Welcome to the Southern Oregon AVA

Located in beautiful valleys and hillsides with stunning vistas, a visit to one of more than 100 Southern Oregon wineries can involve much more than just tasting wine. A family member or winemaker may be pouring wine in the tasting room, or be nearby to share stories and special wines with you.

While some wineries distribute nationwide, many wines are only available at the winery or in the local area. You’ll want to be sure to take some wines home to share your discovery of Southern Oregon wineries with friends and family.

Southern Oregon also features a diverse array of fine restaurants with talented chefs who prepare locally grown cuisine to pair with our award winning wines, as well as world-class entertainment and charming bed & breakfasts and elegant hotels available to help you enjoy your stay.

Location
The Southern Oregon AVA (American Viticultural Area) is located in the southwestern part of the state, stretching 125 miles from the California border north near Eugene, and 60 miles at its widest from the western Coast Range east to the Cascade Mountains. There are four distinct valleys, each with smaller valleys within them: Umpqua, Rogue, Illinois and Applegate.

Access
Whether you enter Southern Oregon along Interstate 5, Highway 101 on the coast or from central Oregon, you are near one of the region’s many wineries and vineyards.

History
Southern Oregon’s wine history dates to the 1840s when European immigrants began planting grapes and bottling wines. An early setter named Peter Britt opened Oregon’s first official winery in the 1850s in the Gold Rush town of Jacksonville and in 1961, the first Oregon Pinot Noir was planted in the Umpqua Valley.

Impressed by the diversity of growing conditions in Southern Oregon, other winemakers began planting roots in the 1970s. In 2004 the Southern Oregon AVA was established with its boundaries set to encompass the previously authorized regions of the Umpqua, the Applegate and the Rogue valleys. 

Climate
While the region is generally much warmer and significantly drier than that of the northwestern section of the state, Southern Oregon offers a rich variety of microclimates within its varied hillsides and valleys that enable the area to successfully grow both cool- and warm-climate varieties.

Soils
Southern Oregon’s soils are varied and complex, though generally derived from bedrock, specifically from the 200 million-year-old Klamath Mountains to the west, which are comprised of sedimentary rocks.
Source: Oregon Wine Board

Topography
The Southern Oregon appellation contains a varied, mountainous topography with vineyards typically situated in high mountain valleys at elevations between 1,000 to 2,000 feet. The Oregon Coast Range provides a barrier to the west, blocking marine air and casting a rain shadow to the area’s south and east.
Source: Oregon Wine Board

Varietals
The Southern Oregon AVA produces the broadest variety of wines in Oregon. The cooler areas of Southern Oregon produce wonderful Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, and Gewürztraminer while the warmer, more arid regions feature big reds such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Tempranillo, Merlot, Malbec, Dolcetto, Zinfandel and Grenache.

Many other unique varieties such as Albarino, Pinot Blanc, Marsanne, Rousanne, Baco Noir, Mourvedre, Semillon, Petite Sirah and Viognier are also grown, making Southern Oregon one of the most diverse winegrowing regions in the world.

See the map and list below for wineries in the Southern Oregon AVA