Part 1
Tucked just north of California, Oregon’s Rogue Valley benefits from ample sun, warm days, and nutrient-rich soil—creating a perfect environment for thriving vineyards.
The Rogue Valley AVA is part of the Southern Oregon AVA and covers a very diverse range of climates and wines. Generally, the cooler locations are in the north, west, and at higher elevations, while the warmer regions are in the southern parts. Over 70 (some say 100) wine grape varietals are grown. The varietal that is planted the most is Pinot Noir (close to 40%). However, this is still much less Pinot Noir than in the Willamette Valley. Syrah and Tempranillo thrive in the warmer climate areas.
If your goal is to enjoy different wine tasting regions and excellent cuisine, then Medford is a great central base. There are four different wine routes listed here to explore, all within a 30-minute drive. These regions are: Upper Rogue, Applegate, Jacksonville, and Southern. Another wine route in the Medford area is the Bear Creek. There are so many great wineries in the area; the following is just a brief list of those we were able to visit.
Rob Folin is the winemaker at Ryan Rose Wines, and he took a different approach to winemaking. Some say he is a “rogue winemaker.”, a good play on words, and his wines are excellent. He started an internship at a prestigious Oregon winery in 2001 and later became cellar master. Rob and his parents planted some wine grapes in 2001. In 2005, he made his wines under the Folin Cellars label. Success came in 2012 when Folin Cellars won a double gold at the San Francisco Wine Competition.
Our favorite of the wines we tasted with Rob was GSM, a blend of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, with 50% Grenache. It was delightfully fruit-forward with tastes of blackberries and raspberries and a hint of dried green herbs. We also enjoyed the full-bodied Cabernet Franc, which won a double gold award in a recent Oregon competition.
Del Rio Vineyard Estate was our next stop. Their tasting room is located in the historic Rock Point Hotel (built in 1864), which they restored and made into a great place to enjoy their estate wines. The vineyard is located within the Upper Rogue region, which is in the northern part of the Rogue Valley. They grow some cooler varietals, but certainly have bold reds in their warmer vineyard sites. Del Rio operates one of the largest vineyards in Oregon.
Starting with whites, the Viognier we found to be slightly bolder than the others we had tasted, and we really enjoyed it. The Chardonnay with the light lemon notes was equally good. Being in Oregon, one must try the Pinot Noir, and we found it light and elegant and would pair nicely with meat or seafood. The last wine sampled was the Malbec, which was grown in a warm south-facing vineyard. We enjoyed this bold red, and of course, a steak pairing comes to mind.
If you’d like to enjoy some really great wine in an elegant and historic garden, then you need to visit Edenvale Winery. They are in the southern part of the valley. Along with the gorgeous gardens, the picturesque Voorhies Mansion (built 1890–1898) is a perfect setting for weddings, parties, and many other events. The entire property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Edenvale started as a pear orchard in 1853. While still producing pears (and wonderful cider), Edenvale produced its first wine in 2001. The consensus view of historians, preservationists, and the pear industry is that Eden Valley Orchards is where the U.S. commercial pear industry began.
Edenvale Winery is a family-run winery with Anne Haworth-Root as the co-owner, daughter Ashley Campenella as the winemaker, and her brother Daniel Root in operations.
My favorite of the tastings today was their pear cider; in fact, I requested several pourings. I chatted with winemaker Ashley, who has been making cider there since 2017 and has received many awards from 2017 to the present. Ashley stated that making pear cider is not an easy task. Many experts concur when comparing making wine and cider vs pear wine. Some say: “laborious process.” Other comments are: “Minimal tannins for structure, and volatile acidity faults, make it difficult to work with.”
Excellent wine paired with idyllic pastoral land, in classic indoor or outdoor settings, is a common theme in the Rogue Valley. Table Rock Vineyard is no exception, with the vineyard sandwiched between two mountains, Upper Table Rock and Lower Table Rock, and the Rogue River.
Like many of the small wineries we visited, the vineyard and its other farming operations are a family affair. Michael Dunn and his wife, Jennifer Dunn, are the owners, with their son, Taylor, and his wife, Megan, also involved. Michael is no stranger to farming, as he grew up in the Rouge Valley. Also, this is a sixth-generation farm dating back to ancestors that began in 1883.
We were fortunate to go to a great event at Table Rock, where we enjoyed excellent Rogue Valley wines paired with catered food and live music while enjoying the stunning mountain views. Some of their Pinot Noir grown here are sold to wineries, and of course, some of the wine is produced on their label. We enjoyed their excellent estate Pinot Noirs. The one that stood out was the Estate White Pinot Noir. A white Pinot Noir is achieved by limiting the skin contact of the red grapes with the juice. It was a very special wine with notes of honey and citrus and a lovely lemony finish.
This is just a small sample of some of the great wines in the area. There are so many! Make sure you check out our Part 2, which will include cuisine and outdoor fun.
Editorial Disclosure: Travel and lodging were generously provided.
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