Local’s guide to Southern Oregon wine country
“We can ripen anything,” Southern Oregon winemakers joke, and judging from the wide array of varieties found here—in this sprawling land of 150 microclimates across three river valleys, high desert, and mountains—it’s true.
Only Hours From Napa, but a World Away
We headed north to Oregon, not to the well-known Willamette Valley, in the state’s northwest, but about four hours to its south, a sprawling region better known for the “wild and scenic” Rogue River and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland than for the rolling vineyards in between.
We found a relaxed, blossoming wine country with empty roads and crowd-free tasting rooms — some surrounded by strip malls, others by sparkling rivers — pouring excellent versions of an impressively wide range of varietals.
Dan Marca: Jacksonville’s Modern-Day Pinot Pioneer
Less than two miles from where Peter Britt likely first planted, crushed and bottled Oregon’s first Pinot Noir, (named Franc Pinot in the mid-1850’s) it’s back to the future for Jacksonville’s wine industry. Today, on a gently-sloped mostly north-to-northeast facing parcel off South Stage Road, Dan and Cindy Marca of DANCIN Vineyards, are preparing to plant 12 additional acres of grapes to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The new vineyard sits directly west of DANCIN’s current tasting room, vineyard and winery.
Fall 2015 Annual Wine Feature
Every fall, as wineries are receiving their first fruits of the season, Southern Oregon Magazine is busy seeking out stories of what’s new and exciting in the industry we love and adore. Read on as they explore just a few of the many new and old incarnations of the Southern Oregon wine industry.
The Wine Enthusiast Awards Four DANCIN Vineyard wines 94 Points
Four of DANCIN Vineyards wines scored 94 points with The Wine Enthusiast. The wines receiving the designation of "superb" include DANCIN’s 2012 Melodia Pinot Noir, 2012 Trata Pinot Noir, 2013 Chassé Chardonnay and 2013 Capriccio Chardonnay. Results are listed in the August 2015 issue.
Umpqua Valley Delivers Quality Wines
“You can taste wine made from every major grape in the world all in one location,” said Steve Reustle, owner and winemaker at Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyards west of Roseburg. This is a region where you can discover great wines in a spectacular setting without battling the crowds.
Applegate’s Camaraderie of the Grape
While the wine industry in this valley is in its infancy, winemakers continue to explore the possibilities in an artisan environment. This cluster of small wineries rely on each other to produce great Chardonnay, Tempranillo, Syrah and Bordeaux styles as well as Pinot Noir.
Abacela Blends the Elements
A trip to Abacela winery southwest of Roseburg is an entertaining lesson in Southern Oregon geology, in climatology. It’s your chance to understand how soil, weather and a passion for making great wines can become the perfect troika.
A Hobby That Got Out of Hand
Bob and Lelo Kerivan own more than 200 acres of vineyards and produce 65,000 cases of Oregon wine per year. That, according to Bob, makes Cave Junction’s Bridgeview Vineyard & Winery the largest producer of case wines in Southern Oregon.
European Varietals Reign in Southern Oregon
Southern Oregon lies at the same latitude as northern Spain, southern France and northern Italy, so the grape varieties typical of France’s Bordeaux and southern Rhône Valley and Spain’s Rioja region thrive here. So do boutique and family owned wineries.
Read the complete article on the (Medford) Mail Tribune website.
(Note: Website links are subject to change without notice.)
Discover Southern Oregon Wine Country
Oregon’s oldest wine-producing region stretches from south of Cottage Grove to the California border. While Pinot Noir is the No. 1 grape, Southern Oregon’s also home to a diverse array of varietals – from Cabernet Sauvignon to Syrah, Pinot Gris to Tempranillo. It’s truly a force in the wine industry.
Read the complete article on Wine Press Northwest.
(Note: Website links are subject to change without notice.)
Brandborg Vineyard and Winery Named Oregon Winery of the Year
Terry and Sue Brandborg are used to getting awards. In fact, Terry’s skill with cool-climate grapes such as Riesling, Pinot Noir and Gewürztraminer has led to gold medals and a couple of platinums in the last year alone. It’s this prowess that earned Brandborg Vineyard and Winery the distinction of being named Wine Press Northwest’s 2015 Oregon Winery of the Year.
Read the complete article on Wine Press Northwest.
(Note: Website links are subject to change without notice.)
Southern Oregon Renaissance
Honored wine columnist Cole Danehower took a good look at Southern Oregon wines. He has plenty of good things to say.
He starts early on by saying: "But Southern Oregon is upping its game—and fame," Danehower writes. "No longer Oregon’s 'other' wine country, the state’s largest warm-climate growing region has come into its own thanks to new vineyards, new wineries, and renewed spirit of innovation that are reigniting the region’s wine culture by producing top-notch wines that can compete with the best from anywhere."
That's just the beginning.
Read his complete article on Northwest Palate.
(Note: Website links are subject to change without notice.)
© 2016 Southern Oregon Winery Association