We plan to be in the Willamette Valley for 2 days. Please suggest a town where we can say that would be convenient for touring the vineyards and sampling some good food without being too touristy.

Three places came to mind when I read your question.  They are McMinnville, Eugene and Albany!  Three very different Oregon towns each offering what you are looking for.  First of all, McMinnville is situated more in the Northern region of wine country.  It’s has a
bustling downtown with lots of restaurants and shops and very close to hundreds of wineries and vineyards.  One of my favorite places to visit when I’m in McMinnville is the McMenamins Hotel Oregon. Good food, beer, wine and lodging!  A couple of my favorite wineries are Adelsheim and Sokol Blosser.

Eugene is further south but also perfectly situated for wine tasting, touring without being too touristy and a place where you will find
delicious food!  The Inn at the 5th is a beautiful hotel located in the 5th Avenue Public Market in downtown Eugene.  Lodging here could afford you to be smack dab in the middle of all the GOOD food and shopping!  There is a wine tasting room also attached to the hotel. Two favorite wineries in the area are Sweet Cheeks and King Estate. And a few dining suggestions downtown: The Vintage and Sweet Life Patisserie. Our Daily Bread is found on the way to visit some of the wineries in that area!

Albany is smaller town of only about 50,000 pop.  Home to several delicious restaurants as well, it’s also home to Matt Bennett, a James Beard Award Nominated Chef!  He owns three restaurants downtown, one of which I send all of our visitors to who are looking for a true taste of the Pacific Northwest: Sybaris. Albany is also located in the middle between McMinnville and Eugene so a perfect spot if you are wanting to get as much as possible from all areas of the Willamette Valley.