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You don't have to
be a geologist to notice the significant change of the world outside
your vehicle's window as you leave Eugene, Oregon and head south.
The countryside begins to roll gently as the flatland of the
3.3-million-acre Willamette Valley AVA ends and the Southern Oregon
appellation begins. State highways leave Interstate 5 and meander
west along valley floors and hillsides, next to rivers and creeks, all
combining to support a fascinating assortment of micro climates
throughout Southern Oregon.
Generally hot, dry summers and cool evenings bring ideal conditions for
numerous grape varieties
including Cabernet sauvignon, Cabernet franc, Tempranillo, Merlot,
Malbec, Dolcetto, Grenache, Petit verdot, Zinfandel and Syrah in the
warmer, more arid regions, and Pinot noir, Pinot gris, Riesling,
Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer
and others in the cooler areas. Southern Oregon's warm-weather
varieties are often grown with blending in mind, and more recently
planted grapes such as Roussanne and Marsanne are making an already
colorful palate even more interesting.
The overarching Southern Oregon appellation includes the cities of
Sutherlin, Roseburg, Jacksonville, Grants Pass, Medford, and Ashland,
all of which evoke thoughts of vacations and lots of outdoor experiences
in the hearts of those who have visited this beautiful region.
Travelers will find a wide choice of amenities... historic
inns and lodges, riverside hotels and RV parks, and plenty of B&Bs; you
can also find long-established local diners, as well as gourmet and
bistro dining in small, historic towns like Jacksonville and Oakland.
You may want to use
these cities as your home base during your wine-country venturing.
Nearly 6,000 vineyard acres and an assortment of more than
120 wineries & tasting rooms
await your exploration here in the Southern Oregon appellation, and
plenty more are on the way. |
Southern Oregon AVA
Wine Country Facts
Total AVA
Acreage:
2,001,782 acres
Planted Vineyard Acreage:
5,886 (2016)
Total Number of Wineries:
121 (2016)
Primary Grape Varieties
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defined a kind of macro appellation that completely encompasses
previously authorized appellations in Southern Oregon... the
