Applegate, OR

A Lovely Day in The Life of Friends. After a very rough week of working on some difficult deals, attending one too many meetings, politicking and presentations, and receiving some sad news that a dear friend suffered a heart attack, this gal is one tuckered girl.

Fortunately, today offered a little reprieve. I had the luxury of relaxing in a limo with friends while touring some beautiful vineyards in Southern Oregon. The sun was shining, the landscape was gorgeous and the company was engaging. Thank you guys for bringing me out of my funk... love you!

A few pics of A Lovely Day in the Life of Friends.

It was a lovely day in the life of friends!

Historic McKee Bridge - Applegate Valley, OR

We visit the historic McKee Bridge on the Applegate River.

The Applegate River was named after the famous Lindsey Applegate who discovered a southern route across the Cascade Mountains to the fertile valleys of the Rogue, and northward to the Willamette Valley.

The route was well used, as it was feared that in the event of war with Britain, the Columbia River route would be blockaded.

This irrigation canal runs parallel to the Applegate River. Note the paddlewheel in the background.

The McKee Bridge was built in 1917 by John Hartman of Jacksonville on land donated by a local rancher; Adelbert "Deb" McKee. McKee's ranch was used as a stage station, and was mainly for traffic going to the Blue Ledge copper mine. McKee also rented rooms to travelers.

In the 1930's the Civilian Conservation Corps developed a beautiful park next to the bridge.

This scenic treasure spans the Applegate River only eight miles from the California border.

Josephine County Historical Society's "Passport To History" - Missouri Flat Cemetery - Applegate, Oregon

While in the Applegate Valley, we stopped for a visit at the Missouri Flat Cemetery. While physically located in Jackson county, it is so close to the border, that it is sometimes considered a Josephine county cemetery. It is also known as Kubli Cemetery.

We had heard rumors that this cemetery was haunted!

Some visitors had reported feeling threatened by the apparitions they saw, and still others had seen something, but had not felt uncomfortable or fearful.

What more reason did we need for a visit? We had to see for ourselves!

It was a beautiful 89 degree, sunny day, and not a breeze in this flat area of the valley.

We began on the right side as you face the gate, and found it to be very cold on this end, so we made our way over to the other side, feeling perhaps the area closer to the open fields would be more comfortable.

Nothing seemed "out of the ordinary," and since cemeteries are an integral part of Josephine County history, we studied the stones, and took photos along the way.

This young child was apparently the first person to be laid to rest in the Missouri Flat Cemetery.

The day heated up, and when we had completed the visit, we came back to our point of beginning to see the one area we had left earlier due to the temperature. It was still cold!

Fifty feet to either side of this particular area, it was very warm; however, in this small area about seventy feet in diameter it was cold! Not uncomfortable in any way, but noticeably different.

I purposely moved in different directions away from the circle, and it was like stepping outside from an air-conditioned house on a hot day. Inside the circle was a cool breeze. Outside the circle, it was absolutely still and very, very warm. Other than that, there was nothing unusual.

Inside the circle, we found a really curious gravesite. Obviously this man was aged correctly to have fought in the Civil War, and the "Stars and Bars" on his grave obviously led me to the assumption that he fought for the "South," and a descendant has paid proper tribute.

We have found many markers indicating Civil War vets, but this gentleman from the South deserves more recognition as a Veteran.

Further search found records showing he was born in Polk county Missouri and did serve in the Civil War. The 1880 Oregon census indicated he was living in the Applegate precinct of Jackson County. The 1900 census indicates his address as Murphy precinct of Josephine County. He was the son of James and Hannah Slagle of Polk county Missouri.

L'EST WE FORGET.

Please visit the Josephine County Historical Society's website for more information on the Passport To History program.

Below are the links to my earlier Josephine County Historical Society's Passport To History blogs.

Introduction Caveman Schmidt House

Blind George's Newsstand Grants Pass Historic Homes Tour

Historic District Tour Grants Pass Pharmacy Rogue Theatre

Hugo Community Church Haines Apple Tree Ament Dam

Grants Pass Cemeteries Pottsville Sportsman Park

Griffin Park Lake Selmac Granite Hill Cemetery

Pleasant Valley Cemetery Josephine County Bridges

Grants Pass Fire Department Reinhart Volunteer Park Wolf Creek Inn

Applegate Trail Interpretive Center Golden Townsite

Grave Creek Covered Bridge Robertson Bridge

Wilderville Store and Post Office Wilderville Cemetery

Granite Tombstone Quarry Merlin Park - Veterans Walk of Honor

Gotcher Cemetery Provolt Store

Fabulous Wine Tasting in Southern Oregon. It's simply an art form and a whole lot of fun. Come taste our local wines and meet our local vintners at wineries in the Rogue and Applegate Valleys. Some wineries offer free tastings, while others charge a small fee, which is sometimes refunded with a minimum purchase. In any case, you will enjoy Southern Oregon wine tasting at its finest!

Weisinger's of Ashland, 3150 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, 541-488-5989 or 800-551-9463, weisingers.com, open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. Noted for merlot, mescolare, red blends and dry gewürztraminer. The first taste is free, small charge for additional tastes.

Ashland Vineyards, 2775 E. Main St., Ashland, 541-488-0088, winenet.com. Open by appointment. Makes Bordeaux-style reds and blends. There is a tasting fee.

Grizzly Peak Winery, 1600 E. Nevada St., Ashland, 541-482-5700. Open noon to 4 p.m. weekends or by appointment. The winery makes chardonnay, pinot noir, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, syrah and its red blend, Le Mystere. The site also is the home of Granite Peak Winery that produces cabernet sauvignon, merlot and a port-style merlot called Decadence. Tasting is free except for Decadence, for which there is a $2 refundable fee with purchase.

Paschal Winery, 1122 Suncrest Road, Talent, 541-535-7957, paschalwinery.com, open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Pinot gris, chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, syrah and red blends are among its wines. First two tastes are free.

Trium, 7112 Rapp Lane, Talent, 541-535-4015, Talent, triumwines.com. Open 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily through October. Trium makes red blends, pinot gris, viognier, merlot, cabernet franc, cabernet sauvignon and grenache rose. There is a tasting fee of $5 to $7.

Rising Sun Farms, 5126 S. Pacific Highway, Phoenix, 541-535-8331, ext. 201, risingsunfarms.com. The producer of specialty and organic foods has produced several wines under its own label. The tasting room features those wines and others from around the region. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. There is a tasting fee.

EdenVale Winery, 2310 Voorhies Road, Medford, 541-512-2955, edenvalleyorchards.com, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. EdenVale makes chardonnay, white and red blends, cabernet franc, syrah, tempranillo, dry rose and others. There is a tasting fee for reserve wines. The tasting room also sells wines from Griffin Creek, Lorelli, Slagle Creek, Troon, Madrone Mountain and others.

RoxyAnn Winery, 3285 Hillcrest Road, Medford, 541-776-2315, roxyann.com, open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. The tasting room pours RoxyAnn wines, including pinot gris, claret and several of its custom-crush customers' wines - Daisy Creek, LongSword, Velocity and Volcano. A three-wine flight costs $3; a seven-wine flight costs $7.

The Artisan Tasting Room, 245 N. Front St., Central Point, 541-664-1407, open noon to 6 p.m. daily. The tasting room offers merlot, viognier, rose, syrah and a red blend from Daisy Creek Vineyard in Jacksonville and dessert wines from Madrone Mountain Winery. There is no tasting fee.

Quady North, 255 E. California St., Jacksonville, 541-702-2123, quadynorth.com, open 12:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday. The tasting room showcases wines from Southern Oregon and Central California, including viognier, cabernet franc and syrah. There is a $5 tasting fee.

South Stage Cellars, 125 S. Third St., Jacksonville, 541-899-9120, open noon to 6 p.m. daily, except Friday when the tasting room is open from noon to 8 p.m. Wines made with grapes grown by Don and Traute Moore of the Talent area are featured, and the labels include Belle Vallee of Corvallis, Chateau Lorane (near Eugene), Dobbes Family Estate of Dundee, Griffin Creek (made by Willamette Valley Vineyards near Salem) and Spangler of Winston. Five wines usually are open for tasting each day. A flight of five costs $5. There is no charge for one or two tastes.

Caprice Vineyards, 970 Old Stage Road, Central Point, 541-499-0449, open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday-Sunday or by appointment. Bordeaux-style wines and alpaca clothing. There is no tasting fee.

Agate Ridge Vineyard, 1098 Nick Young Road, Eagle Point, 541-830-3050, agateridgevineyard.com, open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Viognier, pinot gris, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, pinot noir, zinfandel and syrah. There is a refundable $5 tasting fee with a purchase.

Crater Lake Cellars, 21882 Highway 62, Building B, Shady Cove, 541-878-4200, craterlakecellars.com, open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday or by appointment. The winery makes pinot gris, pinot blanc, chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, syrah, grenache, merlot, riesling and dessert wines. No tasting fee.

Del Rio Vineyards, 52 N. River Road, Gold Hill (use I-5 exit 40), 541-855-2062, delriovineyards.com, open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Makes pinot gris, chardonnay, claret, rose jolee and many others. The first taste is free.

Folin Cellars, 9200 Ramsey Road, Gold Hill, 541-855-2018, folincellars.com, open noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday or by appointment. Makes viogner, tempranillo and syrah. No tasting fee.

Cowhorn Vineyard & Garden, 1665 Eastside Road, south of Ruch, 541-899-6876, cowhornwine.com, opens by appointment for groups of six or more during the winter, open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Monday, April 1 through Sept. 1. This winery makes syrah, viognier, marsanne, roussanne and grenache. There is $5 tasting fee for a flight of four.

Cricket Hill Winery, 2131 Little Applegate Road, south of Ruch. Open from noon to 5 p.m. weekends June through September, also by appointment. Call 541-899-7264. Winery makes an interesting merlot. No tasting fee.

Valley View Winery, 1000 Upper Applegate Road, Ruch, 541-899-8468, valleyviewwinery.com, open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. The oldest winery in Jackson County is known for top-quality reds such as merlot, cabernet sauvignon, tempranillo and meritage (a blend), as well as chardonnay, pinot gris and viognier. There is a $5 charge for wine tasting.

Fiasco Winery, 8035 Highway 238, Ruch, 541-899-6945, fiascowinery.com, open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Wines include Italian varietals, barreled wines in growlers, zinfandel, syrah and Super Tuscan.

LongSword Vineyard, 8555 Highway 238, Ruch, 541-899-1746, longswordvineyard.com. Open from noon to 5 p.m. daily, except through January when the winery is open from noon to 5 p.m. weekends or by appointment.

Jacksonville Vineyards, 9730 Jacksonville Highway, Ruch, 541-899-6923, jacksonvillevineyards.com. Open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed until March 1. Visitors can taste claret, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and bordeaux blends.

Devitt Winery, 11412 Highway 238, between Ruch and Applegate, 541-899-7511, devittwinery.com. Hours are 1 to 5 p.m. daily. Devitt (pronounced like "debit") makes chardonnay, viognier, syrah, a red blend, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and a dessert wine. There is a refundable tasting fee with purchase.

John Michael Champagne Cellars, 1425 Humbug Creek Road, Applegate, 541-846-0810, open by appointment. Tasting fee is $5.

The Academy, 18200 Highway 238, Applegate, 541-846-6817, open by appointment. This small winery produces reds such as pinot noir and merlot.

Troon Vineyard, 1475 Kubli Road, Applegate, 541-846-9900, troonvineyard.com. The tasting room is open 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily June through September, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. October through May. Makes several reds, including cabernet sauvignon and zinfandel, also red and white blends and port. A flight of five wines cost $5. First taste is free.

Wooldridge Creek Vineyard, 818 Slagle Creek Road, Applegate, 541-846-6364, wcwinery.com. Open by appointment only. The winery makes chardonnay, red and white blends, syrah and some others.

Schmidt Family Vineyards, 242 Missouri Flat Road (but entrance is off Kubli Road), Applegate, 541-846-9985, sfvineyards.com. Open noon to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday or by appointment. The winery makes chardonnay, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, early muscat, a red blend, syrah, pinot gris and gewürztraminer. There is a tasting fee of $5.

Rosella's Vineyard, 184 Missouri Flat Road, Applegate, 541-846-6372, rosellasvineyard.com. Open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Monday, by appointment Tuesday and Wednesday. Its wines include chardonnay, merlot, merlot blush, a red blend, cabernet sauvignon and zinfandel.

Come enjoy some fabulous wine tasting in Southern Oregon!

Sunset Magazine toasts to Southern Oregon Wineries! Besides seeing an increase in tourist traffic each year, Southern Oregon Wineries are also seeing local, statewide, and national awards. Sunset Magazine recently named Southern Oregon one of its top destinations for wine in 2010.

The Southern Oregon Winery Association has more than 60 wineries on its list. "There's no question, when we first bought this property, there were only a handful of tasting rooms. And now we are pushing 20 to 30 tasting rooms just in the area. There has been phenomenal growth, and good quality growth," said Bill Steele with Cowhorn Vineyard and Garden.

Southern Oregon Wineries say the amount of wine being exported to other states has increased exponentially over the past 15 years.

In Oregon, there are more than 400 wineries and more than 14,000 acres of vineyard.

Come visit our Southern Oregon Wineries soon!