Oregon’s wine-producing regions are unique in geography, climate, varietals and winemaking styles.
Columbia Gorge and Columbia Valley
Mt. Hood and the cliffs of the Columbia River look down on waterfront towns, countless waterfalls and the world’s best windsurfing waters. This brewpub mecca and up-and-coming wine region is also the home of the Hood River Fruit Loop driving trail.
Located in the Hood River area, the Columbia Gorge AVA’s climate varies widely. From the high desert-like east to the cooler, wetter west, a range of grape varietals − Chardonnay, Pinot noir, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, among them – thrive in this region.
While much of the arid Columbia Valley AVA is located on the Washington side of the Columbia River, a number of new, innovative Oregon wineries are making Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and a host of other wines in The Dalles area.
Resources:
Columbia Gorge Winegrowers
Hood River Chamber of Commerce
Oregon Wine Board / Columbia Gorge
Oregon Wine Board / Columbia Valley
Travel Oregon / Mt. Hood / Columbia River Gorge
Southern Oregon
With orchards and vineyards set against alpine meadows, crystal-clear rivers and lush valleys, this rugged, diverse region is home to Crater Lake National Park.
Oregon winemaking originated here when the first wine grapes were planted in the 1800s. Today, new vineyards and wineries are reigniting the established wine culture by producing top-notch wines. Comprised of 170 microclimates, Southern Oregon is the state’s largest warm-climate growing region.
With five Sub AVAs − Umpqua Valley, Red Hills Douglas County, Rogue Valley, Applegate Valley and the new Elkton – in addition to the Southern Oregon AVA, and more than 65 wineries, it’s one of the most diverse winegrowing regions in the world. Cooler areas produce Pinot noir, Pinot gris, Sauvignon blanc and more. The warmer, arid regions ripen Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, Syrah and others.
Resources:
Southern Oregon Winery Association
Southern Oregon Visitors Association
Oregon Wine Board / Southern Oregon
Travel Oregon / Southern Oregon
Eastern Oregon
The spirit of the West is alive and well in Eastern Oregon, where visitors can take in rodeos, fishing, hunting, snow sports and incredible wildlife viewing. Orchards, wheat fields and vineyards dot the countryside graced by the Blue Mountains on the horizon.
Located in northeastern Oregon eight miles south of Walla Walla, Wash., this region is open, spacious and home to vineyards along the Columbia River. Diverse soils form the basis of distinctive Walla Walla AVA terroirs: silty, sandy earth from the Missoula Floods, basalt cobblestones and fractured basalt bedrock.
Earthy and spicy, full-bodied Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon blanc, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Semillon, Pinot gris, Chenin blanc and Syrah produced here are easily recognized for their distinctive minerality.
More than 50% of Walla Walla AVA wine is made from grapes grown in Oregon.
The Snake River Valley AVA straddles the Oregon-Idaho border and is one of the state’s newest. Currently, there are no wineries in the Oregon portion of the AVA.
Resources:
Milton-Freewater Travel
Oregon Wine Board / Walla Walla Valley
Travel Oregon / Eastern Oregon
Willamette Valley
With its namesake river running through it from Portland to south of Eugene, the region of more than 500 wineries is protected by the Coast Range to the west, the Cascades to the east and a chain of hills to the north. The Willamette Valley is the heart of Oregon’s agricultural production with farms growing everything from fruit and nuts to Christmas trees and flowers, and, of course, wine grapes.
In addition to the Willamette Valley AVA, Sub AVAs include Chehalem Mountains, Yamhill-Carlton District, Ribbon Ridge, Dundee Hills, McMinnville and Eola-Amity Hills.
Wet, cool winters and warm, dry summers make this an ideal climate for Pinot noir and other cool-climate grapes, including Pinot gris, Chardonnay and Riesling.
Resources:
Willamette Valley Visitors Association
Willamette Valley Wineries
Oregon Wine Board / Willamette Valley
Travel Oregon / Willamette Valley
