| Wine region | |
 Image of Ruch in Applegate Valley. The field of green on the opposite hillside is a vineyard in the Applegate Valley AVA. | |
| Type | American Viticultural Area |
|---|---|
| Year established | 2005[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Part of | Oregon |
| Sub-regions | Applegate Valley AVA,Elkton AVA,Red Hill Douglas County AVA,Rogue Valley AVA,Umpqua Valley AVA |
| Climate region | Maritime/Mediterranean |
| Total area | 2,001,430 acres (8,099 km2)[2] |
| Size of planted vineyards | 3,000 acres (12 km2)[2] |
| Grapes produced | Albarino,Bastardo,Cabernet Franc,Cabernet Sauvignon,Chardonnay,Dolcetto,Grenache,Malbec,Merlot,Petit Verdot,Petite Sirah,Syrah,Tempranillo,Viognier[3] |
TheSouthern Oregon AVA is anAmerican Viticultural Area which lies inSouthern Oregon, United States. The Southern Oregon AVA was established in 2005 and was created to include the land of two smaller AVAs: theRogue Valley AVA and theUmpqua Valley AVA. Southern Oregon AVA was established to allow the two principal winegrowing regions in the southern part of the state to market themselves jointly. This creation of a "super-AVA" is a departure from the trend in theWillamette Valley AVA or northern Oregon of establishing smaller AVAs specific to a particular locale'sclimate orsoil conditions.[3]
The Southern Oregon AVA is the union of the Umpqua Valley AVA and the Rogue Valley AVA, and all land suitable forgrape cultivation within the Southern Oregon AVA is also located in one of these smaller regions. A small strip of connecting territory is included in the Southern Oregon AVA to make it a contiguous region, however, this strip passes through mountainous regions not suitable for viticulture. The AVA lies entirely within the southwest corner of the state, south ofEugene and west of theCascades, and consists of the river valleys of theRogue andUmpqua River rivers and their tributaries.[2]
TheUmpqua Valley AVA contains the drainage basin of the Umpqua River, excluding mountainous regions.[4] It has a warmer climate than the Willamette Valley, but cooler than the Rogue Valley to the south. Grapes grown here includePinot Noir, with smaller amounts ofPinot Gris,Cabernet Sauvignon,Chardonnay, andRiesling, as well as several French-American hybrids.
TheRed Hill Douglas County, Oregon AVA is entirely contained within the Umpqua Valley AVA. This AVA includes 5,500 acres (2,226 ha), and is located nearYoncalla. Originally petitioned as the "Red Hill AVA", the proposed appellation brought protest from Willamette Valley vintners, where a region known as Red Hill is also located; the name of "Red Hill Douglas County" was instead chosen to avoid consumer confusion.[5]
TheElkton AVA is entirely contained within the Umpqua Valley AVA. This AVA includes 74,900 acres (30,311 ha) and is located nearElkton.
TheRogue Valley AVA includes thedrainage basin of theRogue River and several tributaries, including theIllinois River, theApplegate River, andBear Creek. Most wineries in the region are found in the valleys formed by one of these three tributaries, rather than along the Rogue River itself. The region is 70 miles (110 km) wide by 60 miles (97 km) long (though much of the land within the AVA is not suitable for grape cultivation); there are fewer than 20 wineries with only 1,100 acres (4.5 km2) planted.[6] Each river valley has a uniqueterroir, and grows different varieties of grapes. Overall, however, this region is the warmest and driest of Oregon's winegrowing regions.[7]
The westernmost tributary is the Illinois River, which rises in southernJosephine County, in theRed Buttes Wilderness. The river flows generally northwest along the west side of theKlamath Mountains, pastCave Junction andKerby then through theSiskiyou National Forest. It joins the Rogue River from the south on theCurry–Josephine county line, approximately 15 mi (24 km) from thePacific Ocean. The region is marked by its high elevation and is significantly influenced by marine climates. The region is well suited for growingBurgundy varietals, similar to those grown in theWillamette Valley.[7]
TheApplegate Valley AVA, established in 2000, is the only sub-AVA in the Rogue Valley AVA.[8] TheApplegate River flows through the town ofApplegate and near the city ofJacksonville, the location of Oregon's first winery (which has been restored and reopened asValley View Winery). This region contains vineyards at altitudes ranging from 1,000 feet (300 m) to 1,500 feet (500 m)above sea level, and is warmer and drier than the Illinois Valley to the west, but less so than the Bear Creek Valley to the east.[6]Grapes that thrive here includeMerlot, Cabernet Sauvignon,Syrah, Chardonnay andZinfandel, with Cabernet and Merlot being the dominant varietals.[6][7]
Bear Creek is the most populated of the Rogue River tributaries, as it flows through the cities ofMedford andAshland. Here, the valley floor is 2,000 feet (610 m)above sea level, and the climate is warm and dry.[6] The climate of the Bear Creek Valley is similar to that ofBordeaux, and it is well suited for cultivating varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay,Cabernet Franc, Pinot gris,Sauvignon blanc,Malbec and Syrah.[7]
42°26′01″N123°05′30″W / 42.4337°N 123.0917°W /42.4337; -123.0917
