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The history of Oregon wine-making dates back to the mid 1800s. Horticulturalist Henderson Luelling is credited with planting the first grapes in 1847 in Willamette Valley. His son-in-law, William Meek, won a medal in the 1859 California State Fair for wines made from the Isabella grape (an American hybrid). By the 1880s, vineyards began to take shape throughout the Willamette and Umpqua valleys, with Vitis vinifera stocks imported from Europe for the first time. 

But as with California, the Oregon wine industry was all but wiped out during the Prohibition from 1919 to 1933. In the era following the Repeal, the government allowed fruit-based wines (mostly from berries and Concord grapes) with licenses to “Farmer’s Wineries.”  A handful of vintners worked with vinifera-based wines, but with only a modicum of success. 
 
By the early 1960s, California oenologists at UC Davis became interested in Oregon terroir, even though studies had determined the climate to Read more »

Why Riesling is a Zeitgeist Wine

Riesling could be eclipsing Chardonnay as a go-to white wine grape for wine drinkers. My definition of wine drinkers here includes folks who don’t drink wine on a regular basis, but know a few grapes by name when ordering at a restaurant or picking up ...

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Wine in America, Beyond California

According to the Wine Institute, in 2015, eighty-three percent of wine from the United States was made from grapes grown in California. Clearly, the world wine stage has welcomed California bottles with opened arms. Wine lovers from around the world cl...

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Holiday Sparkling Bottle Pick List

We talked a lot about sparkling wine last week but there is a lot more to cover. The biggest sparkling wine day of the year, New Year's Eve, is right around the corner. Opening a bottle of sparkling wine can be a a dangerous proposition.

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Ask the Winemaker: Erik Kramer

Single vineyard Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir are the order of the day at Willamette Valley’s acclaimed WillaKenzie Estate. Erik joined the Willakenzie team earlier this year to head up winemaking operations. Enjoy these excerpts from my conversation with...

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Does your wine have a gender?

Esteemed wine critics like Robert Parker and Antonio Galloni employ gender-positive terms in their tasting notes without compunction. Masculine wines are commonly associated with structure and power, while feminine wines can be perceived as delicate an...

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The Rise of Non-Traditional Wine Blends

Here in the United States we are on a first-name basis with our wine grapes. The majority of casual wine drinkers understand what “Merlot”, “Moscato”, and “Cabernet” mean. Nowadays “Pinot” and even “Riesling” are familiar pals too. This is largely bec...

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Your Guide to Aged Wines

The majority of wines on the market these days are meant to be consumed within one to five years. This is a natural law. Producing wines that can sit in the cellar for decades is time-consuming and expensive. There is a time and place for wines that ag...

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Wine in the Movies & on TV

We've had a relationship with wine for several millennia and counting. This relationship has been documented in a number of ways, but so much has been lost to the ravages of time. Gaps in history leave wine culture open to interpretation

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These New Wave Wine Grapes Are Really Catching On

A new year provides the perfect opportunity to try new things, but how far will you go? Many wine drinkers cling to familiar grape varieties or settle for what’s in easy reach. Don’t miss out, wine lover. There are between 5,000 and 10,000 varieties o...

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The Ultimate Thanksgiving Wine List

This is not your first Thanksgiving rodeo. It's not ours, either. We've brought you a panolpy of Thanksgiving table suggestions over the past ten years. There was the time we assured you thank Thanksgiving wines wouldn't break your bank.

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Troon Vineyard Merlot Applegate Valley Vineyard Select Elaine's Vineyard (2007)

Winery: Troon Vineyard
Region: USA » Oregon » Southern Oregon AVA » Jackson/Josephine Counties » Rogue Valley » Applegate Valley
Type: Table Wines
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Gregory Dal Piaz

This is intense and bright with lots of fine green herb notes, tarragon, and fennel seed all wrapped around orange washed red fruits all sitting on a freshly chopped pine tree stump in the rain. Rich and bright, this is youthfully vibrant with a lovely...

Abacela Paramour Tempranillo (2005)

Winery: Abacela Vineyards and Winery
Region: USA » Oregon » Southern Oregon
Varietal: Tempranillo
Type: Table Wines
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Rich Tomko

I had this wine at a dinner last week, the dinner was full of spanish tempranillo lovers and at least five individuals separately noted how beautiful this wine was, comparing it favorably to many top gran reservas. For me, it was fantastic, though be...

Hinman Vineyards Red Blend Rogue Valley Rogue Valley Red (2007)

Winery: Inman Family Wines
Region: USA » Oregon » Southern Oregon AVA » Jackson/Josephine Counties » Rogue Valley
Color: Red Wines
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jamessulis

This is a big rich spicy blend of noble grape varieties from the Bordeaus and Rhone regions of France, 33% Cabernet franc, 29% Merlot, 28% Cabernet sauvignon,4% Tempranillo, 3% Malbec, 2% Syrah, 1% Grenache. Spicy, chewy red, deep with the flavors of b...

Abacela Vineyards and Winery Albariño (2009)

Winery: Karmère Vineyards & Winery
Region: USA » Oregon » Southern Oregon AVA » Douglas County » Umpqua Valley
Varietal: Albariño
Type: Table Wines
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anchca

Citrus, peach, apple, honeysuckle and a hint of spice. Nice acidity yet still smooth. Medium finish.

Dobbes Pinot Noir Rogue Valley Skipper's Cuvee (2009)

Winery: Dobbes Family Estate
Region: USA » Oregon » Southern Oregon AVA » Jackson/Josephine Counties » Rogue Valley
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Type: Table Wines
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Gregory Dal Piaz

Very fruity and ripe on the nose with sweet candy notes that join sweet tea, wild berry fruit, sage, a hint of vanilla some cola and spice cake notes. Rich and almost dense on entry with great intensity of flavor. There’s that spice cake and dried fru...

Dobbes Family Estate Grenache Blanc Rogue Valley Crater View (2010)

Winery: Dobbes Family Estate
Region: USA » Oregon » Southern Oregon AVA » Jackson/Josephine Counties » Rogue Valley
Varietal: Grenache Blanc
Type: Table Wines
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Gregory Dal Piaz

Pretty intensely aromatic with a warm iron note, some minty spice, a touch of fruitiness and a low dusty base note. This is more mineral and floral than fruity, and there is a nice distant note of kumquat blended with apricot here. Absolutely silken on...

Foris Pinot Gris Rogue Valley (2008)

Winery: Foris Vineyards Winery
Region: USA » Oregon » Southern Oregon AVA » Jackson/Josephine Counties » Rogue Valley
Varietal: Pinot Grigio
Type: Table Wines
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InWineTruth

Straw bright, aromas of citrus, green apple and green melon, good balance in flavor notes with a viscous texture and moderate acidity to a long, lingering finish.

Brandborg Riesling Umpqua Valley (2008)

Winery: Brandborg Vineyard & Winery
Region: USA » Oregon » Southern Oregon AVA » Douglas County » Umpqua Valley
Varietal: Riesling
Color: White Wines
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Gregory Dal Piaz

Lean smelling with layered notes of crisp apple fruit under white floral tones and hints of river stones. Sweet on entry but very Kabinett-like with good acidity and a lovely, light bodied feel. The citrus and green apple fruit is very pure and clean f...

Abacela Grenache Rose (2014)

Winery: Abacela Vineyards and Winery
Region: USA » Oregon » Southern Oregon AVA » Douglas County » Umpqua Valley
Varietal: Grenache
Type: Table Wines
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Snooth Editorial

Fresh watermelon, herb and mineral notes on the nose with pale cherry aromas and a bit of hay. Bursting with cherry and watermelon flavors, there's a good zestiness to the palate and a touch of cream to round it out, a very clean and easy drinking wine...

Roxy Ann Winery Claret (2008)

Winery: RoxyAnn Winery
Region: USA » Oregon » Southern Oregon
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon , Merlot , Cabernet Franc , Malbec
Type: Table Wines
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Gregory Dal Piaz

A bit hard and black fruited on the nose with licorice, toast, and slight chemical floral accents. Rather smooth with supple tannins on entry, this is not a small scaled wine but it comes off as rather elegant with an open feel and subtle flavors. Noth...

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Columbia Crest Merlot Columbia Valley Grand Estates
Winery: Columbia Crest
Region: USA » Oregon » Columbia Valley
Type: Table Wines

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Braised Lamb Shanks with Mint-Parsley Pesto

Borrowing from the classic combo of lamb served with mint jelly, this comforting dish braises the lesser-used cut of lamb shank until fork tender, then brightens it all up with a mint-orange pesto.... Read more »

Tamarack Cellars Merlot Columbia Valley
Winery: Tamarack Cellars
Region: USA » Oregon » Columbia Valley
Type: Table Wines

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Lamb Meatballs with Lemon-Cumin Yogurt

Fresh mint and cilantro pair with the classic Mediterranean spices of cinnamon, cumin, and coriander to liven up ground lamb and plain yogurt. To prepare these as a main course, form larger meatbal... Read more »

Chateau Ste. Michelle Merlot Columbia Valley Indian Wells
Winery: Chateau Ste. Michelle
Region: USA » Oregon » Columbia Valley
Type: Table Wines

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Baked Kibbeh

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Milbrandt Vineyards Merlot Columbia Valley Traditions
Winery: Milbrandt Vineyards
Region: USA » Oregon » Columbia Valley
Type: Table Wines

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Stout-Braised Lamb Shanks

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Distefano Merlot Blend Columbia Valley Domenica
Winery: DiStefano Winery
Region: USA » Oregon » Columbia Valley
Type: Table Wines

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World's Best Lasagna

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Canoe Ridge Merlot
Winery: Canoe Ridge Estate Vineyard
Region: USA » Oregon » Columbia Valley
Type: Table Wines

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Irish Beef Stew

This traditional Irish beef stew recipe , a favorite on St. Patrick's Day, is made distinctive by the combination of seasonings that are used in the stew and by the addition of stout beer, which gi... Read more »

Snoqualmie Vineyards Merlot Columbia Valley Naked Merlot
Winery: Snoqualmie Vineyards
Region: USA » Oregon » Columbia Valley
Type: Table Wines

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Military S.O.S. Feasty Style

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Chateau Ste. Michelle Merlot Indian Wells Columbia Valley
Winery: Chateau Ste. Michelle
Region: USA » Oregon » Columbia Valley

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World's Best Lasagna Recipe - Food.com - 100679

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Independent Producers Merlot Destiny Ridge Vineyard
Winery: The House of Independent Producers
Region: USA » Oregon » Columbia Valley
Type: Table Wines

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Sausage, Beef and Bean Casserole

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Chateau Ste. Michelle Merlot Columbia Valley
Winery: Chateau Ste. Michelle
Region: USA » Oregon » Columbia Valley
Type: Table Wines

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Slow Cooked Lamb Shanks in Red Wine

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1048490Wine Spectator Lists

Top Value Wines from Oregon 02/12

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1094165Julia Crowley

Six Great Thanksgiving Wines from Oregon's Airlie Winery

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1230782Welkja

Willamette valley wines

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622712deercreekvineyards

oregon favorites

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Mentor for Oregon Wines

Julia Crowley

Award-winning Wine Writer. Publisher/Creative Content Producer of TheRealWineJulia.com. Snooth Contributor & Pro Wine Judge. Charmed by the Willamette Valley's earthy, elegant Pinot Noirs with a true zeal for Oregon Chardonnay, Riesling & Sparkling Wine.

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Popular wines made in Oregon under $20

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Varietals Produced in Oregon View all

  • Syrah

    The irony here is that Syrah’s origins could give Carmen Sandiego a run for her international wallet. Syrah’s deepest...

  • Cabernet Sauvignon

    “King of the Red Wine Grapes.” The colonizer of the vineyards, pushing native wine grapes into its shadows. The Caber...

  • Chardonnay

    British wine writer and critic, Jancis Robinson, once noted that throughout the 80’s and 90’s in the United States, C...

  • Pinot Noir

    “With so voluptuous a perfume, so sweet an edge, they make the blood run hot,” Joel Fleischman, wine columnist at Van...

Subregions of Oregon

  • Columbia Gorge

    The Columbia Gorge AVA is an American Viticultural Area which includes land surrounding the Col...

  • Willamette Valley

      The Willlamette Valley region in Oregon has a wine-making history that dates back to th...

  • Willamette Valley AVA

      The Willlamette Valley region in Oregon has a wine-making history that dates back to the 1...

Popular Wineries in Oregon View all

  • Viridian Wines

    ROLLING HILLS, FERTILE VALLEYS and lush stretches of green as far as the eye can see, describe th...

  • Phelps Creek Vineyards

    A small, artisan producer focused on Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Gewurztraminer grown within the C...

  • Ayoub

    After a long and careful search to find the best site possible to plant Pinot Noir, Mohamad “Mo” ...

  • Alexana Winery

    Alexana Wines was born of Dr. Madaiah Revana’s love of the great wines of Burgundy. In the spring...

  • Carabella Vineyard

    All Carabella wines are sourced from our 58 acre site in Oregon's Chehalem Mountains. We produce ...

  • Panther Creek Cellars

    Panther Creek wines are Oregon's most beautifully packaged and also the most concentrated and age...

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