Harvest Roundup- Comedies and Tragedies from the Source

The majority of Southern Oregon grapes are now SAFE & SOUND in the winery after a whirlwind growing season and harvest. I've been collecting stories of humor and hardship to share with you from the winemakers and winery owners of Southern Oregon:

Traute Moore, Owner, Quail Run Vineyards & South Stage Cellars 

Traute at one of the Quail Run Vineyard sites

"This has been a challenging year, to say the least. We have tried every trick in the book to get our late grapes to ripen (and they have!). We've done extra leaf pulling and thinned the crop; we've sprayed the vines with a solution of Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphorus, which is said to hasten maturity; we've kept our canopy green so that any bit of sunshine goes to work; we've tired to keep the birds, deer and bears away as best as we could (they ate a lot!) - and we managed to harvest nearly all of our grapes from 280 acres in two weeks - a phenomenal feat for our many hard working staff. The flavors have been exceptional, even though some of the sugars were lower than usual. So now we will see what our winemakers can do with all of this. The crop will be less, but what wines come out of this should become some of the best ever produced in Oregon."

Kiley Evans, Head Winemaker, Agate Ridge Vineyards
"This has been the most intense week of harvest I've ever experienced. We processed fruit all day yesterday, today and I'm still looking at 43 macro bins of fruit to go..." (10/23/2010)

Earl Jones, Founder, Abacela Winery

Andy Rudd Photography

An insult to injury story that sets the tone of Abacela's 2010 harvest. "Picking Malbec on Grand Hill requires, due to the steepness of the rows, that the harvest trailer be pulled with a crawler. When the crew picks a trailer load that trailer is disconnected from the crawler and left at the bottom of the hill and the picking crew hooks up a fresh trailer and resumes picking. The full trailer is parked there awaiting arrival of the shuttle tractor. As the driver of the wheeled tractor approached the awaiting fruit, he was astonished to see two Robins perched on the top of a full macro bin munching away at the grapes. As least they should have to pick their own. The Robins, Cedar Wax Wings and Starlings made this harvest painful!"

Christy Simmons, Founder, Misty Oaks Vineyards
"The dang bird ate all but 600 lbs. of our incredible Malbec."

Pneumonia's Last Syrah - Quady North supports Buy a Case, Stop a Case

During the month of November, participating Rhone Ranger wineries will donate $10 for every case of syrah sold to consumers to the GAVI Alliance (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization) to fund pneumonia vaccines for children in the world's poorest countries.


I had no idea pneumonia is the world's leading killer of children. More than 1.5 million children die from pneumonia each year (on the positive side, 2.5 million are saved each year thanks to the vaccine). Recognizing that pneumonia can be stopped by a vaccine that costs $10, members of the Rhone Rangers invite you improve these statistics with Buy a Case, Stop a Case. 

Quady North has committed to the cause. Stop by their Tasting Room in historic Jacksonville (255 California St.) Thursday-Sundays in November and pick up a bottle or case of the fabulous 2007 4-2-A, 2007 Sam's Valley Syrah, or 2006 Flagship Syrah.

For more information, a list of all participating wineries, or if you are a winery interested in joining in on the action, click here.  

Character Dinners with Local Winemakers by Jacksonville Inn and Bybee’s Historic Inn

Jacksonville Inn and Bybee’s Historic Inn are starting a monthly tradition of "Character Dinners with local Winemakers". Join us at Bybee’s Historic Inn on November 19th for a truly unique experience! Enjoy historic characters from the 1800’s that ‘come alive’ while discovering the flavors of a custom chef-designed catered meal from the Jacksonville Inn. 


Wait, the local winemakers aren't the characters?


The superb menu will be paired with selected wines from Caprice Vineyards, known for their Bordeaux-style wines, Viognier, and Chardonnay. 

When: Friday, November 19, 2010 6:30 - 10:00 pm
Where: Bybee's Historic Inn
883 Old Stage Road
Jacksonville, Oregon 97530

Catered By: Jacksonville Inn

Thanksgiving Themed Menu

1st Course ~ Maple Roasted Pumpkin Soup
Served from a roasted local pumpkin terrine with home-made candied walnuts & cinnamon cream

Entrée ~ SousVide Roast Turkey Roulade
With cranberries and garden sage served with cast-iron baked cornbread stuffing, buttered mashed potatoes, turkey gravy, and wild mushroom roasted spaghetti squash

Dessert ~ Holiday-spiced poached pear brulee
With Cabernet syrup and home-made vanilla bean ice cream


Cost: $80 per person includes gratuity, wine & entertainment. **Seating is Limited, so make your reservation by November 15 and receive a $5 per person discount. Click here for more information.

On the Sorting Line of Harvest 2010

Despite the Spring frost, cool Summer, and soon-to-be bird obesity problem (Hilda Jones of Abacela reported crop loss of 20-25% this year!), Vintage 2010 appears to be a success in Southern Oregon.

Today I spent half the day on the sorting line at Folin Cellars. We brought in somewhere between 11 and 13 tons of Petite Sirah, Syrah, and Mourvedre that all looked and tasted superb. The fruit was so clean it gave us ample opportunity to do my favorite Harvest activity- chat at the sorting line.

Here is the only picture I took (my hands were too sticky) of a fermenter of Syrah with dry ice additions.

It looks like a storm is rolling in for the weekend, so best of luck to all the vineyards and wineries to get their fruit in quick. Email me if you need an emergency grape sorter this weekend. :)

Domestic Distractions

I have a two minute window to complete this post before my new kitten returns to her throne (my keyboard) and closes out windows, types sequences of numbers and chews on my power cord. 

NEW on OregonWine.com is my winemaker profile of Kiley Evans, "Southern Settles in Southern Oregon." 

Kiley Evans started his career by pouring wines; now he makes some of the finest wines coming out of southern Oregon. Not surprisingly, his approach to winemaking is simple, and shaped by his sommelier experience. "I use my sommelier background to identify those varietal characteristics and my winemaking skills to find the best way to express those unique qualities," he said when we visited him recently at Agate Ridge Vineyard, where he has been the winemaker since 2007. 

  Read the full article.

Times up!

Do you have what it takes to work Harvest?

The first bins of fruit came in for many local wineries today. 

You can try your hand at winemaking with the Troon Vineyard's Crush Crew in the vineyard, lab, and cellar on October 23rd from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. The Harvest Bootcamp is sure to be a high energy, hands-on experience. Those who survive the day will be awarded with a certificate, official crush crew t-shirt and lunch. Reserve your spot today by calling 541.846.9900. $25/person.

If laboring away is not your idea of a fun time, check out EdenVale Winery's Oregon Bounty Vineyard Tours every Friday and Saturday from 1-3 p.m. thru the months of October and November. Stroll the lovely grounds with a glass in your hand. 

Visit the Upcoming Events section of our blog for more local wine events!

Happy Harvest

Photographed at Folin Cellars

Maybe someone should tell this guy this is a crush pad not a lily pad? :)

Happy Harvest!

Survey Results Are In!

The results from our highly unscientific survey are in with 30 participants and some very interesting and informational statistics:


1. What most influences your wine buying?


7.1%   Reviews and Scores
0%      Wine Steward
0%      Restaurant Server
7.1%   Tasting Room Staff
85.7% Trying it for Yourself


2. Where do you typically buy wine?


44.8% Winery
37.9% Wine Shop
41.4% Grocery Store


3. Do you drink more single variety wines or more blends?


60.7% Single
0%      Blends
42.9% I drink both equally


4. Which red blends do you prefer?


29.6% Rhone Blends (Syrah, Grenache)
40.7% Bordeaux Blends (Merlot, Cab Franc, Cab Sauv)
33.3% I drink both equally


5. What red wine have you bought the most of in the last year?


13.8% Red Blend
0%      Malbec
13.8% Zinfandel
0%      Grenache
13.8% Syrah
17.2% Tempranillo
17.2% Pinot Noir
0%      Pinotage
0%      Barbara
0%      Petite Sirah
0%      Petite Verdot
0%      Cab Franc
17.2% Cabernet Sauvignon
3.4%   Merlot
0%      Carméneré
0%      Mouvedre
3.4%   Nebbiolo
0%      Dolcetto


6. What red varietals would you like to see more of in Southern Oregon?


30.8% Malbec
15.4% Zinfandel
30.8% Grenache
30.8% Syrah
38.5% Tempranillo
11.5% Pinot Noir
0%      Pinotage
7.7%   Barbara
38.5% Petite Sirah
11.5% Petite Verdot
15.4% Cab Franc
7.7% Cabernet Sauvignon
3.8% Tannat
7.7% Merlot
7.7% Carméneré
23.1% Mouvedre
23.1% Nebbiolo
11.5% Dolcetto


7. What white wine have you bough the most of in the last year?


3.6%  White Blends
10.7% Pinot Gris
0%      Pinot Blanc
0%      Vermintino
0%      Torrentes
7.1%   Riesling
32.1% Viognier
7.1%   Chardonnay
0%      Gewurztraminer
7.1%   Rousanne
0%      Marsanne
0%      Albariño
17.9% Sauvignon Blanc
3.6%   Grüner Veltliner
0%      Semillion
7.1%   Chenin Blanc
3.6%   Muscat


8. What white varietals would you like to see more of in Southern Oregon?


4.0%   Pinot Gris
8.0%   Pinot Blanc
8.0%   Vermintino
8.0%   Torrentes
0%      Riesling
32.0% Viognier
12.0% Chardonnay
8.0%   Gewurztraminer
44.0% Rousanne
36.0% Marsanne
24.0% Albariño
16.0% Sauvignon Blanc
8.0%   Grüner Veltliner
12.0% Semillion
16.0% Chenin Blanc
8.0%   Muscat

What do you think? Surprised by anything? 

Please take our short survey about Southern Oregon wine varietals

Southern Oregon is capable of growing so many diverse wine grapes (I've heard over 70 varietals), so I'm curious to get your feedback about which are your favorites and which you wished to taste more of. Please weigh in by answering these eight questions. I promise to post the results.

Businessman now intends winery on South Stage land

Just when you think a story is getting played out, new information is written to stir up the pot and make it just that much more interesting- or bewildering. We've been tracking Steve de Jaray's plan to open a winery in Southern Oregon for over 5 months. His plan has been diverted many times from the original goal to open in the historical town of Jacksonville. Now he is planting 15 acres of vines (the minimum required to call yourself a winery) and opening right outside city limits on South Stage Road. But, I still question, why? Why did he apply for a distributor license? Why would he pour the cement pad to the building too close to the road (agriculture zoning requires all buildings and structures to be at least 100 feet off the road)? Why print your labels with "Footstone Jive Winery" before you can legally call yourself a winery? Why is he leasing land and not buying it if he is coming in with all this money (quick escape)? Why would the City of Medford approve his applications when his trial is still unresolved? Why Southern Oregon if he plans to export a lot of his wine to China (its not like we are conveniently located for shipping)? Does he realize the production scope of facilities do accommodate his 100,000 case projections?

My questions might not be answered in the latest Mail Tribune article by Greg Stiles, but I'm sure glad there are multiple media members on de Jaray's case.

Businessman now intends winery on South Stage land

September 30, 2010

Spurned by the city of Jacksonville, Footstone Jive winery owner Steven de Jaray now intends to develop a winery on South Stage Road, just east of town.

More than three months after the winery's announced debut in the historic Redmen's Hall building on California Street, de Jaray and his associates are proceeding on a new course — as a wine manufacturer and wholesaler. Footstone Jive has also set up an office in downtown Medford.

Read the full article here.