Mention Oregon Wine and Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley undoubtedly comes to mind. While this reputation is well deserved there is another Oregon location which produces not only superb Pinot Noir but a surprisingly wide range of varietals. The Southwestern corner of Oregon is blessed with unique geology and warm weather resulting in one of the world’s most diverse wine growing regions. The quality and variety of wines produced here along with the stunning scenery make this region well worth a visit. In fact this year Wine Enthusiast named Southern Oregon / Rogue Valley as one of the top 5 wine regions in the world! This is a guide to the unique wines of Southern Oregon.
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What makes Southern Oregon wine so unique?
The Rogue and Applegate Valley AVA (American Viticulture Areas) are part of the larger Southern Oregon AVA. They represent the distinct terrier of wines grown in this region. Terrier is often used to describe wine but what exactly is it and why is it important? Wines, as well as a wide range of foods and drinks, have unique qualities based on where they are grown. The soil, geology, temperature and geography all play a role in the qualities of everything from tea to tomatoes to wine. Oregon is often thought of as a cool weather wine region, but the diversity of wines produced in the southern corner of the state show that this isn’t necessarily the case. Many factors including numerous microclimates, warm weather, extreme daily temperature swings and soil variations result in over 40 grape varieties being grown here.
High Elevations & Sunny Skies
Unlike the Willamette Valley, Southern Oregon sits at a higher elevation with a rain shadow produced by a taller coast range. As a result, this “banana belt” of Oregon enjoys much drier and sunnier weather than locations to the north. Southern Oregon elevations range from approximately 1000 – 2000 feet. In contrast, the Willamette Valley stretches between cities such as Eugene at 430 feet and Portland at 50 feet. A drive through Oregon on Interstate 5 makes clear dramatic differences in geography. The flatter Willamette Valley gives way to mountain ranges and forests which mark the entrance to Southern Oregon.
Microclimates & Dramatic Temperature Swings
Within Southern Oregon the range in elevation gives rise to numerous microclimates. The result is a wide variety of wine possibilities, from Chardonnay to Tempranillo. Along with the higher elevation and blue skies exists another factor which contributes to the unique nature of wine here, the diurnal temperature. This is the wide range of daily temperatures swings this region enjoys. These can range approximately 30 degrees during the wine growing season. According to The Oregon Wine Board, “Southern Oregon experiences one of the widest growing season diurnal temperature swings in the world. This helps to preserves grapes’ acidity and complexity in an otherwise warm climate.”
The Geology
The Pacific Northwest lies in an active volcanic region. The horizon is dotted with the picturesque snow-covered mountains of the volcanic Cascade Range. Offshore the Juan de Fuca plate subducts beneath the North American plate at the Cascadia Subduction zone. Through the eons this geology has built the towering Cascade Mountains and produced such famous Southern Oregon landmarks as Crater Lake. These volcanoes, which stretch from Northern California to British Columbia, produced the volcanic soil that the Pacific Northwest lies on.
“Southern Oregon has more soil types and a greater range of landscapes than any wine region in the world.”
Oregon Wine Press
While the Willamette Valley is rich with fertile volcanic soil, Southern Oregon’s soil is unique being older and more varied. Here the intersection of the Klamath Mountains, their sub-range the Siskiyou Mountains, the Coast Range and the Cascades make for unique geology. Because of the region’s higher elevation, it escaped the ice age floods which inundated the lower elevation valleys. This left a combination of marine sedimentary soil, volcanic soil and stream sediment. This combination provides the soil in which Southern Oregon wines thrive. The higher clay content helps with water retention while the sediment – which fanned out, carried by ancient rivers – provides ideal drainage. Rocks in the Klamath Mountains are old, dating back 500 million years, while the volcanic soil here is roughly three times older than what is found in the Willamette Valley.
Oregon’s First Wine
Besides the incredibly unique conditions that make the wine in Southern Oregon special there is also historical significance. Southern Oregon is the home to the first Oregon vineyard, Valley View Vineyard, planted by Peter Britt of Jacksonville in 1854 and ending with his death in 1906. It would not be until the 1960s that vineyards started popping up around Southern Oregon again.
Where to Taste the Unique Wines of Southern Oregon
Today Oregon is home to over 700 vineyards and wineries with approximately 150 of those being in the Southern Oregon AVA. Two sub appellations of this AVA are the Rogue and Applegate Valley AVAs. These represent the southernmost wine growing region in Oregon. This area is visually stunning with many of the vineyards taking full advantage of the unique grape growing conditions.
The Applegate Valley
Valley View Vineyard
We begin our guide of unique Southern Oregon wines at Valley View Vineyard. This is where Oregon wine had its beginnings in the 1800s. After a long pause this was one of the vineyards which marked its resurgence. Frank and Ann Wisnovsky re-founded Valley View in 1972 and helped set forth the new era of Oregon Wine. Now owned and operated by Mark & Michael Wisnovsky, the winery continues its long tradition of producing exceptional wine.
The location of Valley View in the Applegate Valley is the perfect micro-climate for reds. The focus here is on Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Viognier, Syrah and Tempranillo. In fact, they produce Oregon’s top selling red blend with their Rogue Red.
Red Lily Vineyard
This Spanish-centric winery takes full advantage of the area’s unique geology and geography to produce award winning Tempranillo. Red Lily “strives to produce the highest quality wines possible that reflect the unique parcels of land on which the vines are planted”. This is the perfect example of suiting the wine to the land and honoring the specific terrier of their location. The vineyards range from 1500-1600 feet in elevation with well-drained gravelly clay loam. This is the same soil type found in regions of Spain that produce exceptional Tempranillo. Owners Les and Rachael Martin’s focus also extends to Grenache and Graciano. They blend these grapes with Tempranillo to produce Lily Girl Rose.
Red Lily’s location along the banks of the Applegate River is the perfect spot to relax while enjoying one of their summer concerts, preferably while sipping their Red Blanket Tempranillo.
Wooldridge Creek Winery and Creamery
Another early Oregon vineyard, Wooldridge Creek, was established in the 1970s by Ted and Mary Warrick who, along with Greg Paneitz and Kara Olmo, continue the tradition today. They produce a total of 5000 cases per year including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Viognier, Sangiovese, Zinfandel, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Tempranillo.
In addition to producing wine, this is the first joint winery and creamery in Oregon. This makes tastings here a unique treat. The grounds include a garden and the resident mini donkey Waffles and mini horse Pancakes. The winery cat kept us company during our visit. This is a beautiful location to enjoy their wine and cheese while taking in the gorgeous view of the Applegate Valley.
Troon Vineyard
Owners Denise and Bryan White take advantage of the unique wine growing conditions in the Applegate Valley but go a step further. This is a Biodynamic vineyard where they aim to “put back more than they take from their plants and soil”. Troon’s wines are inspired by the Mediterranean and their methods are minimalist with only native yeasts and no additives. They seek to highlight the unique terrier of the vineyard through their wines. Their “goal is to express their vineyards rather than winemaking techniques.” They produce Vermentino, Roussanne, Marsanne, Tannat, Malbec, Syrah, Sangiovese and Tempranillo. Troon offers a beautiful setting and tasting room in which to enjoy their exceptional wines.
Schmidt Family Vineyards
Judy and Cal Schmidt established Schmidt Family Vineyards in 2000. They now produce 5500 cases per year of Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Albarino, Barbera, Malbec and Tempranillo. They take advantage of the warm, dry Southern Oregon weather to produce warmer climate wines.
The location is picturesque, complete with a beautiful tasting room, large pond, herb gardens and expansive lawn with lounge chairs. Food can also be ordered, making it the perfect spot for lunch. A visit in the summer is perfection but I’ve also found this is a perfect spot to visit during the chilly Southern Oregon months. Whatever the season, Schmidt Family Vineyard is worth a visit.
Augustino Estate
With two tasting rooms, Augustino Estate and Vineyard produces award winning Pinot Noir, Pinot, Syrah, and Tempranillo. Reggie Boltz Augustino and Debbie Spencer opened the Applegate location in 2017. Here you will find a wine mine tasting room, summer concerts and sweeping views of the valley. Their original location is in the nearby Illinois Valley and boasts a treehouse tasting room and cabin rentals.
The Rogue Valley
Dancin Vineyard
In contrast to the warmer sun-filled locations of the region you will find Dancin Vineyard. Here the location lends itself to cooler climate varieties such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Their vineyard sits at 1710-1969 feet elevation. It is shielded from the afternoon sun due to the northeastern facing location and backdrop of towering trees. They take advantage of the cooler conditions by delaying irrigation until later in summer. This makes for a much shorter watering period. Traditional wine making methods are embraced including “native yeast fermentation, using minimal sulfites during processing, and moving the wine by gravity whenever possible to create a truly authentic wine”.
In addition to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, owners Dan and Cindy Marca produce Barbera, Sangiovese, Syrah, Zinfandel and Port-style wines. A visit here can include not only sampling their superb wine but also indulging in their delicious wood fired pizzas and enjoying live music.
Del Rio Vineyards
As the largest single vineyard in Southern Oregon, Del Rio sits on 460 acres and produces thirteen grape varietals. Owners Rob & Jolee Wallace oversee the 300,000 vines of Sangiovese, Merlot, Grenache, Syrah, Viognier, Pinot Noir, Malbec, Riesling, Muscat, Pinot Gris, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Because of the expansive nature of their vineyards, they can produce an extensive variety of wines.
Del Rio is hard to miss while driving between Grants Pass and Medford. The vines stretch along the rolling southern facing hills of Gold Hill. The tasting room is in the historic Rock Point Hotel and the lawn is the perfect place to enjoy a tasting and summer concert.
Two Hawks Vineyard
In Medford you will find Two Hawks Vineyard. They are located on land which is more volcanic in nature than many of the other vineyards in the area. The bedrock and sandstone geology includes some of the oldest soils in the Rogue Valley according to the vineyard. They also benefit from stream sediment which allows for superior drainage. The soil, combined with the hot dry summers and cool breezes, make the perfect growing conditions for their wines which include Malbec, Viognier, Tempranillo, Pinot Noir, Grenache, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay. Established in 2009 and purchased in 2014 by Jen and Ross Allen, Two Hawks produces award winning wines. Enjoy a tasting in their beautiful tasting room and indulge in a flatbread or the baked brie.
This guide to the unique wines of Southern Oregon is only a small sample of what you will find in the Rogue and Applegate Valleys. Each vineyard honors what is unique to their location, with the result being fantastic wine. Refer to each location for hours, dining options and special events such as summer concerts.
To read more about wine tasting in Southern Oregon check out the Guide to Winter Wine Tasting and to explore other area activities including where to eat, drink and take a jetboat excursion read How to Spend a Week in the Rogue Valley If you still are hungry for more find out where to taste the worlds best blue cheese.
Cheers!
