Why you should visit Ashland wineries
This blog post covers the five best wineries in Ashland, Oregon.
Ashland wineries reflect the sophisticated charm of their hometown.
Ashland is best known for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, which attracts over a hundred thousand people a year.
This tiny town in Southern Oregon is also home to great restaurants, a quaint rose garden, and wonderful wineries. Because of course people need someplace to quench their thirst in between theater performances!
A handful of the excellent boutique wineries in Ashland combine award-winning wines, beautiful patios, and spectacular views. We’ll definitely cover those businesses in this blog post.
We’ll also discuss two small family-owned operations focused on sustainability and regenerative farming.
One Ashland winery on this list is located just a few blocks from the Oregon Shakespeare festival. It’s very convenient. The other Ashland wineries are located a short drive from downtown.
All of these wineries belong to the Rogue Valley AVA, which is nestled within the larger Southern Oregon wine region.
No matter which winery you choose, you’re bound to find something to love!
How to access Ashland, Oregon
The Ashland wineries on this list are easily accessible if you have a car.
If you already live in Southern Oregon or Northern California, then great! You can simply drive to these Ashland wineries.
But if you live outside Rogue Valley wine country you will need to plan your trip in advance. Your best option is to fly into a nearby airport, rent a car, and drive from the airport to Ashland, Oregon.
The Rogue Valley International Airport (MFR) in Medford, Oregon is Ashland’s nearest airport. Cities such as Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and Salt Lake City fly into this airport every day.
The Rogue Valley airport is located about 16 miles north of Ashland. The drive should take about 25 minutes by car.
Once you reach Ashland you will likely need a car in order to reach the wineries on this list.
Only one of the wineries on this list is located in downtown Ashland. You could potentially walk to that winery tasting room depending on where you stay. The other four wineries on this list are a short drive from the town center.
However, if you don’t want to drive you could book a group tour or a personal concierge. The Travel Ashland website has compiled a list of options.
The best Ashland wineries for a wine tasting
Long Walk Vineyard (Ashland, OR)
Long Walk Vineyard is a family vineyard located in the Rogue Valley AVA.
The winery crafts delicious wines from grapes such as Syrah, Grenache, Zinfandel, Mourvèdre, Carignan, and Sauvignon Blanc. Look out for the 2022 Field Notes Red Blend, which earned 90 points from the James Suckling team.
One of the best features of Long Walk Vineyard is their beautiful tasting room. They used wood from an old barn to construct their modern tasting room, which lends the space history and character. The tasting house sports a wrap-around deck with spectacular views of the Rogue Valley of Southern Oregon. Thanks to its refined yet relaxed atmosphere it’s the perfect place to pull up a chair and relax.
Long Walk Vineyard offers a few tasting options. Standard tasting flights cost $18 per person for four pours; the tasting is complimentary for club members. The standard tasting experience takes about 90 minutes. Reservations are encouraged; you can make your reservation via the winery website.
If you’d like something more involved then book the “Exclusive Tour & Private Tasting Experience.” This private experience includes a walking tour of the property, a seated tasting, and a taste of three vintages. The tour costs $45 per person and is available Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 11 AM and at 3 PM.
It’s also worth mentioning that outside food is not permitted. The winery offers a charcuterie and cheese board for $30 per board. The cheese board is available to pre-order when you schedule your reservation.
Long Walk Vineyard is open Thursday through Sunday from 11 AM to 4 PM.
Weisinger Family Winery (Ashland, OR)
Weisinger Family Winery crafts small-lot wines from local vineyards.
They source grapes from their own estate vineyards and from other Ashland vineyards. Most grapes are grown with a small five mile radius of their property. As a result, Weisinger wines are a true reflection of their specific terroir.
Weisinger Family Winery is an artisan producer of Pinot Noir, but they work with other grapes as well. Syrah, Malbec, Tempranillo, Viogner, Chardonnay, and Gewürztraminer all appear in their wines.
The Weisinger Family Winery has plenty of outdoor seating with a great view of the neighboring hills. The winery hosts a range of special events including winemaker dinners, food truck nights, and live music concerts.
Their tasting room hours are seasonal. During the summer and fall (May through October) the Weisinger tasting room is open from 11 AM to 6 PM daily. During the winter and spring (November through April) the tasting room is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM.
By the way, they also offer lodging. Guests can book the winery’s private cottage, which is nestled beside the Pinot Noir vines. The cottage boasts a fireplace, hot tub, full kitchen, living room, and queen-size bed.
Irvine & Roberts Vineyards (Ashland, OR)
Irvine & Roberts Vineyards offers excellent outdoor seating with gorgeous views.
They specialize in Chardonnay, Rosé, Pinot Meunier and – the most famous of Oregon grapes – Pinot Noir.
The outdoor seating at Irvine & Roberts is the perfect place to relax with a glass of wine on a warm summer day. On cool nights guests can gather around the winery’s cozy fireplaces.
Irvine & Roberts Vineyards offers a few tasting options. The Tasting Exploration costs $20 per person that takes two-hours to experience.
The Curated Pairing costs $45 per person. This tasting pairs limited-production wines with small bites. The Vineyard to Table tasting costs $75 per person. This three course meal includes a wine pairing with each course.
The winery tasting room is located just five miles from the heart of downtown Ashland. The winery is open daily from 12-6 PM.
Resistance Wine Company (Ashland, OR)
Resistance Wine Company is a boutique winery focused on “sustainable, low intervention and natural solutions.”
Founders Kimberly and Kirk prioritize people over machines. Their high quality wines are free from additives. As a result, their products reflect their care and attention.
Resistance Wine Company sources hand-harvested fruit from small vineyards in Southern Oregon. They work with Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, and Syrah grapes from the Rogue Valley American Viticultural Area (AVA). They source a lot of fruit from Padigan Vineyard, a Medford vineyard committed to sustainable farming practices.
Resistance Wine Company is located just a few blocks from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. You could easily watch a play and then grab a glass of wine here afterwards.
The Resistance wine tasting room in downtown Ashland is open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 2-6 PM.
Tapestry Vineyard (Ashland, OR)
Tapestry Vineyard is a small winery focused on regenerative farming.
Owners Traci and Jason tend to their Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc vines by hand. Production is fairly small.
One of the best parts of Tapestry Vineyard is their herb and flower garden. All wine tastings include a farm tour and the chance to collect fresh herbs and flowers. By the way, they grow saffron! The owners even allow guests to pick their own saffron on select dates.
But of course the farm’s main focus is wine. Guests can enjoy a Vineyard Tour or a Private Tasting. The Vineyard Tour is available by appointment only for parties of 2-12 people. Tours include a vineyard walk and small bites paired with wine.
Private Tastings are also available for groups of 2-12 people. You can contact the winery to learn more about how they can specialize this experience for your group.
Other wine regions to explore
Our favorite Oregon State wine regions
We’ve got some inspiration for your next Oregon wine experience.
Applegate, Oregon is a roughly 45 minute drive from downtown Ashland. The Applegate Valley is full of wonderful wineries. Our blog post focuses on six amazing Applegate Valley wineries that make high quality handcrafted wines. Many of these wineries are family-owned. Some (like Troon Vineyards) are biodynamically farmed.
The Willamette Valley is arguably the most famous area in Oregon wine country. Our list of the best Willamette Valley wineries is a great introduction to the region. Many of the wineries on our list boast beautiful tasting rooms, spacious patios, and panoramic vineyards views.
I’d also be remiss not to mention the Columbia Gorge AVA. Many people think of Hood River as the windsurfing capital of the world. I’d argue the wine is world class as well. Our blog post covers the best Hood River wineries that craft organic and biodynamic wine.
Washington State wine destinations worth a visit
Washington is another major wine producing state.
Prosser, Washington flies under-the-radar as a wine destination. And yet, you’ve probably seen a bottle of Prosser wine at your local grocery store. Our list of ten delicious Prosser wineries includes both boutique and big box producers.
Truth be told most people drive through Prosser on their way to Walla Walla. There’s a reason this small town in Southeastern Washington State draws visitors. It’s full of gently rolling hills, golden wheat fields, and wonderful wineries. We’ve compiled a list of the best Walla Walla wineries with lodging to help you decide where to stay.
Many wineries in Spokane, Washington source their grapes from Walla Walla. So why visit? Well, it’s hard to beat a walkable winery roster. Many of these downtown tasting rooms are within easy walking distance of one another. Our list of the best Spokane, Washington wineries also mentions a few places located just outside city limits.
