UMPQUA VALLEY WINERIES

Abacela Winery

Earl and Hilda Jones chose southern Oregon because it offered the climate they needed to make red wine with grapes such as Tempranillo, Dolcetto, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Syrah. They've planted 35 acres of the various red-wine grapes. Abacela is quickly becoming known for its deeply colored wines with intense varietal character. The tasting room is open daily from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To reach the winery, take Exit 119 off Interstate 5, to Winston. Turn right on Lookingglass Road and follow for about two miles to Abacela at 12500 Lookingglass Road.

Information: 541-679-6642, www.abacela.com or email wine@abacela.com.

Bradley Vineyards
(Not yet open to public)
Mail:  2353 Azalea Drive
Elkton, OR  98436
Information:  541-584-2464 or email bradley@rosenet.net

Brandborg Vineyard and Winery

Brandborg Vineyard and Winery opened in 2002 and makes its wine from purchased locally grown grapes, while its vineyards come into production. The winery will concentrate on Pinot Noir grown on its hilltop, 145-acre site with elevations ranging from 600 to 1,100 feet.  The two-story, 1,300-square-foot tasting room also will feature Sangiovese, Charbono, Syrah, Carignane, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Gris, Riesling and Gewürztraminer for sampling and enjoyment on Brandborg's outdoor patio.

Formerly Brandborg Cellars in Richmond, California, Brandborg Vineyard and Winery is one of the Umpqua Valley's newest wineries. Open 11:00am to 5:00 pm daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Other times, appointments are welcome.

To reach the winery, take the Hwy 99 exit off Interstate 5 (Southbound - Exit 162, Northbound - Exit 156);  go to town of Drain and turn west on Hwy 38 to the small town of Elkton and 345 First Street.

Information: 541-584-2870, www.brandborgvineyardandwinery.com or email terry@brandborgvineyardandwinery.com.

Champagne Creek Cellars

Champagne Creek is located just west of Roseburg on the site of the former Callahan Ridge Winery, along the picturesque Callahan Ridge of the Oregon Coast Range. The winery, housed in an 1878 hay barn with hand-hewn peg and post construction, is open year-round from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. A grassy field shaded by oak trees is available for picnicking, while the vineyard will continue to offer a site for beautiful outdoor summer weddings and other special events.

The winery makes many varieties, including Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Merlot, Syrah, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gewürztraminer, Chardonnay, White Zinfandel and a fruitful White Riesling. It also makes a hot-spiced specialty wine, winter warmer, that can be chilled for summer enjoyment.

The winery's annual music festival is held the fourth Saturday of July. Every Wednesday is open house night from 5 to 7 p.m. with hors d'oeuvres and wine.

Champagne Creek Cellars is three miles from Exit 125 off Interstate 5. Head west two miles on Garden Valley Road and 1.3 miles south on Melrose Road to 340 Busenbark Lane.

Information: 541-673-7901, www.champagnecreek.com or email info@champagnecreek.com

Girardet Wine Cellars

Philippe Girardet is a native of a small Swiss town near the headwaters of the Rhone, a French speaking region where winemaking is a centuries old tradition. It was there, in his uncle’s vineyard, that Philippe gained his first experience with winegrowing, a love that would lead him to found Girardet Wine Cellars in 1971. The Girardet estate now totals 35 acres of over 30 varieties which have been painstakingly selected over the years.

Girardet produces award-winning Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Pinot Gris, and White Zinfandel.  In addition, from their extensive collection of French Cultivars, the Girardets have selected four promising varieties to produce as separate bottlings - Baco Noir, Marechal Foch, De Chaunac and Seyval Blanc. Two very popular blended wines have been created and perfected over the years, resulting in the Grand Rouge and Grand Blanc.

Hours are 11am-5pm daily, except major holidays. 

The winery and tasting room are located west of Roseburg, off Hwy 42, at 895 Reston Road.

Information:  541-679-7252, www.girardetwine.com or email genuine@girardetwine.com

Henry Estate Winery

Henry Estate Winery is known for its Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer, and White Riesling. It also produces Merlot, Red Blends, Müller-Thurgau, Merlot, Red Blends, Müller-Thurgau and sparkling wine.  Winning numerous medals, "best buys" and consistently high ratings from both the Wine Enthusiast and Wine Spectator, Henry Estate is always striving for quality in all facets of growing and production.

Henry Estate is located at the north end of the Umpqua Valley in the very small town of Umpqua at 687 Hubbard Creek Road.

Hours are 11:00 am to 5:00 pm daily, except major holidays.

Information: 800-782-2686 or 541-459-5120, www.henryestate.com or email winery@henryestate.com

HillCrest Vineyard

HillCrest Vineyard is the oldest continuously operating vinifera winery in Oregon.  In 1961, HillCrest's original owner Richard Sommer was the first to see the possibility of growing wine grapes in the Umpqua Valley.  In July 2003, Dyson and Susan DeMara purchased the winery, and are now producing wines from Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Riesling (late-harvest style) and Zinfandel.  The new owners will continue to harvest grapes from a nearby vineyard, originally planted by Richard Sommer in the early 1960s, where old vines of Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling and Zinfandel continue to produce. Other less healthy HillCrest vineyards were pulled in August 2003, and the DeMaras plan to replant in the spring of 2004.  Until these newly planted vineyards mature, HillCrest will source other grape varietals from local Umpqua Valley vineyards. 

The tasting room is open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

HillCrest Vineyard is approximately seven miles from Roseburg, located at 240 Vineyard Lane.  Take Exit 125 off I-5; turn west on Garden Valley, then left on Melrose Road; next, turn right on Doerner Road and right again on Elgarose Road; finally, turn left on Vineyard Lane and take the first left.  Watch for signs along the way.

Information:  541-673-3709 or email ddemara@aol.com

MarshAnne Landing

Greg and Fran Cramer moved from Washington D.C. to Oregon after a mountain-climbing trip to Mount Hood that included time to explore other parts of Oregon as well.  The onset of the Cramer's Oregon love affair resulted not only in a move to the state, but the planting of vineyards in the beautiful Umpqua Valley.  On the Thanksgiving weekend of 2003, Greg and Fran debuted their wines as the new MarshAnne Landing winery.  While their production was only 1,000 cases, their vineyard grapes were also sourced by other Umpqua Valley wineries and home winemakers.  MarshAnne grows a wide variety of grapes including Syrah, Grenache, Pinot Noir, Viognier, Chardonnay, Mourvèdre, Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Greg explains this broad varietal planting as their way of filling what he believes to be a niche market.  He uses his varietals to create Bordeaux and Rhone blends such as his Cote du Umpqua (53% syrah 47% Grenache) and his Cabernet Merlot (52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc).  

MarshAnne Landing is the only winery located in the historic town of Oakland, a few miles east of I-5.  Take Exit 142/Metz Hill off I-5; turn right/east (Goodrich Highway) and drive to Hogan Road; turn right and go to the first driveway on right.  The winery is located in the Cramer home at 381 Hogan Road, Oakland, Oregon.

Call first to make a tasting appointment... 541-459-8497 or email gregnfran@presys.com

Melrose Vineyards

Melrose Vineyards can be found on a bench of the South Umpqua River, the site of an early French settlement. This location near Roseburg is a unique setting for both wine and history lovers alike. Take a step back in time and enjoy our 100 year-old historic barn. Melrose consists of more than 100 acres of vineyard.  Their grounds are available for picnics and special events with catering.  Melrose produces Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris.  The winery's tasting room is open daily 11-5 (closed on major holidays), Beginning April 1, 2004, Melrose Vineyards will be open year round, 11-5 daily (closed on major holidays). Until then, by appointment.

The winery and gift shop are located at 885 Melqua Road near Roseburg, about five miles west of I-5.  Take the I-5 Exit #125 and drive west on Garden Valley.  Turn right on Melrose Road; then right on Melqua Road.

Information:  541-672-6080 or email dparker@mcsi.net

Located on the Umpqua River, about five miles northwest of Roseburg, Palotai Vineyard is just a stone's throw from the Rivers Fork Park, where the North and South Umpqua merge into the main Umpqua River. Opening his Palotai Vineyard winery in 2003, owner/winemaker Gabor Palotai is thrilled to be a part of the beautiful Umpqua Valley's wine region.  Originally from Hungary, Gabor defected from the communist state in 1982 and came to the United States.  It wasn't until 1999 that he and his family came to Oregon's Umpqua Valley.  Winemaking has been a tradition in his family for generations, and when he began visiting wineries in the Umpqua, these memories were roused.  He discovered that a very large variety of wine grapes could be grown in the area of his new home, and proceeded to plant 100 vines of Maréchal Foch and Baco Noir on his land. 

Palotai Vineyard produces wines from its own estate vineyards, as well as from other nearby vineyards.  His first wine -- a late-harvest Riesling won a gold and a silver medal at last year's Greatest of the Grape event.  "I just made it like my Grandfather did," he reports modestly.  He now produces a red blend called Bull's Blood, a blend of Pinot Noir, Baco Noir and Maréchal Foch, a barrel-select Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and a Zinfandel when the vintage allows.

Palotai Vineyard is open April through December on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The winery is located at 272 Capitol Lane, northwest of Roseburg.  Take
Exit 125 off of I-5, and head west on Garden Valley Road to Old Garden Valley Road; turn left and drive to Capital Lane.

Information:  541-464-8127 or email gabor@mbol.us

River's Edge Winery

River's Edge Winery, founded in 1998, specializes in the production of the highest quality pinot noir wines. As its name implies, the winery is located on the edge of the Umpqua River in the northern most part of the Umpqua Valley.  Two estate vineyards, Black Oak and Elkton, are the primary sources for River's Edge wines. These two vineyards were planted in 1973 and are among the oldest in the state.  The winery produces Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer.

Hours are 11am to 5pm, daily throughout the summer and Wednesday through Sunday until the end of November.

To reach the winery, take the Hwy 99 exit (Southbound - Exit 162, Northbound - Exit 156) off Interstate 5 go to Drain, Oregon. Proceed west on Hwy 38 to the small town of Elkton and 1395 River Drive.

Information:  541-584-2357, www.riversedgewinery.com or email wines@riversedgewinery.com  

Today, at Spangler Vineyards Pat and Loree Spangler are at the helm, but since 1975, the winery and vineyards have been known for top-quality wines.  The winery has also been known for hosting weddings, special events, holiday parties and regular wine tastings. These activities will continue, along with Spangler's wine production, including a variety of wines such as a dry Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and sparkling wines.  When appropriate, reserve Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignons will be produced as well.

Bring your own lunch to enjoy the picnic area, or pick up some snacks from the small deli in the tasting room's gift shop.  During winter months, enjoy a roaring fire inside the tasting room when you come to taste Spangler wines.

The winery and gift shop are located at 491 Winery Lane southwest of Roseburg.  To reach the winery, take exit 119 west off I-5, and take the first left immediately after the first stoplight (1/2 mile west of I-5).

Current Hours of Operation:  Daily, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. and by appointment

Information:  541-679-9654, www.spanglervineyards.com or email info@spanglervineyards.com

For more information and a map, visit our updated
Umpqua Valley wine region section.