Wine Guide 2005

OREGON
Wine Terminology
ACIDITY occurs naturally in grapes and indicates
the quality of tartness, sourness, and sharpness of a
wine. Acids in proper proportion give wine balance
and character. Generally, the cooler the region, the
higher the level of acid in the grapes.
APPELLATION a recognized wine growing region
governed by regulations established by its federal or
local government. In the United States, appellations
are referred to as American Viticultural Areas
(AVAs). In British Columbia, they’re referred to as
Designated Viticultural Areas (DVAs).
BALANCE the interplay between sugar, acid, tannin,
and alcohol. In a well-balanced wine, none of these
elements dominate the wine.
BODY the sensation of weight on the palate, ranging from light to heavy.
BRIX the measurement of sugar content in unfermented grape juice,
which is used to indicate the estimated alcohol a wine will produce on
fermentation.
DRY/OFF-DRY indicates a style of wine: no sugar = dry, a little
residual sugar = off-dry.
FERMENTATION (primary) the process by which grape juice
becomes wine: a chain reaction of chemical processes whereby sugars
in the grape juice are converted by the enzymes in yeasts into alcohol
and carbon dioxide. This process is called primary fermentation; some
wines undergo a secondary fermentation process.
FERMENTATION (secondary) also called malolactic fermentation, a
secondary fermentation turns malic acid (think apples) into lactic acid
(think cream, vanilla, butter, and milk) adding another dimension to
the wine. While all red wines undergo malolactic fermentation, white
wines do not. This is essentially a stylistic preference accorded the
winemaker, who may choose for the wine to undergo a full or partial
secondary fermentation or none at all.
FRUIT the single most important quality, it is the winemakers goal to
capture the true essence of the variety used.
ICEWINE is made from grapes frozen on the vine and then pressed
before they thaw. The juice from these grapes is very concentrated and
high in sugar and acid, with the resulting wines sweet, intense, and rich
in flavor with excellent aging potential.
LATE HARVEST grapes picked late in the season for maximum sugar
content and typically for sweet or dessert wines.
OAK wines aged or fermented in oak barrels take on toasty qualities and
flavors of butter and vanilla for white wines, coffee and tobacco for reds.
RESIDUAL SUGAR natural grape sugar that is either unfermented at the
end of the fermentation process or added back into the wine as with
dosage for sparkling wine. Residual sugar (r.s.) ranges from 0.1 to 0.2
percent in dry wines to as high as 28 to 30 percent in late-harvest wines.
STEEL wines fermented or aged in steel tanks emphasize fresh fruit in
clear bright flavors.
TANNIN comes from the skins, seeds, and stems of the grapes; adding
longevity, structure, and complexity to the wine.
VARIETAL refers to the type of wine grape variety: Merlot,
Chardonnay, etc.
VINIFERA premium wine grapes as opposed to table grapes. Vitis
vinifera is the vine species that produces wine grapes. ■
—Courtesy of the Washington Wine Commission.
(www.washingtonwine.org)
way diminishes the region’s standing in the
Oregon wine industry.
THE GRAPES
The Umpqua Valley is warmer and drier
than the Willamette Valley, but not as warm as
the Rogue Valley, so cool-weather and warmweather
varietals flourish in the area. All the
popular Pinots, Cabernets, and Rieslings are
grown in the Umpqua Valley, but such rare
varietals as Baco noir and Seyval blanc can also
be found there. Up and coming varietals in the
area include Tempranillo, Syrah, and Viognier.
WHEN TO VISIT
During the spring and fall, visitors who
drive from winery to winery in the Land of
Umpqua pass roadside produce stands, an
added treat to a day of wine tasting. Many of
the wineries are closed from late December
until mid-to-late January and a few are open by
appointment only, so call ahead. For links to all
things Umpqua, visit www.landofumpqua.com.
TOURS/ROUTES
The Umpqua Wine Tour Route starts about
5 miles south of Roseburg at exit 119 off I–5.
Head west toward Tenmile and pass three
wineries on roads just off this main artery.
Then head north toward Melrose and the
Garden Valley area to visit more, and finally
north along the Umpqua River to the final two
in Elkton. For a map and more information,
contact the Roseburg Visitors and Convention
Bureau. (800-444-9584)
AREA ATTRACTIONS
Historical districts, covered bridges, waterfalls,
recreational lakes, and the Seven Feathers
Hotel and Casino Resort in Canyonville all
await visitors to the Umpqua Valley. And
Wildlife Safari in Winston doesn’t have to be
fun just for the kids; drive through the 600-acre
park and see the exotic animals as they roam
freely in their natural habitats. Roseburg also is
the starting point for the 172 miles of the
Rogue–Umpqua National Scenic Byway.
24 Northwest Wine Country 2005/2006