Oregon Wine

Oregon state wines reflect the essense of the land where they grow and of the people who craft them.

The soils, the weather, and the gentle sunny slopes in Oregon enable winegrapes to ripen slowly during the summer and fall and to develop exquisite flavors. Winegrowers and winemakers exhibit deep appreciation for the land, knowing that this special ' terroir' makes it possible to create palate-pleasing world-class wines.

The people who create Oregon wine are families, farmers, artisans and good stewards of the land. Among these people are visionaries and pioneers with a passion for Pinot Noir and other outstanding wines. Even Oregon's largest wineries are small by world standards. The wines are truly handcrafted reflections of the winemakers and the land; they are produced in small lots rather than corporate quantities.

Oregon Wine Appelations (AVAs)

Located on approximately the same latitude (45°N) as some of the great French wine regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy, Oregon wine regions include 11 federally recognized American Viticultural Areas (AVAs), otherwise known as appellations, sharing three with Washington.

• Applegate Valley has more approx. 6 wineries and is a sub-AVA of the Rogue Valley.
• Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay and Zinfandel are the predominant varieties.
• Applegate Valley is a sub-AVA of the Rogue Valley.
• Approximately 20-35 inches (50-88 cm) annual rainfall.

• Includes areas in Washington State and Oregon with fewer than eight wineries.
• Located in Southwest Washington – total area is 1794 hectares with approximately 300 vineyard acres.
• Primary grape varieties – Chardonnay, Gewurztraminer, Riesling and Pinot Gris.
• Moist marine influences from the Columbia River meet dry air from eastern Washington allowing constant airflow along with warm days and cool nights provide full, ripe flavor profiles and good acid levels.

• 981 vineyard acres (385 hectares) of wine grapes planted.
• Vineyards planted on predominately south-facing slopes, increasing solar radiation in summer and promoting air drainage in winter.
• Merlot is the most widely planted varietal, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.
• Riesling and Syrah are also planted in significant quantities.
• Growing season of 180-200 days with annual rainfall averaging 6 to 8 inches (15-20 cm).
• Columbia Valley contains Columbia River Gorge and Walla Walla Valley within its borders.

• More than 1,250 vineyard acres (491hectares) of wine grapes planted in approximately 50 vineyards and is the most densely planted AVA in Oregon. 
• Dundee soils are reddish, silt, clay, loam soils derived from Columbia River basalt flows.
• Pinot Noir is the most widely planted varietal, followed by Chardonnay and Pinot Gris.

• McMinnville AVA has more approx. 14 wineries and over 523 acres (205ha) of vineyards.
• Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris are the predominant varieties. Also plantings of Pinot Blanc and Riesling, among others.
• Approximately 35-50 inches (88-125 cm) annual rainfall.
• McMinnville AVA is within the boundaries of the larger Willamette Valley AVA.

• Rogue Valley has more approx. 10 wineries and more than 1,454 acres (571 hectares) of vineyards.
• Cabernet Sauvignon is the leading varietal with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Syrah the other predominant varieties.
• Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc and Malbec are also represented.
• One of the hottest growing areas in Oregon (measured by heat units).
• Approximately 20-35 inches (50-88 cm) annual rainfall.

• Cabernet Sauvignon is the leading varietal with Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Syrah the other predominant varieties.
• Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc and Malbec are also represented.
• One of the hottest growing areas in Oregon (measured by heat units).
• Approximately 20-35 inches (50-88 cm) annual rainfall.
• Encompasses Umpqua, Rogue and Applegate Valley AVAs.

• Established in 1984, this is Oregon's oldest viticultural region.
• Approximately 668 vineyard acres (262 hectares) of wine grapes planted and approximately 11 wineries.
• No single grape predominates. Plantings include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Tempranillo, Chardonnay, Riesling, among others.

• Walla Walla has more than 55 wineries and more than 486 hectares of vineyards.
• Cabernet Sauvignon is the leading varietal with Merlot, Chardonnay and Syrah the other predominant varieties.
• Gewurztraminer, Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese are also represented.
• Loess derived soils which are essentially unconsolidated, unstratified calcareous silt.
• Growing season of 190 to 220 days with annual rainfall averaging 32 cm per year.

• Oregon's largest viticultural region, covering almost 3.3 million acres (1,296,700 hectares) and home to 2/3 of Oregon's wineries.
• More than 10,000 vineyard acres (4,050 hectares) of wine grapes planted and more than 200 wineries.
• Willamette Valley's vast size allows for a number of meso and micro-climates.
• Pinot Noir is the most widely planted varietal. Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc are also planted in significant quantities. Columbia Valley contains Dundee Hills, Yamhill-Carlton and McMinnville AVAs within its borders.

• Yamhill-Carlton AVA has more approx. 20 wineries and over 700 acres (275ha) of vineyards.
• Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris are the predominant varieties. Also plantings of Pinot Blanc and Riesling, among others.
• Approximately 35-50 inches (88-125 cm) annual rainfall.
• Yamhill-Carlton AVA is within the boundaries of the larger Willamette Valley AVA.