04 Jun Put the Umpqua Valley on Your Wine Travel List

Do you know where Pinot Noir was first planted in Oregon? It was not in the Willamette Valley. It was the Umpqua Valley in Southern Oregon. The Umpqua Valley sits between the Coast Range to the west, the Cascade Range to the east, the Willamette Valley to the north, and the Rogue Valley to the south. The Umpqua Valley is a two-and-a-half hour drive from Portland and a seven-and-a-half hour drive from San Francisco. It is an undiscovered ready to be discovered. Check out the story I wrote for WineTraveler.com – Discover the Undiscovered Umpqua Valley Wine Region in Oregon and start planning your trip!

Today wine travel can be an expensive hobby. The cost of hotels, dining, and tastings can be prohibitive. Perhaps you have heard people talk about how it “used to be”. If you are longing to explore a wine region untouched by high-end tourism but offering authentic people and delicious wines, then make the Umpqua Valley the next wine region to visit on your list.

Some of the people you can meet are:

Terry and Sue Brandborg of Brandborg Vineyard & Winery

Leslie and Steve Beckley of Knoll Vineyard Wines

Milroy and Vonnie Landt of River’s Edge

Dyson De Mara of Hillcrest Vineyard

Greg Jones of Abacela

Scott O’Brien Kelley of Paul O’Brien Winery

Steve and Paula Wilson of Cooper Ridge Vineyard

Steve Reustle of Reustle Prayer Rock

Christopher Hudson of Lexème

Stephen Williams of Trella Vineyards

For tips on wineries, dining, and accommodations, check out the full story I wrote for WineTraveler.com – Discover the Undiscovered Umpqua Valley Wine Region in Oregon