The Applegate Valley Offers Oregon Winemakers a Quiet Place to Experiment
The New York Times
In the warmer southern region, intrepid producers are leading the way with a focus on Rhône grapes and conscientious farming.
GRANTS PASS, Ore. — The Applegate Valley in southern Oregon has a lot of things going for it as a region for making terrific wines. Panoramic natural beauty, however, is not one of them.
Unlike the Columbia River Gorge, an Oregon region with the potential for excellent wine and far more breathtaking scenery in every direction, the Applegate’s compelling attributes are mostly quiet and often unseen.
Situated in the extreme southwestern end of Oregon, the valley follows the winding course of the Applegate River as it flows northward from just the other side of the California border to empty into the Rogue River. The Applegate Valley American Viticultural Area, or A.V.A., is a subregion in the larger, warmer Rogue Valley A.V.A.
