Rogue Valley wine history goes back to the 1840s when European immigrants started planting grapes and bottling wines. In 1852, settler Peter Britt began growing grapes and later opened Valley View Winery — Oregon’s first official winery — in 1873. Valley View closed in 1907, and then Prohibition began. It wasn’t until an Oregon State University professor planted an experimental vineyard here in 1968, that winemakers rediscovered the Rogue Valley as a winegrowing region. The rest, as they say, is history.
In the 1930s, John Wood and Ron Honeyman of Salem were part of a group of Oregon entrepreneurs who received bonded winery status after the 18th Amendment — which established Prohibition — had been repealed. They founded Honeywood Winery, which is Oregon’s oldest continuously operating winery.
Later, Hillcrest Vineyard ushered in the modern era of Oregon winemaking. They planted the first viniferous grapes near Roseburg, as Oregon’s first estate winery.
The Rogue Valley produces a multitude of different wines. Our warmer climate grapes produce Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Syrah, Tempranillo and Viognier. We also have cooler climate varietals that include Oregon’s famous Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. The Rogue Valley has a varietal for everyone!
