A Quick Oregon Wine Primer

By Cole Danehower
For Oregon.com

Welcome to Oregon Wine Country
Or, more accurately, Welcome to the Wine Countries of Oregon!

What's that you say? You didn't know that Oregon even had one wine country, let alone multiples? Well, you're not alone. Despite the fact that Oregon has one of the most diverse, exciting and innovative wine industries in North America, a lot of people still aren't familiar with the range and quality of our wines.

Why is that? Well, it's partly because of the size and prominence of our neighbor to the south. With well over 1,000 wineries and national names like Gallo and Mondavi, California immediately pops into everyone's mind when they think of American wine.

By comparison, Oregon's 218 wineries - which are mostly family-run small businesses producing petite amounts of high quality wine - are easily overlooked.

But not overlooked by you! That's why you're here at Oregon.com finding out about the world of wine that is Oregon-that puts you ahead of the masses who haven't yet caught on to Oregon's wines.

What Wines Do You Like?
Oregon is characterized by many small wineries focusing on quality, not quantity. And yet, Oregon pretty much has a wine for every taste. That's because the state is blessed with a diverse set of growing climates for grapes - allowing most all varieties to prosper here.

To start learning about Oregon's wine countries, it's best to understand a little bit about our "wine geography."

Wine grapes tend to be classified into varieties that either enjoy cool climates (typically pinot noir, pinot gris, gamay noir, chardonnay, riesling, gewurztraminer), or warm climates (cabernet sauvignon, zinfandel, merlot, syrah, and sometimes chardonnay also).

Luckily, Oregon has both climates. So depending on which kinds of wines you like best, we have a wine country that will interest you.

Cool Climate Oregon
Oregon is most famous for making some of the finest Pinot noir wines in the world - even the experts agree that they can rival the best from Burgundy.

Yamhill County vineyard in the Willamette Valley region Courtesy Yamhill Valley Visitors Association

Since Pinot noir thrives in a generally cooler climate, it is ideal for the northern part of Oregon. Pinot is primarily grown in the Willamette Valley appellation, a huge swath of country that roughly extends from just southwest of Portland, down through Salem, McMinnville and into Eugene.

Throughout the Willamette Valley many wineries open their doors to visitors from April through September - tending to close in the fall for harvest time. Besides Pinot noir, wineries in this region are famous for crisp and fruity Pinot gris and Chardonnay wines as well - plus the occasional surprise (like some great sparkling wines and some wonderful sweet wines).

Warm Climate Oregon
South of Eugene the climate of Oregon warms up considerably and grape growing season tends to be longer. This region, known as the Rogue Valley wine appellation, is great growing country for the big red wines so popular today.

In particular, the area around Medford and Ashland - and even further south to Cave Junction - is quickly expanding its wine production with many new wineries making extremely fine syrah, merlot and cabernet wines, among many other varieties and blends.

North of this region (but still south of Eugene), the Umpqua Valley wine appellation is an up-and-coming region that is starting to produce different and unusual (for the West Coast) varieties of wines.

Some of the first (and still very few) producers of tempranillo, baco noir, viognier and marechal foch wines are located in this region, particularly around Roseburg and the very small town of Elkton.

Oregon is a State of Wine
The fine wine industry in Oregon got its start in the late 1960s when people like Richard Somers in the south and David Lett in the north began growing wine grapes and making varietal wine.

Today, wine production is a vibrant and growing part of Oregon's economy. For visitors to Oregon or natives and residents who haven't done so, sampling the pleasures of Oregon's wine countries is a great way to experience part of what makes Oregon special.

If you want to learn more about where to go, who to see, and what to drink in Oregon's wine countries, just check in with us each month . . . we'll try to steer you right!

Cole Danehower publishes the Oregon Wine Report, writes for Northwest Palate magazine, and is a member of the Oregon Wine Advisory Board. He can be contacted at cole@harborside.com.