The Applegate Valley in Southern Oregon is located roughly halfway between Grants Pass and Ashland, anchored by the Applegate River and embraced by the Siskiyou Mountains. This is a rural landscape of deep forest, rushing rivers and winding two-lane roads—and it’s also one of Oregon’s most distinctive and historic wine regions. The first wine grapes in the state were planted here by Peter Britt in the 1870s. Today, this valley inspires a thriving community of more than a dozen down-to-earth vintners making wines of every type. Here’s how to soak up everything this region has to offer, from local cheese pairings and live music to animals in the vineyards and tasting wine with the people who make it.
Unique Geography Means Many Kinds of Wine
With hot days and cool nights, the Applegate Valley’s Mediterranean-like climate is excellent for grape growing, and because of the orientation of the mountains, several microclimates create diverse conditions for grapes from around the world. This means wine lovers of all types will find something to love here, from familiar varieties like viognier to chardonnay to unique options like mourvèdre or vermentino.
Winemakers’ deep connection to this unique landscape often leads them to use organic, regenerative or biodynamic production methods and embrace collaborations with the local arts community. Visitors might get the opportunity to see sheep or goats integrated into winegrowing, notice wildflower pollinator gardens and admire local art on the walls of tasting rooms.
Taste Wines Alongside Local Cheese and Live Music
With fewer crowds, the Applegate Valley’s tasting rooms are relaxed and rustic. Many don’t need reservations, but it’s always a good idea to call ahead to check hours. If you’re traveling from Grants Pass south into the Applegate Valley, stop by the vineyard of Dwell Wines to taste pinot noir and pinot gris alongside a build-your-own charcuterie board. There’s also live music during the summer months.
Ten miles south, head to Plaisance Ranch in the Williams Valley of the Applegate, which has a rich history in winemaking dating back to the early 1900s when Joseph Ginet planted cuttings from Savoie, France. Plaisance’s sauvignon blanc continues to win annual awards, but don’t miss out on the red Iberian blend made from grapes from Spain and Portugal. Check the event calendar to catch some live music. The winery also raises cows for beef onsite, which means you can stock your freezer with a few organic steaks on your way out.
From there, drive 15 miles and cross the Applegate River for a charcuterie board and award-winning wines at Oregon’s first-ever combined winery and creamery at Wooldridge Creek Winery. Wooldridge grows 56 acres of wine grapes, from syrah to malbec to viognier. Grab a table in the landscaped gardens and enjoy a glass of Malbec paired with house-made lemon feta cheese.
Right down the road, Troon Vineyard is the world’s only Demeter Biodynamic and Regenerative Organic Certified Gold winery and farm. Beyond the welcoming tasting room nestled into landscaped gardens, visitors can also enjoy apple trees, sheep, honeybees and chickens. You can even reserve the three-bedroom Vineyard House to stay overnight.
A mile up the road is Wanderlust, which offers small-batch wines made from grapes grown on their 12-acre property, including rosé, grenache and viognier. Stop in for a flight, or reserve a 30-minute paired food and wine tasting. About 10 miles southeast, Red Lily has redefined the romance of winemaking with their spectacular tempranillo, a rich wine perfect for sipping riverside. Don’t miss summer concerts in the historic barn from June through September. Just two miles down Highway 238, you’ll find Quady North, whose wines are inspired by the Rhone and Loire Valleys, like with a rosé perfect for pairing with peaches. Nearby Long Sword is a family-owned winery open on the weekends for fruit-forward Italian-style wines — and the chance to see paragliders landing in the field next door.
A visit to the Applegate wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Valley View, home to Peter Britt’s grapes. Today, you can sip the signature Rogue Red while staying at the historic property through Harvest Host.
Shop for Artisan Crafts and Enjoy Riverside Picnics
The Applegate Valley isn’t just about wine. There’s also a thriving community of farmers, artisans and artists. On Wednesdays from May through September, downtown Applegate lights up with the Applegate Evening Market at the Lindsay Lodge. Live music, food trucks, fresh produce, meat, cheese and artisan crafts are just some of the things you’ll find here.
Want to make a night of it? Reserve a room at the riverfront Lindsay Lodge and enjoy fine dining with seasonal delights such as panzanella and Lindsay doughnuts with vanilla ricotta and dulce de leche, all while taking in the beauty of the river. Or head to Apple Outlaw right next door to the lodge for craft cider, pizza and live music in the taproom.
The next day, grab some seasonal fruit and sourdough bread from the farmers market and head out from Applegate for a picnic at Cantrall Buckley Park, which has covered picnic tables and riverside paths. Just up the road you can visit the historic McKee Bridge, which has an excellent swimming hole. For the more adventurous, check out the East Applegate Ridge Trail for a 5.5-mile (one-way) hike for views that span across the Applegate Valley.
