Owner(s) | Lee Traynham, Margaret Traynham |
Web site | www.delriovineyards.com |
Link to this site |
Del Rio Vineyards and Winery is a newer Rogue producer located along the Rogue River in Gold Hill between Grants Pass and Medford. Del Rio began as a small homesteaded community known as Rock Point, founded by J.B. White in the 1850s. He subsequently sold the property to L.J. White who built the Rock Point Hotel which was used as a stagecoach stop. By the turn of the century, the hotel had closed. F.K. Deuel and others bought the hotel and surrounding land and developed an 800-acre orchard known as Del Rio Orchards. The Rogue Valley became well known for pears grown at Del Rio Orchards.
In 1997, Californians Lee and Margaret Traynham bought the land and resurrected the property including the hotel which is one of the oldest structures in Southern Oregon. They transformed the pear orchard into wine grape vineyards and now have over 200,000 vines, twelve varietals and 17 clones. Del Rio currently supplies premium wine grapes to over twenty vintners in Oregon and California. The Del Rio Vineyards winemaker is Frenchman Jean-Michel Jussiaume.
Del Rio wines are sold on the website. The Del Rio winery is located inside the historic Del Rio Orchard packing house. The restored Rock Point Hotel and Stage Stop serves as Del Rio’s tasting room which is daily open year-round. 541-855-0122. Multiple wines are produced including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Malbec, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Viognier in addition to Pinot Noir.
2007 Del Rio Vineyards Rogue Valley Pinot Noir
13.7% alc., $28. Dijon clone 777 on 3309 rootstock at 1,089 vines per acre. The winemaker is Frenchman Jean-Michel Jussiaume. Premier release of own label Pinot Noir after growing grapes for others for years. · Appealing aromas of cherries, berries, vanillin, sawn oak and wet earth which are repeated in the medium weighted flavors. Nicely composed, smooth in the mouth and elegant with a ripe fruit aromatic finish that leaves a bit of oak in its wake. Reviewed January 1, 2009 ARTICLE »