Umpqua Valley AVA Facts
Wineries
More than 30 boutique, family-owned wineries make the Umpqua Valley one of Oregon’s most welcoming and diverse wine destinations. From elegant tasting rooms to welcoming vineyard facing patios, the region offers an impressive range of wine styles and experiences, often hosted by the winemakers and vignerons themselves.
Across more than 70 vineyards and 4,000 planted acres, over 50 grape varieties thrive here—including Syrah, Tempranillo, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, and Riesling—thanks to the valley’s extraordinary diversity of soils and climate.
Land Size & Borders
The Umpqua Valley AVA stretches roughly 65 miles north to south and 25 miles east to west, situated between the cool Willamette Valley AVA to the north and the warmer Rogue Valley AVA to the south.
The Umpqua Valley benefits from maritime influence tempered by the Coast Range, which flanks its western and northern borders. The rugged, heavily wooded Klamath Mountains form the valley’s southern boundary, while the eastern edge shielding from extreme weather by by the massive Cascade Mountains.
Two sub-AVAs are wholly nested within the boundaries of the Umpqua Valley—Red Hill Douglas County AVA, established in 2004, and Elkton Oregon AVA, established in 2013.
Soils & Topography
The complex, ancient patchwork of soils are formed by the intersection of three mountain ranges, giving rise to “The Hundred Valleys of the Umpqua.” More than 150 distinct soil types have been identified here, largely derived from a mix of sedimentary, metamorphic, and volcanic rock. The valley floor consists of mostly deep alluvial or heavy clay materials, while the hillsides and benchlands offer a mix of alluvial, silt or clay structures—providing exceptional conditions for viticulture, and allowing a wide range of grape varieties to flourish.
Climate
Positioned between the cool Willamette Valley and the hot, arid Rogue Valley, the Umpqua Valley serves as a natural climatic transition zone—cooler and mistier in the north and considerably warmer and drier in the south. It has three distinct belts:
- The Northern Zone (Elkton area) features a cool, marine-influenced climate due to Pacific breezes filtering through gaps in the Coast Range. It receives over 50 inches of rain annually, making it ideal for cool-climate varietals like Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Pinot Gris.
- The Central Zone (Roseburg area) features an intermediate, transitional climate with warm days and larger diurnal swings.
- The Southern Zone features a warmer and more arid climate, mimicking Northern Spain. This heat allows warm-weather, sun-loving varietals such as Tempranillo and Syrah to thrive.
Earliest Plantings
Post-prohibition, the first winery in the Umpqua Valley was Adolph Doerner’s “Old #7″ winery located on Heydon Road near Roseburg. Doerner’s vineyards were planted by his father Adam, perhaps in the 1890s or earlier. Ray Doerner continued to operate “Old #7” until 1965 when he paid the last BATF taxes and closed his business.
Richard Sommer established Hillcrest Vineyards near the Doerner’s in 1961, and was the first to plant Pinot Noir in Oregon. During the 1970s and 1980s new wineries opened, including Henry Estate Winery whose winemaker Scott Henry developed a now world-famous Henry Trellis System, which increases grape yield, among other benefits.
The Umpqua Valley AVA continues to evolve as tradition and innovation intersect, with both longtime vintners and emerging winemakers pushing the region forward through a shared passion for cultivating exceptional fruit and crafting distinctive wines.
