I went to school there and visit frequently, it’s awesome!
Here are my favorites for Ashland, which is the southern most part of the rogue valley:
Irvine and Robert’s have great Pinots and Chardonnays and they know it. $65 a bottle starts their pricing. But their tasting menu, food, and views are awesome!
Belle Fiore is right across the road from them and they have delicious juice as well and beautiful views.
My favorite is Weisingers. They are unpretentious and have a great tasting menu. I think they are one of the oldest producers in the valley. And lots of varietals.
I’ve spent weeks on end trying to get to every tasting room and winery and still have a few to go. If you’re sticking to Ashland, those are my recommendations. If you venture further north, the sky is the limit. You’ll have a blast!
@mattykillpatty awesome thank you so much
Only there for three days so will likely visit only two wineries since the kids will be with us
This helps I’ll report back with our thoughts
Thanks again
@mattykillpatty Good choices all, plus they are true wineries that make their own wine. The southern Rogue Valley has a fair number of small “boutique” wineries that use the same custom crush facilities to actually make their wine. This, in my opinion, results in many of the wines tasting alike. They’re marketers, often good ones, but they’re not real wineries. (If you go to Belle Fiore, and you should, it’s about a mile up Dead Indian Memorial Road from the turn-off to Irvine and Roberts. Their downstairs tasting room is nice, but you might enjoy tasting on their upstairs patio. Beautiful views and they sometimes have music.)
Lean, earthy, and acidic? That’s not the style here. Our summers are (usually) long and hot and the grapes end up with pretty high sugars. The reds are mostly soft, lush and high ETOH (think Lodi). Irvine and Roberts is probably the closest to burgundian pinot and chardonnay, but if you’re hoping for something akin to northern Oregon wines, you won’t find them here. As for rhone varietals, I think the closest you’ll come to your taste is Quady North, in the Applegate valley. It’s a 45 minute beautiful drive from Ashland. (I make no mention of Weisinger’s only because I haven’t tasted there in several years.)
@DanOR I agree. I’m a member at Quady North and love their wines. It’s quite the trek from A-town, though. I’d say if you like Pinots, check out both Belle Fiore and Irvine and Robert’s. They are different Pinots for Oregon, compared to the Willamette Valley anyway, and are both great venues as well.
I went to school there and visit frequently, it’s awesome!
Here are my favorites for Ashland, which is the southern most part of the rogue valley:
Irvine and Robert’s have great Pinots and Chardonnays and they know it. $65 a bottle starts their pricing. But their tasting menu, food, and views are awesome!
Belle Fiore is right across the road from them and they have delicious juice as well and beautiful views.
My favorite is Weisingers. They are unpretentious and have a great tasting menu. I think they are one of the oldest producers in the valley. And lots of varietals.
I’ve spent weeks on end trying to get to every tasting room and winery and still have a few to go. If you’re sticking to Ashland, those are my recommendations. If you venture further north, the sky is the limit. You’ll have a blast!
VAN GOGH! MANGO! TANGO! AWESOME!
@mattykillpatty awesome thank you so much
Only there for three days so will likely visit only two wineries since the kids will be with us
This helps I’ll report back with our thoughts
Thanks again
PANS! GLANDS! CRAYONS! AWESOME!
@mattykillpatty Good choices all, plus they are true wineries that make their own wine. The southern Rogue Valley has a fair number of small “boutique” wineries that use the same custom crush facilities to actually make their wine. This, in my opinion, results in many of the wines tasting alike. They’re marketers, often good ones, but they’re not real wineries. (If you go to Belle Fiore, and you should, it’s about a mile up Dead Indian Memorial Road from the turn-off to Irvine and Roberts. Their downstairs tasting room is nice, but you might enjoy tasting on their upstairs patio. Beautiful views and they sometimes have music.)
@DanOR @mattykillpatty where would you go if you had to select two
@DanOR @mattykillpatty I should point out we enjoy lean and earthy Pinots and lean acidic Rhône varietals
Not big fans of big dark wines or new oak. Favor neutral oak thanks
@losthighwayz @mattykillpatty Chalk this up to curiosity; were you able to visit a winery?
Lean, earthy, and acidic? That’s not the style here. Our summers are (usually) long and hot and the grapes end up with pretty high sugars. The reds are mostly soft, lush and high ETOH (think Lodi). Irvine and Roberts is probably the closest to burgundian pinot and chardonnay, but if you’re hoping for something akin to northern Oregon wines, you won’t find them here. As for rhone varietals, I think the closest you’ll come to your taste is Quady North, in the Applegate valley. It’s a 45 minute beautiful drive from Ashland. (I make no mention of Weisinger’s only because I haven’t tasted there in several years.)
@DanOR I agree. I’m a member at Quady North and love their wines. It’s quite the trek from A-town, though. I’d say if you like Pinots, check out both Belle Fiore and Irvine and Robert’s. They are different Pinots for Oregon, compared to the Willamette Valley anyway, and are both great venues as well.