News
“Good Times and Fine Wines” : Troon Vineyard
Troon Vineyard is dedicated to the pursuit of “good times and fine wines.” Located in the the Applegate Valley, the winery and vineyard are set on a beautiful 98 acre property with breathtaking panoramic views. 
Established in 1972 by founder and Southern Oregon grape growing pioneer Dick Troon, the winery is now owned and operated by the Martin family. With an incredible new tasting room and winery completed in summer 2005.
They have recently planted 16 acres of new varietals which include: Primitivo, Petite Syrah, Rousanne, Marsanne, and Sangiovese. Other acreage planted includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Syrah, Viognier, and Cabernet Franc.
In the vineyard, they follow organic principles and aspire to a closed loop, sustainable farming environment. No herbicides or pesticides are used, and all tending of the vines is done by hand. The goal is the perfect fruit.
Troon Vineyard 2008 Zinfandel Reserve was awarded a Gold Medal and the Troon Vineyard 2008 Insomnia Port was awarded a Silver Medal in this year’s wine competition.
“Of the Three” : Trium Winery
After talking for years about making premium wine from fruit grown in their Southern Oregon vineyards, three couples realized their dream in 2003. They called their winery Trium, Latin for “of the three”—for the three couples, their three vineyards and the varieties in their first release, Growers’ Cuvée—a classic Bordeaux style blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Trium’s owners became three after two left to focus on their vineyard consulting business and death claimed a third. Kurt and Laura Lotspeich and Nancy Tappan continue to produce Trium’s wines: Pinot Gris, Viognier, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and the Growers’ Cuvée.
The three owners of Trium believe that great wine is made in the vineyard. After more than twenty years of experience at their sites, they know where the best production and the highest quality fruit are found–and how to manage the water, canopy and crop load to maximize ripeness, varietal character and terroir. They farm using eco-friendly, sustainable practices, keeping in mind the best interests of their workers, neighbors, and future generations. Their passion for excellence extends from grapevine to barrel to bottle.
For the Love of Bordeaux Varietals: Spangler Vineyards
While searching extensively for their dream small family-owned winery, Pat and Loree Spangler, fell in love with Southern Oregon. The warm weather and multiple microclimates allow them to pursue our passion for Bordeaux-varietal wines–their location is extremely conducive to growing Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
In 2004 they moved to Southern Oregon’s Umpqua Valley, purchasing an established winery and vineyards. Old vine Cabernet Sauvignon, planted 1968-1971, is own-rooted and dry-farmed.
In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon and Cab Franc, Spangler Vinyeards produces Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, Unoaked Chardonnay, Merlot, Malbec, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Claret and Flavored Sparkling Wines.
In last year’s World of Wine Festival Competition, the 2007 Spangler Vineyards Petite Sirah took home a Silver Medal.
Joy Magazine talks about WOW
Click here to read the great article Joy Magazine has about some of the new wineries joining us at the WOW festival!
Southern Oregon Wine Institute
Prompted by demand from winemakers and vineyard managers, Umpqua Community College’s Southern Oregon Wine Institute is “preparing a new generation for thousands of jobs expected over the next decade,” according to Dana Tims of The Oregonian. Southern Oregon is projected to add nearly 5,000 jobs directly or indirectly related to the wine industry in the coming decade. That translates to $115 million in added annual labor income.
The institute, spanning a 7-county area, contains a 5-acre teaching vineyard in Roseburg with plans to build a $7 million educational winery once the appropriate money has been fundraised. The Southern Oregon Institute focuses on its native warm-climate varietals, which differs from the cool-climate focused Northwest Viticulture Center in the Willamette Valley. The program offers a one-year certification program in Viticulture and Enology, Wine Marketing Assistant Pathway Certificate, and two-year Viticulture and Enology Associates Degree.
Southern Oregon’s only vineyard-based Tasting Room: South Stage Cellars
Situated in the heart of historic Jacksonville, South Stage Cellars is Southern Oregon’s only vineyard-based Tasting Room and Wine Garden where you can taste a variety of wines made by Oregon winemakers all sourced from the Quail Run Vineyards including South Stage Cellars estate label. 
Don and Traute Moore began Quail Run Vineyards in 1989 on 13 acres. With 280 acres now spread over 10 vineyards, Quail Run is able to take full advantage of the Rogue Valley’s diverse micro-climates, soils, elevations, and terrains. The result is an astounding 27 different varietals representing a virtual world of wine.
Quail Run remains deeply committed to sustainable agricultural practices. They use no insecticides, utilize cover crops, and continually seek ways to reduce our carbon footprint.
In last year’s wine competition, South Stage Cellars 2008 Early Muscat was awarded Best of Show White Wine.
Great chance to try Slagle Creek Vineyards at WOW
Slagle Creek is a small family owned winery located at 1800 feet overlooking the west end of the beautiful Applegate Valley. The high altitude, warm days, cool nights, gentle south slopes, and stony, loam soil, give the wines their unique character
Slagle Creek Vineyards has been making wine since 2001 and has recently become a client of Pallet Wine Company. They specialize in Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Claret.
In this year’s wine competition three of Slagle Creek Vineyards wines received Silver Medals- 2007 Claret, 2007 Red Blend and 2007 Syrah. Slagle Creek will be pouring at the World of Wine Festival on August 28th from 5-9 p.m. They do not have a Tasting Room, so this is a great opportunity to try their wines.
Silvan Ridge Winery produces two medalists from Rogue Valley fruit
Doyle Hinman and David Smith opened Hinman Vineyards in Eugene in 1979. By 1988, the winery had become Oregon’s top selling winery. In 1993, Carolyn Chambers acquired the winery. That same year, Hinman released their premium line of reserve wines under the Silvan Ridge label.
In 2005, Jonathan Oberlander was hired to head the winemaking team. At Silvan Ridge, Oberlander’s mission is to create elegant wines that take advantage of the diverse climate and soil conditions within Oregon. He selects only the best fruit from a list of long-time growers. His winemaking style expresses classic European technique as well as the innovation of a new generation of Oregon winemakers and growers.
Oberlander has focused his winemaking on the fruit sourced from the Willamette Valley in Northern Oregon and the Rogue Valley in Southern Oregon. He takes a hands on approach to vineyard management and finds working with smaller growers rewarding from the standpoint of sharing knowledge and seeing results. “That is where the wine is really made,” says Oberlander. “if you start with anything less than wonderful fruit, you will end up with less than wonderful wine.”
We congratulate Silvan Ridge Winery for receiving two Silver Medals in this year’s wine competition for their 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon and 2008 Viognier.
WINE COMPETITION RESULTS ANNOUNCED!
A record 158 wines from 50 wineries were entered in our 8th annual World of Wine Festival competition. Thirteen gold medals and 62 silver medals were awarded this year, both all-time highs. Best of Show honors for red wines went to Quady North’s 2008 Cabernet Franc, while Daisy Creek’s 2009 Triple Play – a blend of Roussanne, Marsanne and Viognier – topped the whites. For the first time a Best of Show was also awarded to the top dessert wine, Cliff Creek’s 2008 Tribute.
Several wineries received multiple awards – with four medals each going to Crater Lake Cellars, Misty Oaks Vineyard, Plaisance Ranch, RoxyAnn Winery and Schmidt Family Vineyards. This year’s competition featured 12 new wineries, seven of which medaled.
“This is by far the largest field of wines ever entered in WOW and the most prestigious panel of judges,” said judging committee chair Les Martin of Red Lily Vineyards. “It’s particularly noteworthy that there are only 25 Masters of Wine in the United States and three judged this competition. That’s a testament to Southern Oregon’s growing prominence as a wine region.”
Four nationally recognized wine professionals judged the WOW medal competition August 12-13 in Jacksonville. They were Joel Butler, MW, president of the Institute of Masters of Wine, North America, Ltd.; Patrick Comiskey, senior editor for Wine & Spirits magazine; Patrick Farrell, MW, certified wine educator and VP of the Institute of Masters of Wine North America, Ltd.; and Bob Paulinksi, MW, head wine buyer for the Winn-Dixie retail chain.
The WOW public tasting is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 28, from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m., at Del Rio Vineyards & Winery, 52 N. River Rd., in Gold Hill. All winning wines will be available to taste. The event, co-sponsored by Rogue Valley Winegrowers Association and the Southern Oregon Winery Association, features a wide array of locally produced foods and live music. A silent auction with unique wines, winery dinners and tours, restaurant gift certificates, and other items is also planned. A portion of the auction proceeds will go to scholarships for viticulture and enology students at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg. For tickets click here.
BEST OF SHOW
Cliff Creek Cellars 2008 Tribute – Dessert Wine
Daisy Creek 2009 Triple Play – White Wine
Quady North 2008 Cabernet Franc – Red Wine
GOLD
Abacela Winery 2008 Garnacha
Brandborg Vineyard 2007 Pinot Noir
Brandborg Vineyard 2008 Riesling
Cliff Creek Cellars 2008 Tribute
Crater Lake Cellars 2009 Viognier
Daisy Creek 2008 Triple Play
Del Rio Vineyards 2008 Reserve Petite Sirah
Misty Oaks Vineyard 2008 Viper Trail Malbec
Pebblestone Cellars 2009 Viognier
Quady North 2008 Cabernet Franc
RoxyAnn Winery 2007 Tempranillo
Troon Vineyard 2008 Zinfandel Reserve
Velocity Cellars 2006 Malbec
SILVER
Abacela Winery 2008 Dolcetto
Abacela Winery 2009 Albarino
Agate Ridge Vineyard 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon
Agate Ridge Vineyard 2008 Grenache
Bridgeview Vineyards 2009 Muscat
Bridgeview Vineyards 2008 Blue Moon Pinot Noir
Bridgeview Vineyards 2008 Black Beauty Tempranillo
Caprice Vineyards 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon
Carpenter Hill 2007 Petite Sirah
Carpenter Hill 2006 Tango Red
Carpenter Hill 2007 Tango Red
Cliff Creek Cellars 2009 Marsanne Roussanne
Cranbrook Farm 2006 Syrah
Crater Lake Cellars 2008 Grenache
Crater Lake Cellars 2008 Old World Blend
Crater Lake Cellars 2008 Syrah
Cuckoo’s Nest Cellars 2009 Aromatique
Cuckoo’s Nest Cellars 2009 Pinot Gris
Daisy Creek 2007 Syrah
Deer Creek Vineyards 2007 Chardonnay
Del Rio Vineyards 2008 Pinot Gris
Del Rio Vineyards 2007 Syrah
Donovan 2008 Mourvedre – Corner Vineyard
Eliana Wines 2008 Bordeaux Blend
Foris Vineyards 2008 Late Harvest Riesling
Hellgate Cellars 2008 Gewürtztraminer
Hellgate Cellars 2008 Pinot Blanc
J. Scott Cellars 2008 Petite Sirah
Julianna Vineyards 2009 Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon
Julianna Vineyards 2009 Chenin Blanc
LaBrasseur Vineyard 2009 Merlot
LaBrasseur Vineyard 2009 Viognier
Madrone Mountain 2005 Mundo Novo
Misty Oaks Vineyard 2008 Jones Road Cabernet Franc
Misty Oaks Vineyard 2009 Friendswood Gewürtztraminer
Misty Oaks Vineyard 2008 Julio’s Hill Pinot Gris
Plaisance Ranch 2008 Rouge Prestige (Papa Joe’s Private Stash)
Plaisance Ranch 2008 Ranch Red
Plaisance Ranch 2008 Syrah (Papa Joe’s Private Stash)
Plaisance Ranch 2008 Tempranillo
Red Lily Vineyards 2009 Lily Girl Tempranillo Rose
Red Lily Vineyards 2005 Tempranillo
Rocky Knoll 2007 Dunbar Red
Rosella”s Vineyard 2008 Zinfandel
RoxyAnn Winery 2007 Claret
RoxyAnn Winery 2007 Merlot
RoxyAnn Winery 2009 Roussanne
Schmidt Family Vineyards 2008 Malbec
Schmidt Family Vineyards 2008 Soulea
Schmidt Family Vineyards 2008 Syrah
Schmidt Family Vineyards 2008 Zinfandel
Silvan Ridge Winery 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon
Silvan Ridge Winery 2008 Viognier
Slagle Creek Vineyards 2007 Claret
Slagle Creek Vineyards 2007 Red Blend – Pini Vineyard
Slagle Creek Vineyards 2007 Syrah
Soloro Vineyard 2006 Seckel Hill Syrah
Spangler Vineyards 2008 Dolcetto
Troon Vineyard 2008 Insomnia Port
Valley View Winery 2007 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc
Velocity Cellars 2009 Velo Malbec Rose
Griffin Creek 2007 Cabernet Franc (Willamette Valley Vineyards)
Four medals for Schmidt Family Vineyards
Schmidt Family Vineyards is owned by Judy and Cal Schmidt and began with a dream of farming. Cal grew up on a wheat farm in Kansas. Though a successful businessman he longed to farm the land. He began taking classes in viticulture and winemaking. In 2000 the old Bennett Ranch on the fertile Kubli Bench was purchased and became the setting for what is now the Schmidt Family Vineyards.
Vineyards of Merlot, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon were planted in 2001. The first vintage consisting of 300 cases, was produced in 2004 and released in 2006. The wines were very well received and quickly sold out. The 2005 harvest yielded about 1200 cases. In 2006, production was up to 1700 cases. New vineyards are currently being added. These new vines will include lesser known varietals such as Albarino, of Spanish origin.
Schmidt Family Vineyards recently completed a beautiful new winery and tasting room facility in the Applegate Valley.
In last year’s wine competition, Schmidt Family Vineyards took home the most hardware out of any winery with four medals! Their 2007 Syrah received a Gold Medal and their 2008 Chardonnay, 2008 Viognier and 2008 Gewurztraminer all took home Silver Medals.
