Umpqua Valley: Top 10 North American Wine Destinations

The Umpqua Valley is formed by the conjunction of three mountain ranges and the Umpqua River, all of which come together to form many distinct little valleys and micro-climates. Grapes have been grown in Umpqua Valley since the 1880s, when German immigrants who had worked for Beringe, came north from California. The Umpqua Valley is home to 21 wineries.
In a recent article in Rueter's Life,  Editors at TripAdvisor  have compiled a list of North America's top 10 wine destinations after noticing a 10 percent rise in searches for "vineyards" over the past six weeks compared to a year ago.  Roseburg was number 5 after Napa, Sonoma, Willamette, and Yakima Valley. 

Congratulations to Reustle-Prayer Rock Vineyards on winning the Small Winery of the Year award at the prestigious 2010 Riverside International Wine Competition May, 2010 in Temecula, California. The Small Winery of the Year Trophy is awarded to the winery whose multiple entries achieve broad  commendation in many categories from a limited production.

Reustle-Prayer Rock Vineyards took home multiple Gold, Silver and Bronze awards for their diverse collection of Umpqua Valley wines – Pinot Noir, Gruner Veltliner, Syrah, Tempranillo, Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc.

My husband and I enjoy the "Wine Cave" at Reustle Vineyards which is adorned in an old world Italian stones with beautiful chandeliers and bible versus set in the tiles of the floor.  

Which wines should you consume to reap the most benefits?

Researchers at the University of California, at Davis tested a variety of wines to determine which types have the highest concentrations of flavonoids. Their results concluded that the flavonoid favorite is Cabernet Sauvignon, followed closely by Petit Syrah and Pinot Noir. Both Merlots and red zinfandels have fewer flavonoids than their more potent predecessors. White wine had significantly smaller amounts than the red wine varieties. The bottom line is the sweeter the wine, the fewer the flavonoids. Dryer red wines are your best bet for a flavonoid boost.

Scientists believe the antioxidants, called flavonoids, reduce the risk of coronary heart disease in three ways:  

by reducing production of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (also know as the "bad" cholesterol),  b

y boosting high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the good cholesterol), 

by reducing blood clotting. Furthermore, consuming a glass of wine along with a meal may favorably influence your lipid profiles following that meal.

Cheers! Come enjoy our valley's wines at the 41st Greatest of the Grapes, March 5, 2011, 7 to 11 pm., Seven Feathers Resort and Spa!

Next topic.....should you supplement with Resveratrol?

Happy New Year to All!

Susan