Someone once said that to really know the land, drink wine made from the land. Well, actually, I just made that up but it makes sense doesn't it? Southern Oregon's vast collection of rolling hills, rivers, and green forests mean that each winery in the region produces unique and taste-bud popping wines that are truly "born from the land."
We asked Michael Donovan, general manager for RoxyAnn Winery in Medford to give us his perspective on southern Oregon's burgeoning wine industry. By the way, RoxyAnn Winery shared the cool photo that appears in this blog. Michael's thoughts, "Our area is really perfect for a large variety of grapes. We are gaining national exposure and attention due to the incredible geographic diversity that helps produce our spectacular wines. Our region runs from Roseburg to Ashland. In it you will find all kinds of different weather and geographic conditions. And this diversity is what makes our wines special. For example, in the cooler regions growers produce spectacular Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. In the dryer areas, the bold reds come into their own such as the Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah varietals."
If you are interested in a tour of some of these vineyards/wineries check out the following resources: Southern Oregon Wineries Association's website and the Medford Visitors & Convention Bureau's website.
Factoids: There are currently 36 local wineries listed on the Southern Oregon Wineries website (see link to the right). Donovan guesstimates that there are approximately 50 wineries currently operating in the southern Oregon area and in the next decade there could be as many as 100. White Water Warehouse features many Oregon wines on our Rogue River rafting and hiking lodge trips.
