Oregon wineries

Exploring the Willamette Valley wine country of Oregon

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Johan vineyards in the Willamette Valley
Dag Johan Sundy of the biodynamic Johan Vineyards
The Willamette Valley is where wine lovers flock to visit boutique and small family-owned wineries and to taste Pinot Noir and other cool-climate wines. We had a chance to get an insider’s look at the Willamette Valley at the 5th Annual Wine Bloggers Conference held last week in Portland, Oregon. We were bused to several wineries and got a chance to meet owners, winemakers, and growers. Back at our hotel we also had a chance to taste and compare many wines from this region. The three days were not nearly enough time, so we shall return again to this remarkable wine country.

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Umpqua Valley Wine Country

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Our last Southern Oregon stop before heading to Portland for the Wine Bloggers Conference was the Umpqua Valley, also known as the “Hundred Valleys of the Umpqua.” Here we discovered two very wonderful but different wineries.

Abacela
Abacela is a wine country traveler’s paradise. The estate is located on rolling hills, affording fantastic views from their plush and spacious tasting room. Abacela produces many fine wines, but it is the Spanish Tempranillo wine that was behind the beginnings of this winery. With a love of Tempranillo, Abacela owners Earl and Hilda Jones set out on a search for the perfect location to grow the king of Spanish grapes. In 1995 they planted the first Tempranillo in Oregon on the grounds of what was to become the Abacela winery.

Abacela winery in Southern Oregon
Information galore at Abacela

The picnic area is beautiful and a terrific spot to enjoy lunch, or just relax with a glass of wine, and take in the beauty of the area. Within a short walking distance, Abacela has created a series of information boards. They give visitors a quick guide to the geology, climate, and various aspects of the Abacela vineyards. There is also a set of rocks that are the source of the various soil types found in the Abacela vineyards.

We enjoyed all of the five wines on the tasting menu, especially the Viognier, the reserve Tempranillo, and the Dolcetto. We just had to purchase a chilled Viognier to have with a long and relaxing lunch at Abacela. It was an enjoyable and picturesque way to spend an hour in the vineyards!

Abacela winery and picnic area
Picnicking at Abacela

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