Wineries of Umpqua Valley, Oregon
The complex topography of the Umpqua Valley, formed by the convergence of three mountain ranges of
varying ages and structure, contributes to the occurrence of varied soil
types and the many sub-valleys known as the Hundred Valleys of the Umpqua. This is Oregon's old wine
growing region
Umpqua Valley AVA sits between the Coast Range to the west and the Cascade Range to the east, with the
Willamette Valley AVA to the north and the Rogue Valley AVA to the south. Named for the legendary fishing
river that runs nearby, the appellation stretches 65 miles from north to south, and is 25 miles from east
to west.
There are currently (2009) twenty wineries and sixty vineyards in the Valley
The Umpqua Valley's winegrowing history dates back to the 1880s when German immigrants who had worked
for the Beringer Bros., the oldest continuously operating vineyard in Napa,
planted the first wine grape vineyard in the Valley. Post-prohibition, Richard Sommer established
Hillcrest Vineyards near Roseburg in 1961. He planted Riesling and small amounts of other varieties despite
being told by his California (Davis) cohorts that it was impossible to successfully grow wine grapes in
Oregon. Obviously, they were wrong. Just eight years later, in 1969, Paul Bjelland of Bjelland Vineyards
founded the Oregon Winegrowers Association in the Umpqua Valley
Climate: One of Oregon's more diverse climates, the Umpqua Valley can successful grow
both cool and warm varieties. It's comprised of three distinct climatic sub-zones:
1) The Northern area around the town of Elkton enjoys a cool, marine-influenced climate. It receives around
50 inches of annual rainfall, making irrigation unnecessary. Pinot noir and other cool-climate varieties
thrive here. 2) The Central area to the northwest of Roseburg has a transitional, or intermediate, climate
where both cool and warm varieties do quite well. 3) The area south of Roseburg is warmer and more
arid, similar to Rogue and Applegate valleys to the south,
making irrigation necessary. Warm-climate varieties, including Tempranillo, Syrah and Merlot thrive here.
Soils: Umpqua Valley soils are as varied as the climate. Generally, they are derived from a mix
of metamorphic, sedimentary and volcanic rock; though more than 150 soil types have been identified in the region.
The valley floor levels have mostly deep alluvial or heavy clay materials, while the hillsides and bench
locations have mixed alluvial, silt or clay structures-all typically excellent for winegrowing. In a word:
diverse.
Sue Brandborg Working at the Brandborg Winery in Elkton, OR
The wineries of Umpqua Valley
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