By Janet Eastman
IT'S still the stretched-out harvest in Southern Oregon and good news sometimes travels slowly. Some people are just hearing that weeks ago Roseburg was named as one of the top 10 Wine Destinations in North America by the editors of the travel web site TripAdvisor (the Willamette Valley was #3; see complete story below).
The reaction to Roseburg’s designation is almost universally, “Really?” Quickly followed by “that’s great” from Southern Oregonians.
“I don’t remember when I found out. A week ago? It’s still harvest,” joked Pat Spangler, president of the Southern Oregon Winery Association and owner of Spangler Vineyards & Winery in Roseburg. “It came in #5, right?”
He was surprise. And not surprised.
“To tell you the truth I was surprised, not because we don’t deserve it, but because I didn’t think enough people knew about us,” he said yesterday. “Roseburg, the quote ‘Land of Umpqua,’ unquote is a flyover zoon. It’s an area dominated by the timber industry for so long and it’s been in decline. Douglas County has the second highest unemployment in Oregon.”
So, not a place to leisurely sip wine and talk about the good life?
Not so fast. Spangler has reasons for justifying Roseburg’s status position: The wine experience is better here, he states, compared to say, Napa, TripAdvisor’s #1 wine designation.
There are close to two dozen wineries in Umpqua Valley, Oregon’s oldest viticulture region. Most are small, averaging 3,000 cases a year, and family owned.
“It’s the norm that you’ll find that the person serving the wine is the owner and his hands are dark purple from crushing wine that morning. So you get an extremely personal touch,” Spangler said. “People appreciate the idea of the old family farm. They don’t want to be a number, six back from the counter, trying to get the attention of a 22 year old who’s employed by a big corporation as in Napa. We offer the idyllic image of going to a small winery, the farmer and wife making the wine and pouring it for you.”
Spangler Vineyards is owned by Pat and his wife Loree. They have one full-time Tasting Room employee. He says he knows the name of 300 of his 350 wine club members.
Becoming known outside the area is tough, he said, because reviews and media attention are spotty and most of the wine is sold directly. Various visitor bureaus, funded by hotel and other taxes, have been beefing up promotion of Southern Oregon – which also includes the Rogue, Applegate and Illinois valleys -- as an undiscovered, scenic wine region. Growers, winery owners and other industry people are no longer “butting heads” but focusing on a collective marketing message, Spangler said.
Spangler cited that the number of wineries has almost quadrupled in 15 years (he purchased an existing vineyard and winery in 2004) and more are coming. He points to the Southern Oregon Wine Institute at Umpqua Community College, which is building a teaching winery.
The Umpqua Valley has alluvial, terrace and upland soils, summer temperatures that can vary as much as 60 degrees and the highest annual rainfalls in the Southern Oregon Winery Association boundaries. These traits are preferred by Rhone varietals such as Syrah, Viognier and Grenache and the Spanish Tempranillo, Albariño and Graciano.
“We’re getting more attention for the quality of the wine. It’s about time,” he said. “But we’ve been making good wine for several years.”
So, Roseburg was not an overnight sensation? “If you think that, you didn’t see us busting our ass for 10 years to get to this spot.”
Complete story: North America's top wine destinations
MSNBC
NEW YORK - European destinations are often in the spotlight when it comes to fine wines but North America holds it own when it comes to varietals, according to travel Web site TripAdvisor.
Editors at TripAdvisor have compiled a list of North America's top 10 wine destinations after noticing a 10 percent rise in searches for "vineyards" over the past six weeks compared to a year ago.
A survey of more than 1,000 U.S. respondents found 48 percent planned to visit a U.S. vineyard this year, with 40 percent planning to do so this autumn. When it comes to taste, 59 percent prefer red wine, 43 percent want white and 12 percent rose.
Napa Valley, Calif. The undisputed American capital of wine has earned its reputation thanks to seemingly endless picturesque vineyards and world-class wines. The valley's scenery serves as the backdrop to both amazing large-scale wineries as well as smaller wineries.
Sonoma, Calif. Protected by mountains from excessive rainfall, Sonoma has an ideal climate for growing grapes on its numerous vineyards. Napa's neighbor is smaller in terms of wine production, but has highly sought-after wines and sweeping vistas.
Willamette Valley, Ore. Oregon produces far less wine than its Californian counterparts, but distinguishes itself for its outstanding pinot noirs and other varietals. Willamette Valley, one of Oregon's major wine-growing regions, has more than 200 charming wineries.
Yakima Valley, Wash. The oldest wine region in Washington, diverse Yakima Valley can grow many varietals, including chardonnay and shiraz. Nearly half of the wine produced in Washington begins with Yakima Valley grapes, but the Valley is also home to orchards bearing a wide range of fruits.
Roseburg, Ore. South of Willamette Valley, Roseburg has a slightly warmer climate and is situated in the Umpqua Valley, where impressive natural scenery is all around from waterfalls to wildlife. Pinot noir is the primary varietal here, but delicious pinot gris, riesling, chardonnay, and others can also be found.
Okanagan Valley, B.C. A full-bodied merlot or pinot noir is not hard to find in Okanagan Valley, but sweet dessert ice wines are another treat produced in this wine region that features more than 100 different wineries. The area is also known for its fruit orchards and its clear, fresh lakes.
Finger Lakes, N.Y. New York's largest wine-producing region, the microclimate of the Finger Lakes region provides ideal conditions for growing a range of varietals. Award-winning wines and sparkling wines, come from an exceptionally peaceful, beautiful setting.
Traverse City, Mich. The majority of its grapes are grown near the shores of Lake Michigan, making for the unique growing climate of the Traverse City area, an important wine-growing region in the Midwest. Baco noir, cabernet franc, and others are produced in Michigan Wine Country, along with rarer fruit wines and ice wines.
North Fork, Long Island, N.Y. With its 4,000 acres of vineyards, Long Island Wine Country is gaining more attention for its wines and its intimate atmosphere. North Fork, on the eastern side of Long Island, is not only home to some celebrated local wines, but also to excellent fresh seafood and produce.
Oak Grove, Va. Virginia has a rich wine history dating back to Jefferson's Monticello wines in the 1770s, and nestled in Virginia's stunningly beautiful Northern Neck region, Oak Grove is home to one of Virginia's largest, and oldest, wineries. Umpqua Valley – Established AVA 1984
For more info: Roseburg wineries