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Rogue Valley Region |
This region contains distinct wine-growing areas, producing a wide variety of wines. Bear Creek Valley and the Illinois Valley are all geographic remnants of their namesake rivers, each an important part of the Rogue River watershed.
The southern-most origins of this watershed lie in the Siskiyou Mountains, south of Ashland. Bear Creek, the Applegate and the Illinois rivers all flow north, emptying at different points into the Rogue River as it heads west to the Pacific Ocean. Over many years, the rivers left in their wakes some of the best and most varied wine-growing lands in Oregon State.
The climate in this area is well suited for growing warmer-climate, highly sought grape varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Cabernet franc, Pinot gris, Sauvignon blanc, Malbec and Syrah. Its warm, dry climate is similar to France's Bordeaux region and the heat units in this portion of the state are much greater than in vineyards in the northern portion of Oregon.
