Oregon Wine Regions - Umpqua Valley
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Umpqua Valley Lodging and Dining Suggestions

Wine Shops and Tasting Rooms

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Umpqua Valley Lodging and Dining Suggestions



 
Oregon Wine, Wineries & Wine Regions

The Umpqua Valley, Elkton Oregon
and Red Hill Douglas County AVAs
of Southern Oregon

       What happens when three mountain ranges collide?  The Umpqua Valley.

       The forces spawned by the mountainous convergence of the Klamath, the Cascade and the Coastal ranges were the real progenitors of Oregon's Umpqua Valley AVA., not the usual suspects of valley formations.  While the world-famous Umpqua River, renowned for its fly fishing, is the largest and most notable of the many waterways in the region, it is not responsible for forming what is referred to as the Umpqua Valley.  In fact, the Umpqua Valley region -- stretching 65 miles from north to south and 25 miles in width -- is not a valley at all; it is a network of hillsides and river drainages of interconnecting smaller mountain ranges, geological offspring of the major mountain collisions that predate them.  In spirit, the popular nickname - the "Hundred Valleys of the Umpqua" - is a more accurate description of the region.

        This is the Umpqua Valley AVA. - not a simple open basin, but a series of valleys and undulating hills  straddling the 43º N and 44º N latitudes, the same as those running directly through some of Europe's greatest wine-growing districts.  Drier and warmer than the Willamette Valley wine region to the north, and cooler than the Rogue and Applegate wine regions to the south, the Umpqua Valley currently is home to more than 30 Oregon wineries. It provides many different microclimates suitable for growing the best varieties of its neighboring wine regions.  The single-vineyard sub-appellation of Oregon's Red Hill Douglas County AVA lies completely within the Umpqua Valley AVA's boundaries as does the more recently authorized Elkton Oregon AVA in the northwest portion of the Umpqua Valley.  As the Umpqua River makes a turn to the west in the northern end of the Umpqua Valley AVA, the cooler microclimate that defines the Elkton Oregon AVA is all but trapped by its topography to create ideal growing conditions for cool-climate viticulture.

       Diversity is the key word for the Umpqua region - diversity of microclimates created by the many hills and valleys of the area and diversity of soil types (more than 150) due to the varying ages and structure of its major geological players.  The Umpqua wine region is cool enough to produce high-quality Burgundian wines from varieties like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, yet warm enough to grow Bordeaux varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.  Add to that the fruity and floral Rieslings and Gewürztraminers reminiscent of Germany and Alsace, and you begin to appreciate the versatility this region allows the winemaker. 

       In the relative short history of the Umpqua's current wine industry, it is its broad diversity that makes possible the successful growing of more than 30 wine-grape varieties in this relatively small region. 

Wine Shops and Regional Tasting Rooms

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Red Hill Douglas County AVA

      Red Hill Douglas County is a sub-appellation of the Umpqua Valley AVA near the small town of Yoncalla, which lies about 30 miles north of Roseburg and parallels Interstate 5.  It encompasses 5,500 acres and is a single-vineyard AVA (Red Hill Vineyard with 220 acres planted), one of just a few in the county.

       The Red Hill microclimate is one of a large number of different climates within a relatively short distance along I-5.  The climate changes are primarily caused by associated landforms and elevation differences.

      The Applegate and Scott families, pioneers of Southern Oregon, settled at the foot of Red Hill in the mid-1800s.  Jesse Applegate planted Douglas County's first established vineyard in Yoncalla in 1876.  Red Hill Douglas County appellation was approved in 2005.


 Elkton Oregon AVA

      Elkton Oregon is a sub-appellation of the Umpqua Valley AVA which is entirely contained within the Southern Oregon AVA.  The small town of Elkton (pop 170) is 36 miles from the Pacific Ocean and is subject to a strong marine influence with daily sea breezes and fog penetrating into the Umpqua River Valley, at least as far as the boundaries of the Elkton Oregon AVA.  The topography of this 79,900-acre AVA all but blocks the cool marine air from moving into other parts of the Umpqua region, making Elkton Oregon a cool climate viticultural microclimate within the larger Umpqua Valley AVA. 

       It was wine pioneer Ken Thomason who first planted grapes in 1972 in the Elkton area.  He dreamed of growing world-class cool-climate Pinot Noir and white grapes here. His vineyards are now owned by Mike and Vonnie Landt of Rivers Edge Winery. 

       At the time of federal authorization of the Elkton Oregon AVA, there were five wineries and 10 vineyards planted with 100 acres of grapes. The federal ruling was effective March 7, 2013.



Navigating the Umpqua Valley Wine Region

  Use the map below to explore Oregon wineries in the Umpqua Valley region. Twenty-four wineries in the area are open for your tasting pleasure. Click on the thumbnail map to see a larger, more detailed map of the region; use links in the left margin of this page to find nearby suggested lodging and dining opportunities within the same region.  For detailed information about each winery, check the Winery and Merchant Finder.


Umpqua Valley AVA & Elkton Oregon AVA
Wineries & Touring Map

Always call ahead as hours may change.

Priority Wine PassTIP:  If you plan on visiting wineries in this area any time soon, be sure to get The Priority Wine Pass first. In just five minutes, you can be saving on tasting fees and wine purchases at hundreds of participating wineries throughout Washington, Oregon and California. Your membership will more than pay for itself as it brings you an entire year of complimentary or 2-for-1 tastings, along with other deals from these premium wineries. And  WinesNorthwest users receive a $20 discount on a $59.99 membership fee.


Abacela Vineyards & Winery -
Vine & Wine Center
(
Daily, except major holidays:
Nov thru May:  11 am to 5 pm
June thru Oct:  11 am to 6 pm)

Amaranth Ridge Vineyard & Winery
(Not open to public)

Anindor Vineyards
(
Elkton Oregon AVA. Memorial Day thru Dec:
Wed - Sun, 11 am to 5 pm)


Becker Vineyards
(Year round: 11 - 5, weekends & holidays)

Bradley Vineyards

(Elkton Oregon AVA. Daily: 11 am to 5 pm)

Brandborg Winery

(Elkton Oregon AVA. Daily, 11 - 5)

The Cellars
at Southern Oregon Wine Institute
(Tasting Room Hours:  Fri, 1 pm - 7 pm;
Sat, 12 - 5 pm; Sun, 12 - 5 pm)

Chateau Nonchalant Vineyards
(By Appointment -
541-679-2394)

Cooper Ridge Vineyards
(Thurs - Sun, 12 - 7 pm)

Delfino Vineyards

(
Open daily May thru Nov: 11 – 5 pm)

Evensong Winery
(Open by Appointment - 541-530-3551)

Ferraro Family Vineyards
(Sat & Sun, 12 - 5 pm)

Foon Estate Vineyard
(By Appointment: 541-817-7768)

Freed Estate Vineyards

(Wed - Sun, 11 am - 5 pm;
or by appointment, 541-236-4993)

Girardet Wine Cellars

(Daily, 11 - 5)

Glaser Estate Winery
(Sat & Sun, 11 am - 5 pm)

Henry Estate Winery
(Daily, 11 - 5, except major holidays)

Hillcrest Vineyard

(March thru Dec: Daily, 11 - 5)

HV Cellars

(Thurs - Sun, 11 am - 5 pm)
 

MarshAnne Landing

(May - Oct: Wed - Sun, 11 am - 5 pm,
Nov - Dec: Weekends, 11 am - 5 pm
Other times by appointment -
541-459-8497)

Melrose Vineyards

(Daily, 11 - 5)

Misty Oaks Vineyard
(March - December:  Wed - Sun, 
 11 am - 5 pm & by appt- 541-459-3558)

Mustard Seed Cellars
    (11 am - 5 pm, Thurs - Sun)

 


Paul O'Brien Winery
(Daily, 11 am - 5 pm)

Reustle - Prayer Rock Vineyards & Winery

(Tues - Sat, 10 - 5 pm.
Closed Sun, Mon & Major Holidays)


River's Edge Winery
(Elkton Oregon AVA. Summer - May thru Sept:  Daily, 11 - 5;
 Fall - through Nov: Wed - Sun
 Otherwise by 24-hour advance appointment.)

Season Cellars
(Memorial Day - Labor Day Weekend:
Thurs - Mon, 12 - 6 pm;
Call for appt at other times - 541-784-7831)

Sienna Ridge Estate
(Temporarily Closed)

Spangler Vineyards
(Daily 11 - 5)

TeSóAria Vineyard & Winery
(Daily, 11 - 6)

Trella Vineyards
(Thurs - Sat: 2 - 7 pm; Sun: 2 - 5 pm)

Triple Oak Vineyard
Tasting Room: Triple Oak Wine Vault
(Fri & Sat, 12 - 6 pm; Sun, Noon - 5 pm
or by appointment)

Wild Rose Vineyard
(Daily: 11 am - 5 pm)

      

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Wine Shops, Wine Bars and Regional Tasting Rooms

Dino's Italian Cafe & Wine Bar
404 SE Jackson
Roseburg, OR  97470
541-673-0848

Grist Mill Café
(Umpqua Valley wine tastings)
116 NE Locust Street
Oakland, OR 97462

541-459-2727

Raise Your Glass
 (Tues - Thurs, 4 to 10 pm
Fri & Sat, 4 pm  till closing)
630 Jackson Street
Roseburg, OR

541-643-0264

Triple Oak Vineyard
Tasting Room: Triple Oak Wine Vault
(Fri & Sat, 12 - 6 pm; Sun, Noon - 5 pm
or by appointment)
1305 Oak Street
Oakland, OR 97462
541-459-4287



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Copyright © 1998 - April, 2020 Susan R. O'Hara. All rights reserved.
Last revised:  04/05/2020