|
Our
vineyards are located near Elkton (pop.
170) in the northern part of the Umpqua
Valley of Oregon, which has a climate
more similar to the Willamette Valley
to the north than the much warmer climate
only 50 miles to the south where most
Umpqua Valley vineyards are located.
"fog
in the vineyards on a summer morning"
The
ocean is only 36 miles away and morning
fog frequently shrouds
the vineyards even in the summer,
reflecting
the strong marine influence on
our climate. The area receives
about 55 inches of rain annually,
but
little
rain falls in the summer months
when the grapes are maturing. Summer
temperatures
will reach 90 degrees on many
July and August days, with night
time
temperatures
falling to 50 degrees. The conditions
are ideally suited to the production
of cool weather varieties such
as pinot noir and gewürztraminer.
"Umpqua
River Valley with Elkton in the distance"
The region surrounding Elkton is relatively
undeveloped. Cattle and sheep ranching
are the principle agricultural activities
and are largely confined to the river
plain and gentler hills close to the
Umpqua River. There are large tracts
of forest higher on the hills. The
Umpqua Valley is a sportsman’s
paradise. Wildlife abounds, particularly
wild turkey, deer and the namesake
elk. The Umpqua River is famous for
robust runs of salmon and steelhead
in the spring and fall, and fishing
for small mouth bass provides considerable
summertime enjoyment. Guided fishing
trips are readily available and sport
fishing is an important mainstay of
the local economy.
Our
valley was the site of Oregon’s
first modern winery, Hillcrest Vineyard,
founded in 1965. The state industry
has grown dramatically and the Umpqua
Valley remains a vibrant participant.
An organized tour of the local family-owned
wineries is available and visitors
will be charmed by their friendly and
down-to-earth character, as well as
the excellent wines they produce.
River's
Edge Winery
1395 River Drive
P.O. Box 539
Elkton, OR 97436
541-584-2357 (tel)
541-584-2837 (fax)
wines@riversedgewinery.com |
