Oregon wineries, Wines and Wine Country

     The northwest portion of Oregon wine country is celebrated for its cool-climate grape varieties, including Pinot Gris, Riesling, Chardonnay, and especially Pinot noir.  The Southern Oregon appellation (AVA), starting south of Eugene, includes the Umpqua Valley AVA, the Red Hill Douglas County AVA, the Applegate Valley AVA and the Rogue Valley AVA, all located in the southwestern portion of Oregon State.  These regions, along with the vineyards of the Columbia Gorge AVA, are generally higher, much warmer and significantly drier than those of the northwestern quadrant of Oregon State including the Willamette Valley AVA. 

     It wasn't until early 2005 that the Southern Oregon appellation (AVA) was federally authorized as a macro viticultural area, encompassing the previously authorized regions of the Umpqua, the Applegate and the Rogue Valleys. 

       The rich variety of  "micro climates" in southern Oregon (as well as in the Columbia Gorge AVA at Oregon's north central border) provide distinctive vineyard locations capable of nurturing high-quality Bordeaux and Rhone grape varieties, as well as French Burgundian varieties such as Pinot noir and Chardonnay.   The Columbia Gorge appellation, located on both the Oregon and Washington sides of the Columbia River, was authorized as an official American Viticultural Area (AVA) for both states in June 2004.

See the most recent map of Oregon AVAs from Oregon Wine Center

     Oregon's northern latitude brings long hours of summer sunshine to its vineyards, usually adequate to fully ripen grapes for Oregon wines.  Occasional marine breezes breach the Coastal range, and help moderate the climate, causing the ripening process for wine grapes to be gradual.  The combination of these conditions encourages complex fruit flavors, aromatics and nuances in these northern-Oregon-grown wines, complexities that allow Oregon wineries to compete well with other world-class wineries.

      The Willamette Valley AVA/appellation is Oregon's largest wine region, stretching from Portland in northern Oregon to Eugene, more than 100 miles.  Most of the region's wineries are located west of Interstate 5.  The largest concentration of  Oregon wineries is located in the Northern portion of this region.  

    When the Willamette Valley AVA was first authorized 1984, its geographic description included some 3.3 million acres!  Twenty years later, winemakers and wine growers succeeded in submitting applications for approval of six sub appellations within the Willamette Valley, appellations that describe micro climates proven over the years to be distinct from the Willamette Valley as a whole and suited for the growing of wine grapes.  McMinnville Foothills, Dundee Hills, Ribbon Ridge and the Yamhill-Carlton District were all authorized as official American Viticultural Areas (AVA) in the first quarter of 2005.  The Eola-Amity Hills District was authorized later that year in August, and the Chehalem Mountains AVA became official on December 27, 2006.

       In February 2005 federal authorization was passed for the Southern Oregon AVA.  It was distinct from other recent State-AVA designations in that it defined a kind of macro appellation that completely encompasses previously authorized appellations.  The Umpqua Valley (1984) and Red Hill Douglas County (2005) AVAs, the Rogue Valley AVA (1991) and the Applegate Valley AVA (2001) now all lie within the boundaries of the newer two-million-acre appellation of Southern Oregon in the southwest portion of Oregon State. 

       Appellations on the east side of Oregon's Cascade Mountains include only a small, southern portion of the Columbia Valley and Walla Walla Valley AVAs and only three Oregon wineries, but there are plenty of vineyards.  If you plan to drive from western to eastern Oregon, you might want to use Interstate 84, which uses the sea-level path of the Columbia River to traverse the Cascades.  You'll drive through the newly authorized Columbia Gorge Appellation and find several wineries to visit.  Outside official state appellations, there are just a few more eastern Oregon wineries.

    Learn about Washington wineries located in wine regions shared with Oregon -- Columbia Valley wine region, Walla Walla Valley wine region, and the Columbia Gorge wine region.

Touring Oregon Wine Regions

  The map and links below allow you to explore the wineries of each wine region within Oregon, as well as a few outside official appellations. You will also find details about nearby lodging and dining in each region, special events and touring opportunities.

Click on the region of your choice.

Appellations Shared with Washington
    
       
 

Oregon Wine Facts

Number of Wineries

2008 - 350+
2005 - 303
2003 - 250
2001 - 174
2000 - 135
1990 - 71
1986 - 47
1980 - 34
1976 - 11
1970 - 5  

Vinifera Acreage

Wine Sales

2006 Production
1,590,357 cases
2003 Production
1,199,086 cases
2001 Production
1,000,000+ cases
1999 Production
777,890 cases
1994 Production
612,512 cases

Major Varieties 
(Sorted by Production)

Pinot noir, Pinot gris,
Chardonnay, White Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet sauvignon, Syrah, Gewürztraminer,
Pinot blanc,
Müller-Thurgau,
Cabernet franc,
Sauvignon blanc, 
Semillon, Zinfandel

Additional Varieties

Arneis, Baco noir,
Chenin blanc, Dolcetto,
Gamay noir, Grenache,
Maréchal Foch, Malbec, Muscat, Nebbiolo,
Petite Syrah, Sangiovese, Tempranillo,
Viognier, Zinfandel

Ratio of Red to White wine production:

60% / 40%

Official Appellations

Willamette Valley AVA
(1983)

Sub Appellations
Dundee Hills
(2005)
McMinnville Foothills
(2005)
Ribbon Ridge
(2005)
Yamhill-Carlton District
(2005)
Eola-Amity Hills District
(2005)
Chehalem Mountains
(2006)

Southern Oregon AVA
(2005)

Sub Appellations
Applegate Valley
(2001)
Red Hill Douglas County
(2005)
Rogue Valley
(1990)
Umpqua Valley
(1984)

Shared with Washington

Columbia Gorge AVA
Columbia Valley AVA
Walla Walla Valley AVA