Southern Oregon Wine Tour
When settlers first came to the southern part of this state, they discovered a temperate land filled with lush valleys that begged to nourish plant stock, agreeably cool in the spring, intensely warm in the summer. Today, Oregon’s “banana belt” is provoking discovery of a different sort — the rich, ripe products of the region’s wineries.
1.
Roseburg to Canyonville
Start your day in the Roseburg area (“The Land of Umpqua”). Here, country roads lead you through rolling farmlands and thriving wine country. Along the way you’ll experience gracious hospitality in communities such as Lookingglass, Tenmile, Melrose, Garden Valley, Umpqua, Winston, and Elkton.
Featured Oregon Bounty wineries in the area include: Brandborg Vineyard and Winery, a family owned micro-distillery that still uses wood-fired pots to handcraft spirits such as pear brandies, varietal grappas and blackberry liqueur; Champagne Creek Cellars, famous for its Pink Fox (White Merlot), greets visitors in a restored 1878 hay barn; and Abacela Winery, which produces out-of-the-ordinary wines such as Tempranillo, Dolcetto and Sangiovese. These red-wine grapes are well known in Spain and Italy, but rarely grown in Oregon.
End your day in Canyonville at the Seven Feathers Hotel & Casino where you can experience Nevada-style gaming, luxurious accommodations and fine dining at the Camas Room. For a more rustic option, check out Idleyld Lodge Inn, a charming two-bedroom inn where you can dine on special Oregon Bounty meals.
2.
Into the Rogue and Applegate Valleys
On Day 2 take the one-hour jaunt down I-5 to the Rogue and Applegate valleys. Here, the self-guided Oregon Wine & Farm Tour offers visitors a glimpse of Southern Oregon’s fertile agricultural base including wineries, the historic Hanley Farm, and the only working marble quarry in the state.
Start your day in Central Point at the Rogue Valley Creamery (world-famous for it’s Smokey Blue cheese) and then taste the complex Cabernet sauvignons and Malbecs, among others, at RoxyAnn Winery. Finally, give into your Willie Wonka cravings at Harry & David, America's foremost purveyor of gourmet food and fruit gifts.
Head west toward the charmingly historic town of Jacksonville and the wineries of the Applegate Valley. Start at Wooldridge Inn and work your way through the beautiful Troon Vineyards, Dewitt Winery and Valley View Winery, all of which offer special Oregon Bounty tasting events.
Following an afternoon of toasting, indulge in a delicious meal at a nearby restaurant featuring Oregon Bounty menu items. Spend the night at either the historic Jacksonville Inn or get cozy at the waterfront Edgewater Inn.
3.
Medford and Ashland
Day 3 takes you from Eden Vale Winery in Medford to Weisingers of Ashland where you can taste fine Gewürztraminer and cabernet sauvignon. Inside the Weisingers’ tasting room, don’t miss the beehive (don’t worry, it’s behind glass), where you can watch bees produce the winery’s estate honey.
Spend the night in one of the charming inns and hotels offering Oregon Bounty rates and packages (The Winchester Inn Restaurant & Wine Bar, Ashland Springs Hotel, Anne Hathaway's Cottage, or Ashland Windmill Inn & Suites) and feast on Southern Oregon's bounty before taking in a play at the Tony Award-winning Oregon Shakespeare Festival.