Oregon Wine Country
Oregon Wine Country
Oregon Wine Country – The estimated value of wine grape production in 2022 increased 22% or $58 million to a total of $330 million
Pinot Noir accounts for nearly 60% of Oregon planted acreage corresponding to 57% of wine grape production in the state.
Oregon Wine Country -The data estimates there are between 35%-40% of planted acreage being in some type of organic or sustainable certification
3%-5% of case sales were for sparkling wines
Canada accounts for 45% of Oregon’s export sales (wow, that’s a crazy number!)
The Top 3 Export Countries for Oregon wine are:
Canada = 73,323 cases
United Kingdom = 15,479 cases
Japan = 12,856 cases
Oregon Wine Country – Willamette Valley
Best known for producing world class Pinot Noirs, neighboring wineries also produce Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Merlot and Syrah.
Sparkling wines produced in Champagne style are also celebrated as some of the best in America.
The Willamette Valley, Oregon’s oldest wine region, has two-thirds of the state’s wineries and vineyards and is home to more than 700 wineries.
Framed by the Coast Range to the west and Cascades to the east, it is recognized as one of the premier wine growing regions in the world.
The Willamette Valley, Oregon’s oldest wine region, has two-thirds of the state’s wineries and vineyards and is home to more than 700 wineries.
Framed by the Coast Range to the west and Cascades to the east, it is recognized as one of the premier wine growing regions in the world.
At 150 miles long it offers a wine experience for every visitor
The Willamette Valley is a vast and varied appellation that includes eleven nested AVAs: Chehalem Mountains, Dundee Hills, Eola-Amity Hills, Laurelwood District, Lower Long Tom, McMinnville, Mount Pisgah, Polk County, Oregon, Ribbon Ridge, Tualatin Hills, Van Duzer Corridor, and Yamhill-Carlton.
At its widest point, this long, broad valley spans sixty miles. Protected from cold Pacific Ocean air and rainstorms on the west by the Coast Range mountains, the Valley follows the Willamette River for more than a hundred miles from the Columbia River near Portland to just south of Eugene.
The Cascade Range to the east forms a natural boundary and protects against the opposite extreme: the dry, desert-like climate of eastern Oregon.
Overall, the climate boasts a long, gentle growing season: warm summers with cool evenings, a long and lovely autumn with the first rainfalls of winter amid plenty of sunny days, and mild winters followed by long springs.
In addition to the flagship Pinot noir grape, wineries also produce Pinot gris, Pinot blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Melon, Gewürztraminer, sparkling wine, Sauvignon blanc, Syrah, and Gamay, among other lesser-known varieties.
The Willamette Valley wineries are a popular tourist destination, with the area boasting a luxury destination resort, several high-end inns and many bed & breakfasts.
The Valley also offers a long list of fine dining restaurants. From Portland in the north or Eugene in the south, tourists can visit the Willamette Valley winery of their choice in anywhere from 10 minutes to two hours.
Highest Scoring Wines in Willamette Valley
Bethel Heights, Casteel Estate Chardonnay, Eola-Amity Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA 2021
A gorgeous Chardonnay from estates vines planted in 1977 and 1994.
This is a showy wine that retains its elegance while flirting with opulence.
Lemon cream, nutmeg and petrichor announce the aromatics alongside a touch of ginger.
The palate is impressive.
Smoky flint leads into lanolin, almond cream and cardamom.
97 Points
Walter Scott, Freedom Hill Vineyard Chardonnay, Mt. Pisgah, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA 2021
A stunning wine from the iconic Freedom Hill vineyard in the Mount Pisgah AVA.
It balances savory brilliance with finely etched seaspray minerality.
A reductive, smoky flint aromatic opens and morphs into saline notes, beeswax and petrichor alongside a grilled lemon peel note.
97 Points
Walter Scott, X Novo Vineyard Chardonnay, Eola-Amity Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA 2021
This a staggering example of Oregon’s prowess when it comes to Chardonnay.
Sophisticated, racy and electrifying, along with any other superlatives you care to throw at it.
Aromas of crushed chalk and mid-summer petrichor give over to early-season stone fruit and green mango highlight the lean style.
97 Points
Cristom Vineyards, Seven Springs Vineyard Chardonnay, Eola-Amity Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA 2021
A revelatory Chardonnay from the non-estate Seven Springs Vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills.
The wine ages for eleven months on its lees in 30% new French oak, followed by five months in stainless steel tanks.
This wine has outstanding freshness and filigreed elegance that complement the depth and character.
96 Points
Eyrie Vineyards, The Eyrie Chardonnay, Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA 2021
This flagship Chardonnay is one of Oregon’s best-in-class year after year.
From the oldest vines in the Willamette Valley and among the last surviving remnants of the Draper field selection, a French import from the 1930s is now extinct outside of the region.
Aromatics lean into a mineral character.
96 Points
Martin Woods, Hyland Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA 2021
Evan Martin’s 2021 Hyland Pinot Noir shows masterfully but promises to get even better in time.
From the dry-farmed old vines at 200m in the McMinnville AVA comes a wine of purity, finesse and elegance.
Fresh, mineral and full of life, the aromatics hint at early-season bright raspberry and crushed stone.
97 Points
Beaux Frères, Upper Terrace Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA 2021
The Upper Terrace is just as it’s named, terraced rows on a steep slope above the estate on Ribbon Ridge; the site was planted in 1999 and is surrounded by a forest of conifers and local oak trees.
The aromatics offer lots of savory Christmas spice and evergreen tips.
96 Points
Bergström, Silice, Chehalem Mountains, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA 2021
Elegance is personified in this 2021 bottling of Bergström’s renowned Silice.
So-named for the sandy silica soils, the hallmark of the hilly Chehalem Mountain vineyard source.
Beautiful bright fruit aromas are further framed by touches of tomato leaf, pine bough and mossy forest floor.
96 Points
Bethel Heights, Casteel Estate Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA 2021
A wonderful wine. Balances an elegant determination to be serious and contemplative with a gregarious fresh fruit and minty spice that is undeniably enjoyable.
Aromas of candied cherry, savory spice, peat, soft violets and a touch of baking chocolate are at once inviting and reserved.
96 Points
Eyrie Vineyards, Daphne Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon, USA 2021
The highest elevation of the Eyrie sites, the Daphne vineyard planted in 1974, sits at 260m and on very shallow topsoil. Its hallmark is a Pinot Noir of great aromatic richness and complexity.
The 2021 Daphne is wildly fragrant with crushed savory herbs, wild violet florals and a great depth.
96 Points
Oregon Wine Country – Walla Walla Valley
Walla Walla is home to 154 Wineries.
Hemmed in by the Blue Mountains to the southeast, the Palouse to the north, and the Columbia River westward, the Walla Walla Valley AVA straddles southeast Washington and northeast Oregon.
The modern-day wine industry began in the 1970s when childhood friends Gary Figgins of Leonetti Cellar and Rick Small of Woodward Canyon Winery began conducting oenological experiments in Rick’s garage.
Today there are more than 100 wineries working in this warm and distinct climate.
Eastern Oregon and Washington, home to the cross-border Walla Walla Valley AVA, may surprise those whose vision of Oregon is only informed by the crashing Pacific coast and towering Douglas Fir forests.
Located about 250 miles (400 km) east of Portland, the Walla Walla Valley AVA is contained within the Columbia Valley appellation, far from the marine influence of the Pacific.
Situated along latitude 46° N, midway between Bordeaux and Burgundy, the Walla Walla Valley AVA lies on a bedrock of fractured basalt laid down 15 million years ago, its soils composed of the sand and gravel discarded by ancient floods, layered by wind-deposited silts.
Those soils produce not only juicy strawberries and sumptuous sweet onions, but also some of the finest Syrahs, Cabernets, and Merlots in the world.
In the land of “many waters,” this oasis amid the vast sagebrush desert that rolls across America’s northwest interior, winegrowers are working their craft, from the foothills of the spectacular Blue Mountains to the arid regions of the valley’s west, building on a history almost four decades long.
On the Washington side, the bustling small town of Walla Walla acts as a hub for many visitors.
There are dozens of wineries in and around downtown, as well as hiking, golfing, and sightseeing nearby.
On the Oregon side (only 10 minutes south), the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater AVA takes its name from the small farming community inside its boundaries.
The cobbled vineyards surrounding the town of Milton-Freewater produce some of the most awarded and coveted wine grapes in the entire Northwest.
The AVA’s warm growing season, low rainfall, and complex soils lead to layered, full-bodied wines.
Dry July and August heat provides a vibrant core of ripeness in the berries, while the chill of September nights assures the acidic backbone necessary for creating superb wines.
Highest Scoring Wines in Walla Walla Valley
Hors Categorie, Walla Walla Valley, USA
Syrah
$ 381
96 / 100
Cayuse Vineyards Bionic Frog Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, USA
Syrah
$ 394
95 / 100
Horsepower Vineyards ‘The Tribe Vineyard’ Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, USA
Syrah
$ 184
94 / 100
Cayuse Vineyards Cailloux Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, USA
Syrah
$ 144
94 / 100
Leonetti Cellar Reserve, Walla Walla Valley, USA
Bordeaux Blend Red
$ 204
94 / 100
Horsepower Vineyards ‘Sur Echalas Vineyard’ Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, USA
Syrah
$ 177
94 / 100
Horsepower Vineyards ‘Sur Echalas Vineyard’ Grenache, Walla Walla Valley, USA
Grenache (Garnacha)
$ 178
94 / 100
Cayuse Vineyards Armada Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, USA
Syrah
$ 158
94 / 100
Cayuse Vineyards En Cerise Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, USA
Syrah
$ 148
94 / 100
Cayuse Vineyards En Chamberlin Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley, USA
Syrah
$ 147
Oregon Wine Country – Columbia Gorge
The Gorge Wine region is a powerful place. It’s a place of extremes—extremes in climate, scenery, and style of wine — where the beauty of the landscape is inextricable from its allure as a world class wine region.
A modern frontier, of sorts — experiencing growth, but holding fast to the heart of what makes it special.
The extreme conditions that shape the wine are unique to this region—to be embraced, cultivated, and celebrated.
Just 60 miles east of Portland, the Columbia Gorge AVA lies in the heart of the dramatic river corridor that straddles the Columbia River along the borders of Oregon and Washington.
The climate in the Columbia Gorge AVA is categorized as transitional.
The western end of the Columbia Gorge, close to the Cascade Mountains, has a cooler, marine-influenced climate where it rains 36 inches per year.
Stretching 40 miles eastward, the climate transitions to continental high desert with just 10 inches of annual rainfall.
Throughout the Gorge, elevations of vineyard sites range from sea level to 2,000 feet, which greatly impacts temperatures during the growing season.
The Columbia River Gorge is the only sea-level passage through the Cascade Mountain Range, funneling persistent winds at an average speed of 10-20 miles per hour (16-32 kph) or more, acting as a cooling and drying force to the vineyards.
This extreme variance of climate means the Columbia Gorge AVA can successfully grow a wide range of classical varieties.
Wines produced from this region tend to be riper than wines from Oregon’s cooler, western regions and with higher acidity and structure than what occurs naturally in the warmer, eastern AVAs.
Highest Scoring Wines in Columbia Gorge
Analemma Mosier Hills Estate Syrah, Columbia Gorge, USA
Syrah
$ 61
91 / 100
Phelps Creek Vineyards Cuvee Alexandrine Alexandrine, Columbia Gorge, USA
Pinot Noir
$ 55
90 / 100
Analemma Mosier Hills Estate Tinto, Columbia Gorge, USA
Syrah – Tempranillo
$ 42
90 / 100
Analemma Mosier Hills Estate Trousseau, Columbia Gorge, USA
Trousseau (Bastardo)
$ 49
90 / 100
Analemma Atavus Vineyard Blanc de Noir, Columbia Gorge, USA
Pinot Noir
$ 80
90 / 100
Analemma Mosier Hills Estate Mencia, Columbia Gorge, USA
Mencia
$ 51
89 / 100
Phelps Creek Vineyards Pinot Noir, Columbia Gorge, USA
Pinot Noir
$ 30
88 / 100
Analemma Atavus Vineyard Pinot Noir, Columbia Gorge, USA
Pinot Noir
$ 42
89 / 100
Dominio IV ‘Sketches of Spain’ Tempranillo, Columbia Gorge, USA
Tempranillo
$ 42
88 / 100
Phelps Creek Vineyards Pinot Gris, Columbia Gorge, USA
Pinot Gris
$ 22
Oregon Wine Country – Umpqua Valley
Umpqua Valley winemakers, and Umpqua Valley visitors, have a complex topography to play in.
Better known as, “the hundred valleys of the Umpqua,” the region is a result of the collision of three mountain ranges of varying age and structure: the Klamath Mountains, the Coast Range and the Cascades.
The Umpqua Valley AVA sits between the Coast Range to the west, the Cascade Range to the east, the Willamette Valley to the north, and the Rogue Valley to the south. It’s near everything, and entirely unique.
The Umpqua Valley’s wine growing history dates back to the 1880’s when German immigrants planted the first vineyard in the Valley.
In 1961, Richard Sommer established HillCrest Vineyard near Roseburg and sunk Oregon’s first Pinot noir vines into the ground.
Like his Willamette Valley peers, he ignored the pessimists in California who said Oregon was too cold and wet to grow Pinot.
In fact, the Umpqua Valley has one of Oregon’s more diverse regional climates, successfully growing both cool and warm varieties.
The northern area around the town of Elkton enjoys a cool, marine-influenced climate and receives around 50 inches (125 cm) of annual rainfall.
Pinot noir and other cool-climate varieties thrive here. The central area to the northwest of Roseburg, has an intermediate climate where both cool and warm varieties do well.
The area south of Roseburg is warmer and more arid, similar to the Rogue and Applegate Valleys to the south. Warm-climate varieties, including Tempranillo, Syrah, and Merlot thrive here.
Growing season temperatures vary dramatically from north to south creating a gradient of opportunity for winemakers and wine drinkers.
Highest Scoring Wines in Umpqua Valley
Abacela Reserve Tempranillo, Umpqua Valley, USA
Tempranillo
$ 78
90 / 100
Abacela Reserve Syrah, Umpqua Valley, USA
Syrah
$ 66
90 / 100
Abacela Vineyards Estate Grown ‘Paramour’, Umpqua Valley, USA
Tempranillo
$ 153
91 / 100
Abacela Estate Barrel Select Tempranillo, Umpqua Valley, USA
Tempranillo
$ 59
89 / 100
Brandborg Vineyard Gewurztraminer, Umpqua Valley, USA
Gewurztraminer
$ 25
89 / 100
Abacela Barrel Select Malbec, Umpqua Valley, USA
Malbec
$ 57
89 / 100
Abacela Barrel Select Garnacha, Umpqua Valley, USA
Garnacha
$ 54
88 / 100
Abacela Albarino, Umpqua Valley, USA
Albariño
$ 30
88 / 100
Abacela East Hill Block Reserve Malbec, Umpqua Valley, USA
Malbec
$ 60
90 / 100
Abacela Fiesta Tempranillo, Umpqua Valley, USA
Tempranillo
$ 30
Oregon Wine Country – Rogue Valley
The Rogue Valley is a sun-drenched, fertile playground for outdoor adventures, fine dining, world-renowned theater and music, and more.
Comprised of three distinct valleys with progressively warmer micro-climates, the region successfully grows both cool- and warm-climate varieties so you can enjoy Rogue Valley wine with everything.
The Rogue Valley invites you to enjoy the region’s wine with everything – from theater, art, and music to world class rafting, fishing, hiking, biking, and skiing.
With walking paths and trails that end in wide-open spaces and awe-inspiring mountaintop views.
With more than 70 grape varieties planted and as many producers to choose from, there’s a wine for every taste and experience in Oregon’s Rogue Valley Wine Country.
About 75 miles from the Oregon coast and 50 miles from Crater Lake, Oregon’s only national park, the Rogue Valley is defined by the wild and scenic Rogue River and its tributaries: the Applegate, Bear Creek, and Illinois Rivers, and the confluence of the Cascade, Siskiyou, and Coastal mountain ranges.
These moderating influences result in drastic diurnal shifts, with nighttime lows dropping up to 70°F, preserving the grape’s acid balance and slowing the ripening season for greater flavor development. What results in world-class wines of distinct quality, depth and balance.
Rogue Valley is also home to Oregon’s first official winery founded by Peter Britt in 1873.
Britt was an early gold rush settler to the region who began growing grapes as early 1852, before opening the doors to his Valley View Winery.
While the exact location of the original winery is unknown, it is believed to have been in Jacksonville, home to the Northwest’s first summer outdoor music festival – Britt Music
Highest Scoring Wines in Rogue Valley
Ovum Off The Grid Riesling, Rogue Valley, USA
Riesling
$ 30
92 / 100
Maison Jussiaume Blanc de Blancs Brut, Rogue Valley, USA
Chardonnay
$ 72
90 / 100
Quady North Pistoleta, Rogue Valley, USA
Southern Rhone White Blend
$ 22
89 / 100
Quady North GSM Rose, Rogue Valley, USA Rose
Grenache – Mourvedre – Syrah
$ 21
89 / 100
Irvine & Roberts Vineyards Pinot Noir, Rogue Valley, USA
Pinot Noir
$ 42
89 / 100
Quady North Rose, Rogue Valley, USA
Grenache – Syrah
$ 20
89 / 100
Foris Cedar Ranch Pinot Noir, Rogue Valley, USA
Pinot Noir
$ 27
89 / 100
Foris Dry Gewurztraminer, Rogue Valley, USA
Gewurztraminer
$ 17
88 / 100
Foris Pinot Noir, Rogue Valley, USA
Pinot Noir
$ 20
88 / 100
Dobbes Family Estate Grenache Blanc, Rogue Valley, USA
Grenache Blanc
$ 34
Oregon Wine Country – Portland
Portland is a city of neighborhoods.
With more than 30 wineries and 70 breweries, nearly 30 coffee roasters, 1700 restaurants, and artisan makers of every medium, each neighborhood boasts a unique blend of vibrant artists, craftspeople, and shop-local entrepreneurs.
These are neighborhoods built by neighbors.
Portland offers the best of Oregon Wine without leaving the city.
Cities aren’t usually associated with winemaking, but Portland isn’t your usual place.
As the gateway to the surrounding wine country, Portland has the advantages of a modern city, in walk- and bike-ability, easy public transportation, vibrant shops and events, and one of the nation’s largest urban parks.
While there are literally hundreds of wineries within an hour of downtown, you don’t need to leave the city to experience all of Oregon.
Portland winemakers let the grapes do the commuting, sourcing fruit from upwards of 15 Oregon AVAs, and producing wines from nearly every variety planted throughout the state.
Portland is the apex of artisan food and drink in the West, and the winemakers of Portland have been a part of that movement for more than 30 years, enmeshed in the culture and communities as neighbors.
Wineries in Portland
Portland Wine Company Home of Love & Squalor Wine
(503) 320-9956
portlandwinecompany.com
SE Wine Collective
(503) 208-2061
sewinecollective.com
Teutonic Wine Company
(503) 235-5053
teutonicwines.com
The Portland Wine Bar and Winery Tasting Room
portlandwinebar.com
Villa Catalana Cellars
(503) 780-6200
villacatalanacellars.com
Welsh Family Wines at the SE Wine Collective
(503) 208-2061
welshfamilywines.com
Willamette Valley Vineyards in Happy Valley
(503) 427-2430
wvv.comVisit-UsHappy-Valley
Willamette Valley Vineyards on the Vancouver Waterfront
(360) 718-7312
Willful Wines
503 577 8982
willfulwine.com
William Marie Wines
(480) 297-6889
williammariewines.com
Domaine Serene Wine Lounge at Sentinel
(503) 850-7001
domaineserenewinelounge.com
ENSO Winery
(503) 683-3676
ensowinery.com
Forest Edge Vineyard
Fullerton Wine Bar and Tasting Room
(503) 544-1378
fullertonwines.com
Fullerton Wine Bar and Tasting Room
GC Wines Local
(503) 764-9345
Golden Cluster @ Les Caves
(503) 206-6852
goldencluster.com
Helioterra Wines
Hip Chicks Do Wine
(503) 234-3790
hipchicksdowine.com
King’s Raven Winery
La Randonnée
(503) 693-1879
larandonneewines.com
Adega Northwest
Alder Tree Vineyard
(971) 227-0686
Alder Tree Vineyard
Amaterra
503-961-6057
amaterrawines.com
Amaterra
Augustina Cellars
9713447575
augustinacellars.com
Battle Creek Cellars
(503) 902-6636
battlecreekcellars.com
Buddha Kat Winery
(503) 668-3124
buddhakatwinery.com
Caelestis Cellars
503-583-4311
caelestiscellars.com
Christopher Bridge Winery Tasting Room and Satori Springs Estate Vineyard
(503) 263-6267
christopherbridgewines.com
Clay Pigeon Winery
(503) 206-7862
claypigeonwinery.com
Coopers Hall Winery
(503) 719-7000
coopershall.com
Division Winemaking Company
(503) 208-2061
divisionwineco.com
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