Umpqua Valley

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Touring Washington/Oregon

Black Oak Vineyard

About Umpqua Valley

The essence of Oregon is well represented in the "hundred valleys of the Umpqua," a network of hillsides and river drainages, located between the Coast Mountains to the west and the Cascade Mountains to the east. Here lies the Umpqua Valley wine region -- not a simple open basin, but a series of valleys and undulating hills. The world-famous Umpqua River is the largest and most notable of the many waterways in the region, particularly known for its fly fishing on the North Umpqua River.

The Umpqua Valley wine region straddles the 43º N and 44º N latitude, the same parallels that run 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 delivers seven Oregon wineries with the best of both these grape-growing worlds.

Stretching 70 miles South, from just south of the Willamette Valley to the Klamath Mountains, this entire appellation lies within Douglas County. Extreme temperature fluctuations from day to night creates a higher threat of frost than that in the Willamette Valley.

Despite lower rainfall, irrigation is unnecessary, as an interconnected series of small hillsides (of Sandstone and Sandy Loam) and river drainage creates a perfect home for grape growing.

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.

The Umpqua Valley is famous for its natural beauty and world renowned fishing. It is also an important viticultural region in Oregon. The Umpqua Valley not only separates the Willamette Valley AVA to the north and the Rogue Valley AVA to the south, but also represents the median of Oregons climate. The region is cooler than the Rogue Valley and distinctly warmer than the Willamette Valley to the north. Bordered to the east by the Cascade Mountains and the west by the Coastal Mountain Range, the valley is cooled by Pacific breezes flowing along the Umpqua River. Vineyards are mostly found below 1,000 feet and are planted to Pinot Noir, with smaller amounts of Pinot Gris, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Riesling and a scattering of French American hybrids. A vineyards' proximity to the Coast Range can greatly affect its terroir, making generalizations about the region difficult. Controversy has arisen recently in the area. A petition for a new AVA to be called Red Hill has sparked dissent from Willamette Valley wineries located in the well-established Red Hills of Dundee sub-region, also in the petition process.

Fifty vineyards call this appellation home, and as of mid-2006, there are 14 wineries.

Don't look now, but the effect of dramatic wine-industry growth in the Pacific Northwest is being reflected in more than just its larger regions. The Umpqua Valley wine region, representing just one third of Southern Oregon wineries, occupies Oregon's midsection, north of the Rogue and Applegate regions and south
of the Willamette Valley.

Even this sparsely populated wine region has grown in its number of wineries (now numbering 13) and vineyards. Several new vineyards have been planted in the last five years, and a number of new wineries have opened their doors.

Evidence of the Umpqua Valley's growth in popularity is also reflected in the large number of attendees to its annual wine events, sponsored by the Umpqua Valley Chapter of the Oregon Winegrowers Association.

Greatest of the Grape, for example, celebrates everything related to wine, and is held every spring (March 12 this year) at the Seven Feathers Hotel & Casino Resort in Canyonville, located in the southernmost reaches of the Umpqua Valley. This event began 35 years ago and usually sells out quickly. Six hundred tickets sold for the 2004 event.

"To be able to combine my winemaking experience and with new world techniques is just something really special to me," said Gabor Palotai, owner of Palotai Vineyard who defected from Hungary in 1982. Gabor's first wine (his 2002 Select Harvest Riesling) earned Best Wine and Food Pairing when paired at the event with a pear Frangipani tart from Aromatic's Feast Catering. The same wine earned a gold and a silver medal. "It just blew my mind," he remembers. "I just made it like my Grandfather.

Another hugely popular spring touring event, the Annual Umpqua Valley Barrel Tasting Tour began some 21 years ago. At that time, the event featured one bus and a single event. Today, both the number of buses and the number of days the event is held have increased, as well as the number of wineries participating. This year's Barrel Tasting Tour(s) will be held on April 16 and May 14. This round-trip bus tour will include seven stops with nine Umpqua Valley wineries presenting their wines for tastings. The $40.00 tickets include your transportation, wine tasting, food pairing, and a souvenir glass.

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Umpqua Valley