Oregon Wine

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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 »

By the early 1960s, California oenologists at UC Davis became interested in Oregon terroir, even though studies had determined the climate to be too cool for quality grape-growing. One of them, Richard Sommer, established Hillcrest Vineyard in what is now Umpqua Valley, growing varietals UC Davis had deemed inappropriate such as Gewurtztraminer, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir.

In 1965, David Lett, another UC Davis ex-pat, who had done extensive research in Burgundy and Alsace, determined that certain grapes such as Pinot Gris, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir had an excellent chance at long ripening in the climate of Western Oregon. He established Eyrie Vineyard in the Dundee Hills where he was the first to plant the Pinot Gris varietal in the US. By the mid 1970s, he was entering his Pinot Noir in French “Wine Olympics” blind tastings and scoring well, if not first place. In 1980, his Pinot Noir placed second against Robert Drouhin’s 1959 Chambolle-Musigny, which was enough to draw attention to Oregon for the first time as a quality wine region.

By the early 1970s, several other notable producers established their vineyards, many of them also from California: Dick Erath (Erath Vineyards Winery), Nancy and Dick Ponzi (Ponzi Vineyards), Susan and Bill Sokol-Blosser (Sokol-Blosser Winery), Ginny and David Adelsheim (Adelsheim Vineyards), Pat and Joe Campbell (Elk Cove Vineyards), Virginia and Bill Fuller (Tulatin Estate Vineyards), Ann and Jerry Preston with Myron Redford (Amity Vineyards), and even Robert Drouhin.

The success of the 1980 blind tasting has led to the growth of Oregon as a destination for high quality viticulture. Wine-makers have learned how to work with the cool-climate and rainfall factors to produce excellent wines in most vintages from the grapes they find most suitable to the conditions. Pinot Noir is the gem of the region, along with Alsacian grapes Pinot Gris, Gewürtztraminer and Riesling. Many German grapes also do well in the climate such as Müller-Thurgau. In addition, traditional varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel and Chardonnay are also successful.

The regions of Oregon are:

Columbia Gorge (includes Hoode River County)

Columbia Valley (includes Walla Walla Valley)

Snake River Valley

Southern Oregon (includes Rogue and Umpqua valleys)

Wilamette Valley (includes Polk, Washington and Yamhill counties)

– Description from Amanda Schuster (hide)

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Washington & Oregon Wines Tread the Line

Columbia Valley, Columbia Gorge, and Walla Walla Valley: a triumvirate of outstanding wine producing regions with a fascinating twist. While there are numerous ways in which these three areas are vastly different from each other, they have one key simi...

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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

Pinot Noir

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

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

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

Coelho Winery

Coelho Winery is a small family-owned winery located in Amity, Oregon. Our vineyard was planted ...
Sockeye Winery

In 2003, Andrew Browne launched Precept Wine Brands. He re-joined his partner Dan Baty from Corus...
Phelps Creek Vineyards

A small, artisan producer focused on Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Gewurztraminer grown within the C...
Girardet Wine Cellars & Vineyard

Philippe Girardet was born and raised in Switzerland near the headwaters of the Rhone, a French-s...
Bishop Creek Cellars

We believe that the art of winemaking starts with quality fruit. Planted in 1988, our grapes come...
Chateau Bianca

Chateau Bianca Winery is a family owned and operated winery established in the mid-1980’s. The an...

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Oregon on Snooth

January 2009

J. Bookwalter Subplot 22 NV

Snoothrank:

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Wine review by tsswank
January 2009

Owen Roe Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley Seven Hills Vineyard 2006

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January 2009

Owen Roe Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Pinot Noir Washington 2006

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Good price on a good pinot. Needed to cellar for a year once released. Read More

Wine review by tsswank
January 2009

A To Z Wineworks Chardonnay Oregon 2005

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Fantastic chardonnay for the price. Read More

Wine review by ssanger
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Pedestal Merlot 2004

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Wine review by Punch
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Poet's Leap Riesling 2007

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January 2009

Educated Guess Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

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January 2009

Cloudline Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2003

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No written review

Wine review by khomotso
January 2009

Patricia Green Cellars Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Reserve 2006

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Blackcap Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2005

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Oregon wine ratings and reviews

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

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

Winery:	Valley View Winery
Region:	USA » Oregon » Southern Oregon AVA » Jackson/Josephine Counties » Rogue Valley » Applegate Valley
Varietal:	Viognier
Type:	Table Wines

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

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

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

Winery:	Cliff Creek Cellars
Region:	USA » Oregon » Southern Oregon
Type:	Table Wines

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

Winery:	Erath Vineyards
Region:	USA » Oregon » Willamette Valley
Type:	Table Wines

Winery:	Lange Estate Winery & Vineyards
Region:	USA » Oregon » Willamette Valley
Type:	Table Wines

Winery:	Willamette Valley Vineyards
Region:	USA » Oregon » Willamette Valley
Type:	Table Wines

Winery:	WillaKenzie Estate
Region:	USA » Oregon » Willamette Valley
Type:	Table Wines

Winery:	Elk Cove Vineyards
Region:	USA » Oregon » Willamette Valley
Type:	Table Wines

Winery:	Bethel Heights Vineyard
Region:	USA » Oregon » Willamette Valley
Type:	Table Wines

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

Oregon Wine

Erath Vineyards Pinot Gris

Turkey and Rice With Veggies

Lange Estate Winery Pinot Gris "Reserve"

New Orleans Red Beans And Rice

Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Gris

Turkey, Brie and Pear Sandwiches

Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Gris Willamette Valley

Barley Risotto with Asparagus and Parmesan

Willakenzie Pinot Gris

Lemon Risotto with Tempeh

Willakenzie Pinot Gris Oregon

Arborio Rice, Parmesan, and Green Pea Pancakes

Elk Cove Pinot Gris

Cucumber Soup

Bethel Heights Pinot Gris Willamette Valley

Hearty Minestrone with Barley, Sage, and Beans

Willakenzie Pinot Gris Oregon

Spinach Risotto with Roquefort

Columbia Crest Pinot Gris Columbia Valley Grand Estates

Mustard-Glazed Beef Skewers

1048490Wine Spectator Lists

1094165Julia Crowley

1230782Welkja

622712deercreekvineyards

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Varietals Produced in Oregon View all

Subregions of Oregon

Popular Wineries in Oregon View all

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