Wineries

Several wineries in the Roseburg [1] vicinity offer tasting rooms and tours. The dry Mediterranean climate and rich variety of soils in the area are ideal for chardonnay, pinot noir, gewürztraminer, Riesling, zinfandel, and cabernet sauvignon varietals.

A wine-tour pamphlet with a map showing the location of the wineries is available from the Roseburg Visitors and Convention Bureau (410 SE Spruce St., 541/672-9731 or 800/444-9584, www.visitroseburg.com [2]), or go to the website www.umpquavalleywineries.org [3].

Abacela Vineyards and Winery (12500 Lookingglass Rd., 541/679-6642, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. daily) is noted for the large variety of wine grapes grown, including tempranillo, malbec, and dolcetto.

Girardet Wine Cellars (895 Reston Rd., 541/679-7252, www.girardetwine.com [4], 11 a.m.–5 p.m. daily Apr.–Oct., 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Nov.–Dec. 20 and Jan. 30–Mar., closed major holidays) is one of the oldest in the area. Philippe Girardet, from a town at the headwaters of the Rhine River in Switzerland, brings European wine-blending techniques to Oregon [5]. These processes produce unique chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, and Riesling wines.

The Henry Estate Winery (687 Hubbard Creek Rd., Umpqua, 541/459-5120 or 800/782-2686, www.henryestate.com [6], 11 a.m.–5 p.m. daily) has produced a string of award-winning bottlings from chardonnay, gewürztraminer, and pinot noir grapes. Lunch at shaded picnic tables near the vineyard and the Umpqua River can heighten your enjoyment of the fruit of the vine.

Oregon’s oldest vineyard, dating to 1961, is Hillcrest Vineyards (240 Vineyard Lane, 541/673-3709, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Mar.–Dec.). A bewildering range of wine grapes are grown here, but some of the best to sample are the Riesling, Syrah, and zinfandel.