Over the last 75 years, Oregon has matured into a world class wine producer. But not just the Willamette Valley, though it gets most of the attention. Southern Oregon, especially the Rogue Valley, also deserves consumer attention.
The city of Medford is the center of the Rogue Valley and a good home base for a visit. In addition to a variety of outdoor activities, the Valley is home to nearly forty wineries. Here I feature two.
Foris Vineyards is only 7 miles within the Oregon border. Surrounded by several pristine wilderness areas, Foris now boasts higher elevation estate vineyards, also just 25 miles east of the Pacific Ocean. It represents the origins of contemporary winemakingin the Rogue Valley as it has been family-owned since it was established in 1974, its first vineyard planted in 1975, and the winery founded in 1986. While Oregon is best known these days for Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris, Foris is even more known for its estate grown Alsace white wines like Pinot Blanc, Gewürztraminer, and Riesling.
The wines also represent fine values, with the whites $20 or less and the reds $30 or less. There is a lovely, rich 2021 Dry Gewurztraminer ($17) with lychee, grapefruit and licorice. For pleasant citrus, stone and tropical fruit, with a touch of spice, look to the 2022 Chardonnay ($20). And the 2021 Pinot Noir ($22) shows deep juicy red cherry and plum with a hint of fennel.
Troon Vineyard, on the other hand, can be seen as representing the evolution of Oregon wine’s social and environmental consciousness. Oregon has long been a leader with many wineries certified organic, Salmon-Safe (watershed protection), and LIVE (Low Input Viticulture and Enology), LEED (green buildings) and Food Alliance (safe working conditions, animal welfare).
Located in the Applegate Valley sub-appellation, Troon is a Certified Demeter Biodynamic® and Regenerative Organic Gold Certified® biodiverse farm, including riparian habitat, cider apples, a garden, honeybees, sheep, chickens, wildlife, and dogs. The ROC® program is a comprehensive agriculture certification that requires farms to maintain organic certification, increase soil health (through composting, minimizing soil disturbance), provide fair and safe conditions for employees
Troon’s focus is on grapes from Southern France. The winemaking team crafts wines using minimal intervention practices. The grapes are spontaneously fermented with indigenous yeasts and no additives, and avoiding the use of new oak barrels, which tend to overwhelm the nuances of the grapes.
This yields wines like the 2022 Vermentino ($30) with its succulent orange and lemon with hint of spice and lush texture. The 2022 Druid’s Red ($25) and its red cherry, plum, lightly chalky, soft texture from grenache, syrah, and mourvedre. And the bright blue fruits, eucalyptus, and light pepper of the elegant 2021 Syrah ($35).