Except from a new article about Southern Oregon wineries...

Sampling Southern Oregon’s marvelous wines.

By Roy Stevenson, September 16, 2011

Southern Oregon is fast becoming recognized as a viticultural powerhouse, as it’s wines keep gaining national and international recognition. Two appellations in particular, the Umpqua Valley and the Rogue Valley, are the primary engines behind this wine renaissance, with a remarkable array of reds, whites and varietals that wine lovers a diverse selection indeed.

The Umpqua Valley’s wine legacy can be traced from Richard Summers, who first planted vines in Roseburg in 1961, making the Umpqua Valley the oldest continually producing wine region in the Pacific Northwest and the cradle of the Oregon wine industry.

Summers, founder of Hillcrest Winery, planted his vines against the advice of Californian vintners who believed the climate and soil were not right for grapes. It turned out that the valley’s different geologic terranes produced a rich diversity of landscapes and microclimates along its 45-mile length, which in turn have yielded a phenomenal array of grape varieties. This is Oregon’s (and probably the U.S.A’s) most complex and interesting wine-growing region.

The cool north valley region, with its good sun exposure and coastal maritime influence produces outstanding Pinot noir, Riesling, and Gewurztraminer. The warm temperatures of the valley’s central sub zone are responsible for great Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and many varietals. The southern valley region, with broad, steep oak forested hillsides and southern exposure receives plenty of sunshine leading to some superb Baco Noir, Viognier, Cabernet, Tempranillo, Zinfandel, and Syrah.

Despite its impressive history, this appellation is often referred to as “America’s last Undiscovered Wine Region”, and boasts 19 wineries, each with its own distinct history and ambiance....

Picturesque Abacela Vineyards and Winery is on the same latitude as northern Spain, and physician turned winemakers Earl Jones and Andrew Wenzl specialize in Spanish varietals on this immaculately maintained vineyard. Located on a steep, dry, south-facing series of hills, Abacela makes a spectacular vista, and can almost be mistaken for an aged Italian or Spanish vineyard.

The undulating hillside has so many terroir micro-pockets that Earl has an impressive variety of grapes growing in tidily marked lots including tempranillo, syrah, malbec, Grenache, albarino, dolcetto, and garnacha. He specializes in big, deeply colored reds that are aged for several years, to yield intense varietal character, a hint of fruit and oak, with a solid body. Earl’s Abacela tempranillo has won international awards, making it the first American vineyard to do so for this varietal.

...A wine tour of the Umpqua Valley will provide the taster with an excellent and diverse selection of Southern Oregon’s wines, and just as important, provide some marvelous memories and experiences as you visit these distinctly different wineries and meet their winemakers.

These then, are a sampling of some of the Umpqua Valley and Applegate Valley’s wineries—not a complete listing by any means. One of the most enjoyable things about wine tasting in this area is the tremendous diversity in the ambiance and atmosphere of each of these wineries. All are unique in their size, shape and service, but all have one thing in common—their outstanding wines.

If you plan on visiting the area to do some wine tasting, allow several days to fully appreciate each winery, rather than rushing from place to place. These graceful winery valleys are relaxing if you ease back and let them slow you down to country time.

Read the full article here.