I am volunteering for the Southern Oregon Grape Fair this year, a community celebration of all that is derived and inspired from our productive vineyards in Southern Oregon. We are excited to showcase our region’s history in world-class agriculture that continues to prosper in the thriving growth of grape cultivation and winemaking. 

As you many of you may know, Talent is home to at least nine vineyards which supplies grapes for many of the Rogue Valley producers as well as north to the Willamette Valley as well. In the sleepy little hamlet of Talent lies the perfect soils and microclimates to grow rich, ripe grapes which produce fabulous, tasty wines.

Jill & I missed last year's fair because we were out of town, but I am excited to be part of the SOGF this year.  Tickets are $20, which gains you entry to the wine tent.  The day will have music, food, wine, spirits, beer, crafts, vendors and activities throughout the day.  There will be a program guide listing all of our participates, as well as, a Pairing Guide to see which wine goes best with what food being served. 

The SOGF is a walking fair of Wine, Food, Art and Entertainment: wine tasting from the region’s best wine producers; delicious food from our area’s most talented purveyors; live music from the valley’s most energetic and engaging performers; Talent Public Art Committee’s second annual Plein Air – an outdoor art competition, and the addition of Talent’s First One-Day Photography contest.  there will two Wine Competitions, with Juried and a People's Choice awards for Whites, White Blends, Reds, and Red Blends.

This year’s SOGF kicks off with Bike Chata. The 2^nd year Ride/Race, organized by the Rogue Valley Race Group, winds through the beautiful rolling vineyards surrounding Talent. This unique bike event honors the former Talent restaurant (Chata) owner, bicycle enthusiast and community builder Jozef Wayryniec Slowikowski .

The SOGF is part of the Talent Chamber of Commerce's annual fund-raising efforts and one of the many ways the Talent Chamber is carrying out their mission to support members by promoting and advocating for a vibrant and sustainable community.  As part of these efforts, we will be working with a Master Recycler in order to achieve our goal of Zero waste!

 

We hope to see you there!

“Come with me while the wine shop is still open.

We are dizzy with meeting each other.” 

-Rumi

StoneRiver Winery

Talk about off the beaten (wine) path, StoneRiver Winery is hidden away on Pioneer Road in Talent.  The one time Brookbank Farms, the oldest, registered farm in the area, was registered in 1914 and was a heritage pear orchard. Up until 2001 is was still a working orchard that sold fruit to the public from an antique barn.  

Now, that same barn has been converted into their tasting room, but it still retains that historic, old-timey feeling.  The walls are finished with recycled wood from the orchard. The interior walls are made from wood that once was old water troughs. The bar is festooned with wine bottle lights and the tasting room has a few items from days gone by - there is an old jukebox filled with classic tunes from the 50s & 60s, a free regulation shuffle board table and an upright piano.

  

 

The owners, Paul and Virginia Lange, bought the orchard over 28 years ago and shifted their emphasis to 30 acres of wine grapes in 2001. They had been selling most of their grapes to other wineries but now are producing Syrah, Merlot, Grenache, Temparnillo, Mourvedre, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Viognier, and Pinot Gris. 

We had a chance to sample a few and really enjoyed the 2003 Merlot which exhibited dark fruit and nice, smooth grain tannins and a fruity, spicy 2003 Syrah. The wines show great promise with excellent fruit and made by a true local artisan, Velocity Cellars Winemaker Gus Janeway. In addition to their own wines, they do offer samples of their neighbor, Aurora Wines (more on them in a future post).

The StoneRiver name comes from the old river that ran through where the vineyard is now; leaving fertile soil and an abundance of river rocks in its place. How can grapes not love such a setting. We know we can't, we had a great time, playing tunes, drinking a glass of the merlot and goofing around on the shuffleboard table. We look forward to going back soon and discovering what new, or old, surprises await us.

If you are looking for a place, a bit off the beaten path, where you and friends can enjoy wine and each other's company in a quiet, rustic setting - head over to StoneRiver.

CHEERS!

Directions to StoneRiver, 2178 Pioneer Rd, Talent, OR ‎