In a step that reverses the trend of northern Oregon wineries seeking a vehicle to promote small distinct growing regions, a petition has been filed to establish a mega Southern Oregon Appellation covering the presently established Umpqua and Rogue River Valley AVAs and includes a corridor of viticultural areas connecting the two regions.
Precedent for this type of appellation has been set in California by large all encompassing AVAs such as the North and Central Coasts and the recently approved San Francisco Bay AVA.
The petitioners, H. Earl Jones and Dr. Gregory V. Jones, have made the case for the AVA based on a number of factors, including topography, soils and climate. While the region generally has a homogenous climate and soil types, the Jones also argue that a number of unique microclimates exist within the proposed boundaries.
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