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]]>The Applegate Valley has a long history as a wine region. When Peter Britt founded his Valley View Winery there, it was the Pacific Northwest’s first. The year was 1854.
Britt emigrated from Switzerland in 1845 and settled in Illinois. He journeyed to Portland, Oregon by wagon train in 1852. He then headed south to what would become Jacksonville, drawn by a gold rush which began in 1851. Initially, he made money from gold mining and mule packing, but soon gave it up in favor of photography and horticulture which had been his previous vocations.
Considered the father of the Southern Oregon fruit industry, Britt planted pears, peaches, and apples, as well as grapes. He was, perhaps, the first in the area to use smudge pots to prevent frost damage and to develop formal irrigation for his crops. Britt continued selling grapes and wine until his death in 1905.
A Rogue Valley Native American photographed by Peter Britt
Britt grew many other things as well, including semi-tropical plants. Today the Britt Gardens in Jacksonville, Oregon is located on his original property and celebrates his legacy. It serves as a park, but also a venue for excellent concerts and festivals.
He also continued with photography and painting. (The others in his wagon train did not appreciate the 300 pounds of photographic equipment he brought with him from Illinois.) Britt’s work provides an important visual record of life in the area during the latter half of the 19th century. They can be seen at various museums and archives, in the area and online.
Though winemaking continued right up until, and perhaps beyond, Prohibition, other fruit crops, along with lumber, were much larger drivers of the Southern Oregon economy. And Prohibition did, essentially, put an end to commercial winemaking there. It wasn’t until 1972 that viticulture returned to the Applegate Valley. In that year, Dick Troon planted his eponymous vineyard and Frank Wisnovsky brought back the Valley View Winery brand, planting 12 acres.
Even then, Applegate Valley was at the forefront in the Northwest as a whole. The first modern vineyard in Oregon didn’t appear until 1961. And, in 1970 there were still only 35 planted vineyard acres in the state.
The Applegate Valley AVA was established in 2000. It encompasses 275,000 total acres and is entirely nested within the Rogue Valley AVA (est. 1991) which is itself nested within the Southern Oregon AVA. The Applegate Valley AVA has about 700 acres under vine.
It runs roughly southeast to northwest, following a 50-mile stretch of the Applegate River and straddling the Jackson County-Josephine County line. It’s easternmost extent is about 5 miles southwest of Ashland. In the west, it stretches about 15 miles beyond, though south of, Grants Pass. Although a “valley AVA,” it is within the Siskiyou Mountains and includes a lot of rugged, mountainous terrain.
Those mountains also shield the AVA from direct, oceanic influence. The Pacific Ocean is just 45 miles to the west. Cooling breezes do reach the vineyards, but via a long, circuitous path following first the Rogue River, then the Applegate.
The climate is not what most people, especially those primarily familiar with the Willamette Valley, expect from Oregon wine country. Technically, the Applegate Valley has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, like much of coastal California. However, unlike those California regions, it has four very distinct seasons, a relatively short growing season, and fog is not a factor.
Winter is cold, with occasional snow. That allows the vines to go into full hibernation. Half of the area’s annual 20-30” of precipitation arrives in winter.
Spring and autumn are both cool. Bud break typically comes in late April or early May. Even then, nighttime temperatures can drop enough to make frost a risk to the budding vines. Spring and autumn are also wet seasons, accounting for almost the entire remainder of annual rainfall. Rain can therefore affect both fruit set and harvest.
Summer is a different story entirely. Skies are cloudless and daytime temperatures high, generally between 80° and 90°F. Rain is very rare. Due to the Applegate Valley’s relatively northerly latitude, the sun is out longer each day than in California wine regions. It’s longest day, June 21 offers 15 hours, 17 minutes of daylight.
Those extra minutes are important, because the temperatures drop dramatically at night. There are three reasons for this. Winds make their way there from the ocean. Cold air drops down from the heights of the Siskiyou Mountains. And the Applegate Valley AVA has some altitude itself, an average of about 1,300 feet.
Those daily low temperatures, mid-50s or below, mean the vines stop growing and ripening until about mid-morning. This slows development of flavors, tannins, and sugars and preserves the grapes’ malic acid
The Applegate Valley AVA averaged 2438 growing-season degree days per year from 2004 through 2010. That puts it at the upper end of Winkler-Amerine Region Ib and is about the same as the Savoie region of France and Baden in Germany.
Degree days don’t tell the whole story though, because they don’t take into account the long days of sun and cloudless skies, nor, on the other hand, the cold nights. The Huglin Index, which is a heat summation like Winkler-Amerine but takes more factors into account, suggests Applegate Valley AVA ripening potential may about the same as Margaret River, Australia.
As one would expect, there is some climate variation within the Applegate Valley AVA based on distance from the ocean. Vineyards in the western portion of the AVA are cooler and get the most rain. Those in the east are warmer and only average 20-25 inches.
Alluvial fans and ancient river sediment dominate the area’s soils. The latter tends to be a warm, dark, crumbly soil that includes some forest-derived organics. The alluvial fans, especially in the Kubli Bench zone, can include granite from the mountains, which makes for courser, better-draining soils. Many, but not all, of the vineyards irrigate.
Because the growing season is on the short side and features those cold nights, the Applegate Valley AVA is best-suited to “intermediate” grapes which ripen quickly or are pleasing at low levels of ripeness. It doesn’t produce full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon.
Top varieties by acre include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Syrah, Tempranillo, and Pinot Noir. However, that assortment is driven not just by climate and soil, but by consumer demand. Cabernet Sauvignon only thrives in the warmest sites. Other varieties that do, or could do, well include Rhone whites, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Vermentino, Cabernet Franc, Grenache, and Malbec. All those varieties, except Semillon, exist in Applegate Valley.
]]>There are plenty of dos and don’ts for gifting wine. And there are lots of occasions where wine makes the perfect gift. From a bottle for your hostess to the true oenophile on your list, all it takes is a little advance contemplation, and a card tied to the neck that begins with the words “I chose this for you because…”
But there are also those occasions where you need something on hand…ready to give that present-bearing person who shows up at your door unexpectedly, or for the last minute invite to a spontaneous gathering. In this case, you need a bottle that will please most every palate, but don’t forgo the card…it could simply say “I chose this for you because Applegate Valley wines are fantastic, and I knew you’d appreciate it.”
Selecting a wine from the Applegate Valley AVA means you have great options for every situation. Here are just a few ideas from our vintners:
Cowhorn Wine has put together a three-bottle set of Sentience, their extraordinary estate-grown Syrah; a barrel blend crafted by selecting eight barrels, each one offering a complementary expression of a unique characteristic of the vintage. The holiday collection arrives as a ready-to-give gift: one bottle each of the 2011, 2013, and 2014 Sentience, a gift box with hand-tied bow, custom card with envelope, the detailed story of how Sentience came to be, and a personal letter from Cowhorn’s Owner and Winemaker.
Plaisance Ranch invites you to give the “Taste of Purple” for the Holidays with their 2015 Carménère. This Bordeaux varietal, a member of the Cabernet family and one of the original six red wine grapes from that region, is known for its ripe purple fruits and earthy notes. While you’re there, pick up some of the farm’s certified organic grass fed beef for your holiday gatherings.
Rosella’s Vineyard and Winery suggests the 2013 Cabernet as the perfect wine for gift giving, with its beautiful garnet color with a ruby red rim. It has an alluring nose of cassis and black pepper. On the palate, notes of raspberry are complemented with lingering acidity and a finish of dusty, silky tannins.
At LongSword Vineyard you’ll find the perfect hostess gift wine, the lightly sparkling Chardonnay known as “Accolade,” a definite crowd-pleaser that is reminiscent of champagne. Here you’ll also find several gift packages: a two-bottle set called “Time to Party” which features Accolade along with Glissade, a sparkling rosé ; the “Red Wine Lovers” gift set of three red wines; and the “Vive la Difference!” Gift Package, with two whites, two rosés, and two reds.
This is a great time to hit the trail for some holiday shopping and holiday cheer. Just make sure to check on seasonal hours as Christmas approaches. Happy Holidays!
]]>Cowhorn’s 2015 Marsanne Roussanne, is crisp, bright, and clean, a staff favorite that can be served at 54 degrees, which is owner and winemaker Bill Steele’s personal preference. It has been awarded 91 points by Vinous and named one of the Top 50 Oregon Wines by Portland Monthly, where it’s fondly referred to as a “sweater weather white.” Along with the lovely honey and hazelnut flavors, this vintage adds lime and papaya plus a hint of herbal tea that teases your palate.
The 2015 Schultz Homeward Chardonnay is straw colored with notes of melon, white stone fruit, and a kiss of minerality. Native yeast fermentation and aged 9 months in neutral oak barrels, there were only 67 cases produced of this award-winning white, which garnered a Gold medal at the 2017 Oregon Wine Awards and a Silver at this year’s Oregon Wine Experience
Valley View’s 2014 Viognier is a great choice for fall. Estate grown, this wine is entirely fermented and aged in stainless steel tanks. The juice was fermented cool to allow the full fruit flavors to develop. Bottled in the summer of 2015, there were 1000 cases produced
Chardonnay grows well on Schmidt’s site with southern exposure; an ideal situation for ripening. The 2014 Chardonnay Reserve spent 14 months in French oak, and will pair well with soft cheeses or poultry, and would make a great addition to your holiday meals. Awards include a Double Gold at the 2017 San Francisco Chronicle competition, and a Silver at this year’s Oregon Wine Experience.
Thousands of dandelion petals are plucked for each bottle of Wild Wines’ 2014 Dandelion Wine, a traditional favorite. Golden sunshine, bright and crisp, with a pear-apricot bouquet, this wine is a pleasure to drink chilled with cheeses or on its own. Only 34 cases produced.
Aged in stainless steel, LongSword’s unoaked Chardonnay went through several rounds of “batonnage,” which added a wonderful extra dimension of richness. Elegant and lively, Invitation pairs bright citrus and crisp mineral flavors with notes of pear and melon to create a delightfully well-balanced, food-friendly wine.
]]>Farm-to-table shopping isn’t just for fruits and vegetables and eggs; it’s also what you’re doing when you go wine tasting, though you can call it farm-to-glass if you like. And when you’re tasting on The Applegate Wine Trail, you’re traveling through some of the most beautiful, fertile farmland anywhere, producing not only world-class wine grapes, but crops of all kinds, which thrive here.
There are 18 wineries growing a diversity of varietals along this Southern Oregon wine trail. Each winery has a distinctive wine program with a particular point of view and a certain winemaking philosophy. They all have great wines to try. Here’s a small taste of what you’ll find.
Three generations make up the “Family” at Schmidt Family Vineyards, which farms 30 planted acres producing 14 varietals for their predominantly estate-grown wines. Each of the 14 varietals is destined for their single-varietal bottlings, with select fruit chosen for their red and white blends. Known for their gorgeous grounds and flatbread pizzas.
Consider this wine: Award-winning 2012 Syrah. 90 pts. Wine Spectator. Crisp, with earthy overtones to the dark berry and spice flavors, finishing on a peppery note. 251 cases produced.
LongSword Vineyard, another family-owned and family-farmed winery, is that kind of comfortable place where you might just hang out all day, especially if the paragliders and hang gliders are landing on the property.
Consider this wine: Glissade, Sparkling Rosé. A lightly effervescent rosé of Viognier and Pinot Noir. Aromas of vanilla, lilac, and limestone yield to familiar sun-drenched flavors of strawberry-rhubarb pie, blueberries, black currant, and even tobacco.
At Troon Vineyard, one of the Applegate Valley’s original wineries, fruit is sustainably farmed and wines are handcrafted utilizing gentle foot-trodding and native yeast fermentation. Troon is home to some of the valley’s most compelling varietals.
Consider this wine: 2014 Black Label M*T Reserve. A blend of Tannat and Malbec (60%/40%), M*T has critics raving and awarding high points, who characterize it as “full-bodied with dense fruit and perfect balance” and “a beautiful blend.”
Wild Wines exemplifies our farm-to-glass wine country. Here owner Carla David produces something special and completely different: flower, fruit, and berry wines. Made in small batches from locally grown and hand-harvested flowers and fruits, Wild Wines are produced with traditional integrity from the finest ingredients, and without sulfites or preservatives.
Consider this wine: Aronia Berry Wine. One of the most antioxidant-rich plants, the aronia berry has skins with high tannins that make it unpalatable in raw form, but that give the wine structure. This complex, ruby-red wine is earthy, rich, and full-bodied with flavors of black pepper and molasses and an excellent mouthfeel and finish.
So don’t forget that most winery proprietors are farmers, too, and when you go wine tasting, you’re indulging in a little of our Southern Oregon farm-to-glass culture.
]]>LongSword Vineyard is the best vantage point to take in the International Rat Race Paragliding Competition. Launching from Woodrat Mountain, paragliders descend to the landing spot on the stunning grounds of LongSword. You can chose either the practice day on June 17, or the actual competition on the June 24 (or both!).
If you want to treat the Dad in your life to something special, Troon Vineyard will host their annual Father’s Day celebration on June 18th. The first 50 dads receive a special gift, and the event features Terry Wood woodworking crafts.
Or take Dad to Valley View winery to enjoy the music of Seth Hanson from 2 to 5.
At Plaisance Ranch, you can Wine Down on Friday, June 23rd to the incredible blues guitar of Terry Robb, recently voted the #1 blues guitarist in the world. Wines by the bottle or glass and dinner are part of their Wine Down series.
On June 24th, Troon Vineyard hosts their annual Summer Solstice Event showcasing summer fun, featuring vendors, food, and, of course, wine.
Thursday night Music Nights are back at Red Lily. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and a picnic. Concerts begin at 6pm.
On July 1st, Troon Vineyard features its Summer Concert with country band Billy Lund & Whiskey Weekend. The concert starts at 6, and tickets are $10 ($5 for wine club members).
The critically acclaimed documentary concert, Romancing the West, is a musical tribute to history. Plaisance Ranch hosts this dinner show, featuring a traditional western barbeque, on the evening of July 14th.
Check back for more events as the summer season progresses. See you on the trail!
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