Southern Oregon AVA facts for kids
| Wine region | |
Image of Ruch in Applegate Valley. The field of green on the opposite hillside is a vineyard in the Applegate Valley AVA.
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| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 2004 |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | Oregon |
| Sub-regions | Applegate Valley AVA, Elkton AVA, Red Hill Douglas County AVA, Rogue Valley AVA, Umpqua Valley AVA |
| Climate region | Maritime/Mediterranean |
| Total area | 2,001,430 acres (8,099 km2) |
| Size of planted vineyards | 3,000 acres (12 km2) |
| Grapes produced | Albarino, Bastardo, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Dolcetto, Grenache, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Syrah, Tempranillo, Viognier |
The Southern Oregon AVA is a special area in Southern Oregon, United States. AVA stands for American Viticultural Area. This means it's a specific region recognized for growing grapes for wine.
The Southern Oregon AVA was created in 2004. It brings together two smaller AVAs: the Rogue Valley AVA and the Umpqua Valley AVA. This was done so these two main grape-growing areas could work together. It's a bit different from other parts of Oregon, like the Willamette Valley AVA. There, they often make smaller AVAs based on very specific weather or soil types.
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What is the Southern Oregon AVA?
The Southern Oregon AVA is like a big umbrella for the Umpqua Valley AVA and the Rogue Valley AVA. All the places where grapes are grown in this larger AVA are found within these two smaller regions. There's a small connecting strip of land that makes it one continuous area. However, this strip goes through mountains where grapes cannot grow.
This AVA is in the southwest corner of Oregon. It's south of Eugene and west of the Cascades mountains. The area includes the river valleys of the Rogue and Umpqua River rivers. Grapes grow well along these rivers and their smaller streams.
Umpqua Valley AVA
The Umpqua Valley AVA includes the area drained by the Umpqua River. It's a bit warmer than the Willamette Valley to the north. But it's cooler than the Rogue Valley, which is further south.
Some of the main grapes grown here are Pinot Noir. You can also find smaller amounts of Pinot Gris, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Riesling.
Red Hill Douglas County, Oregon AVA
The Red Hill Douglas County, Oregon AVA is a smaller area completely inside the Umpqua Valley AVA. It covers about 5,500 acres (2,226 ha) of land. This area is located near a town called Yoncalla. Its name was chosen carefully to avoid confusion with another "Red Hill" area in Oregon.
Elkton, Oregon AVA
The Elkton AVA is also entirely within the Umpqua Valley AVA. This area is about 74,900 acres (30,311 ha) in size. It is located near the town of Elkton.
Rogue Valley AVA
The Rogue Valley AVA includes the area drained by the Rogue River. It also includes its smaller streams like the Illinois River, the Applegate River, and Bear Creek. Most grape farms in this region are found along these smaller streams. They are not usually right along the main Rogue River.
This region is about 70 miles (110 km) wide and 60 miles (97 km) long. Even though it's a large area, not all of it is good for growing grapes. The Rogue Valley is the warmest and driest grape-growing region in Oregon. Each river valley here has its own unique terroir. This is a French word that means the special natural environment, like soil and climate, that affects the taste of the grapes. Because of this, different types of grapes grow well in different parts of the valley.
Illinois Valley
The Illinois River is the westernmost stream in the Rogue Valley. It flows through the Siskiyou National Forest. This area is high up in the mountains. It gets a lot of influence from the ocean climate. This makes it a good place to grow grapes similar to those found in the Willamette Valley.
Applegate Valley AVA
The Applegate Valley AVA was created in 2000. It is the only smaller AVA within the Rogue Valley AVA. The Applegate River flows through the town of Applegate. It also flows near Jacksonville, where Oregon's very first grape farm was located. That farm has been restored and is now called Valley View Winery.
Grape farms here are at high elevations, from 1,000 feet (300 m) to 1,500 feet (500 m) above sea level. This area is warmer and drier than the Illinois Valley to the west. But it's not as warm and dry as the Bear Creek Valley to the east. Grapes like Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay, and Zinfandel grow well here. Merlot and Cabernet are the most common.
Bear Creek Valley
Bear Creek Valley is the most populated part of the Rogue River area. It flows through cities like Medford and Ashland. The valley floor here is about 2,000 feet (610 m) above sea level. The climate is warm and dry.
The weather in Bear Creek Valley is similar to the Bordeaux region in France. This makes it great for growing grapes like Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Pinot gris, Sauvignon blanc, Malbec, and Syrah.
