1 spot available
Maximum Attendance: 22
Monday – Wednesday, August 2 – 4
About the Umpqua Valley
The Umpqua Valley is the most diverse winegrowing region of Oregon. Spanning 40 miles in width and 60 miles in length, the Umpqua Valley AVA sits south of the Willamette Valley AVA and north of the Rogue Valley AVA.
The Umpqua Valley has been growing wine grapes since 1934, making the region the oldest continuously producing wine region in the Pacific Northwest. In 1961 Richard Somers of Hillcrest Winery was the first to plant pinot noir, which has grown to become the signature grape of Oregon. In 1969 early Umpqua industry pioneers established the first Oregon wine trade organization, which has now evolved into the statewide Oregon Winegrowers Association.
The Umpqua Valley can successfully grow both cool and warm varieties. It’s comprised of three distinct climatic sub-zones: 1) The northern area around the town of Elkton enjoys a cool, marine-influenced climate. It receives around 50 inches of annual rainfall, making irrigation unnecessary. Pinot noir, riesling and gewurztraminer were first planted there in 1972. 2) The central area to the northwest of Roseburg has a transitional, or intermediate, climate where both cool and warm varieties do quite well. 3) The area south of Roseburg is warmer and more arid with 24 annual inches of rainfall, making irrigation necessary. Warm-climate varieties, including tempranillo, syrah, albarino, and merlot thrive here.
Locals like to claim that you can travel from Alsace through the Rhone to Rioja in less than one hour in the Umpqua Valley.
Transportation & Accommodations
You will be picked up at 4:00 PM at the Valley River Inn or at 4:30 PM at the airport in Eugene and driven to Roseburg, Oregon. If you are flying to the airport you should book a flight that arrives by 4:00 PM on Monday, August 2. If you are driving to the pre-conference excursion, you can also choose to meet at the Hampton Inn in Roseburg at 6:00 PM. Excursion hosts will determine your pickup location prior to the event.
Participants will be driven on Thursday morning, August 5 to the Valley River Inn in Eugene for the start of the conference. You should book your return flights based on whether you are attending a post-conference excursion.
You will stay at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Roseburg for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights. We have a discounted rate of $159 which you can secure using this booking link or by calling the hotel at 541-492-1212 and saying you are with the Wine Media Conference.
What is Included
The cost of the pre-conference excursion is $25 and includes ground transportation from and back to Eugene, winery visits, tastings, and meals. It does not include transportation to/from Oregon or accommodations.
Itinerary
Please note details can and likely will change.
Monday, August 2
4:00 PM Pick-up from Valley River Inn (the conference hotel) in Eugene
4:30 PM Pick-up from Eugene Airport for those flying in this afternoon
6:00 PM Arrive in Roseburg and check into the Hampton Inn & Suites
6:30 PM Casual introductory dinner at the True Kitchen & Bar in Roseburg
Tuesday, August 3
7:00 AM + Breakfast on your own in the hotel
9:00 AM We will travel to the cool northern region of the Umpqua Valley and wind our way down to the warmer central Umpqua. Our first stop, Meadows Estate has a great variety of red wines, from pinot noir to Rhone varieties. Next we will head over to Elkton where pinot noir, riesling and gewurztraminer were first planted in 1972 for stops at Brandborg Vineyard and Winery and Bradley Vineyards . Elkton is only 35 miles from the coast and the gap in the Coast Range facilitates a very strong marine influence.
1:55 PM Leaving Elkton, we will head south to the central Umpqua and sample a wide variety of wines at Reustle Prayer Rock Vineyards, with lunch in their beautiful wine cave. Next up Cooper Ridge Vineyard with their beautiful views and wines. This last stop will include Knostman Family Winery who have an eclectic mix of varieties.
6:00 PM We will have downtime at the hotel before heading out to dinner.
7:30 PM Dining this evening will be at The Parrott House, an award-winning fine-dining restaurant in a beautifully restored Victorian home in Roseburg, with an eclectic menu and a reputation throughout Oregon as one of the nicest restaurants in the state.
Wednesday, August 4
7:00 AM + Breakfast on your own in hotel
9:00 AM We will begin the day in the warmest southern reaches of the Umpqua Valley and work our way back up to the central Umpqua. The first stop will be Spangler Vineyards which produces Bordeaux and Rhone varietals. Next visit is with Abacela, the pioneer in the US for tempranillo with a climate like Rioja and Ribera de Duero. From there we will begin working our way north with a stop at Delfino Vineyards with an array of wines.
12:40 PM At Melrose Vineyards we will have lunch from their amazing kitchen. We will then back track a bit to Hillcrest Vineyard where Richard Somers was the first to plant pinot noir in Oregon. After that visit will be heading back to Roseburg to visit the urban Paul O’Brien winery, which has become the largest wine producer in the Umpqua Valley. Trella Vineyards, also with a tasting room in Roseburg, will join Paul O’Brien for this last stop.
6:00 PM We will arrive back at the Hampton Inn for downtime and to catch up on your writing and social media.
7:30 PM
Wednesday evening with be at Catch 22 in a lovely remodeled church that serves seafood; their specialty is fish and chips, which is to die for.
Thursday, August 5
9:00 AM Depart Hampton Inn for the trip up to the Wine Media Conference in Eugene, with a 10:30 AM arrival
