Time to Up the Ante!

For those of you who think I am a tad overly optimistic and excited about our areas potential as a highly regarded wine region, I must draw your attention to yet one more validating piece of publicity. The January issue of Sunset Magazine (yes thee Sunset Magazine) printed a story on the Southern Oregon AVA and in their words called it “The next big wine country: Southern Oregon!”

While the article had some inaccurate information regarding location of some of the wineries i.e.: putting Abacela in the Applegate Valley and reporting Jacksonville was part of the Umpqua Valley, the message was very clear. The exciting wines, no crowds and inexpensive tasting fees made it a top destination choice for wine tourists. How proud our wineries must feel to have a publication with the readership and prestige of _Sunset Magazine _report so clearly what so many of us know to be true!

I can’t help but notice within the story and within the responses to the article on their web site (Sunset.com, search for Southern Oregon), Josephine County and the Rogue and Applegate area received more enthusiastic comments then Douglas County and the Umpqua Valley. A number of tourists wrote in on their love for Jacksonville with the great restaurants, and bars, the Britt Theater and the culture and intrigue of the downtown area. Out of 22 comments on the article 14 expressed a love for Jacksonville. This appreciation and love for this area was voiced by people from Napa, Portland and San Francisco. Unfortunately, there was not one response from travelers expressing their love of Roseburg and the Umpqua Valley.

To me, even with my sometimes overly passionate feelings about my home town of Roseburg I know why there is not the enthusiasm for our area their could be. And why Josephine County and the Rogue AVA receives more committed wine travelers then we do. Simply put they have done a better job of growing and promoting their towns with business and events that tie in beautifully with wine interested travelers making for a total experience. Jacksonville boasts great wine & wineries, excellent restaurants, hip wine bars and shops and interesting boutiques. This is all combined with cultural events held at the theater as well as other events geared to the sophisticated consumer such as those who travel for wine! As a town who’s biggest cultural event is our Graffiti Days, Roseburg is a bit behind the times when it comes to offering supportive events for the more discerning tourist.

Douglas County has it all with the our rivers and unspoiled natural beauty, our historic downtown and excellent wines and beautiful wineries. We just need to bring it all together with higher quality dinning choices, better night life options and more interesting cultural events. We have the great wine, unfortunately wine travelers need and want more. I see progress in this area and know it is just a matter of time before a true vision for our county as a wine destination comes into focus. And when it does we will all benefit from it.

P.S.  Today is the Girl on Grapes birthday!  Cheers!