Between the rapids of the Rogue River and the redwoods of Oregon’s southern border, the Applegate Valley has a unique wine-growing climate and stunning natural surroundings. It’s hard to go wrong when you combine the two into an outdoorsy wine getaway in the Pacific Northwest’s oldest wine region.
Hang Glide to the Tasting Room
Some travelers bike from vineyard to vineyard, while others embrace wine hiking. The Applegate Valley literally takes it up a notch — here, you can fly your way to a winery.
At Woodrat Mountain, 9 miles south of Jacksonville, a unique mix of atmospheric conditions make it a premier hang-gliding site. The flying community boasts about the air pressure and thermals that can lead to exceptionally long, smooth flights, but you don’t have to be an experienced pilot to take part. Book a flight with Sundog Paragliding and a licensed paraglider will soar with you from Woodrat to the LongSword Landing Zone, located on the working farm and winery of LongSword Vineyard.
Toast your accomplishment with a glass of LongSword’s Accolade sparkling chardonnay — lightly effervescent and made with estate-grown grapes. Be sure to greet the menagerie of Babydoll Southdown sheep, Barred Rock chickens, Plymouth geese and a friendly winery dog that call LongSword home. When you’re ready to leave for the night, keep your sights set on the skies with a glamping getaway at the Sky Dome — a 20-foot geodesic dome that’s perfect for stargazing.
Relax and Restore
Cultures around the world have long celebrated wine as a beverage that can boost your spirits. Lean into its restorative properties with a meditative day paddling a tree-lined lake followed by a riverside tasting session.
From May 1 through early September, you can rent a paddleboard or kayak at the General Store at Hart-Tish Park and explore the many secluded coves of Applegate Lake, at Oregon’s southern border. The entire 988-acre lake is a no-wake zone — motorized boats must travel below 10 miles per hour — making it perfect for a peaceful paddle. For year-round relaxation options, book a massage or a private yoga session at Blissful Being Wellness in Grants Pass, then head to Augustino Estate’s Big Red Barn tasting room to taste wines in a restored historic barn.
Sink even deeper into relaxation with a stay at The Lindsay Lodge, a seven-suite riverfront hotel and restaurant with a focus on natural materials and local foods. Guest rooms don’t have TVs, but they do each have private balconies overlooking the river. Grab a book or a board game from the on-site selection, order a Lindsay Old-Fashioned (made with local lavender) from the bar and spend the evening listening to flames crackling in the great room’s stone fireplace.
Dig Into Botanicals & Agriculture
The same warm, mild climate that nourishes the Applegate’s vineyards also creates ideal conditions for fruits, flowers, herbs and cheeses. Admire that local bounty at The English Lavender Farm, a hillside farm 8 miles south of Highway 238, where blooming lavender creates seas of purple each summer. Visit on weekends from June to August for U-pick lavender bouquets and stunning photo opps. Enthusiasts can explore six additional farms on the Southern Oregon Lavender Trail, or plan a visit for one of two lavender festival weekends each summer.
For year-round botanical flavors, visit Wooldridge Creek, Oregon’s first vineyard to also host an on-site creamery. Grab a seat on its crush pad and enjoy a glass of estate-grown wine paired with its Bloomy Rind cheese, coated with lavender, fennel pollen and herbs. If you’re traveling with a group, call ahead; parties of six or more require a reservation. More botanical beauty abounds on the Applegate’s Cathedral Hills Trail System, a trail network known for spring wildflowers like warrior’s plume and Henderson’s shooting star.
While many Oregon wineries embrace sustainable agriculture, Southern Oregon’s Troon Vineyard is a national leader: It is only the fourth farm in the world to achieve Regenerative Organic Gold Certification. Visitors to Troon can watch these regenerative practices in action while they sip; sheep and chickens graze among the grapevines and rewilded honeybees pollinate the cider orchard. A rentable on-site cabin, The Vineyard House, can give you an even more intimate look at farm life — the house is located in the center of the property, with expansive views of grapevines in all directions.
