 99W through Newberg to Dundee. The Lytle-Barnett and Aubaine tasting room will be on your right. Turn onto 7th Street to reach the parking lot in the back. The drive from Portland takes about 50 minutes.
Enjoy your wine tasting!
With love,
Emma
More on Oregon wines
Learn more about Oregon wine country.
Learn about wine-tasting tours in the Willamette Valley.
