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contacted at 592-5333 or visit win-
dridgevineyard.com for information
and to purchase their wines. The also
are available at Taylor’s Country Store
in Cave Junction and at southwest
stores and restaurants.
The Bendocks offer Rogue Val-
ley white wines such as
Daisy Creek Viognier and
Madrone Mountain Ge-
würtztraminer in their tasting
room, besides Bendock Es-
tate Pinot Noir.
Windridge is a member
of the Rogue Appellation
Garagiste Society (RAGS), a
group of renegade small
vintners in Southwestern
Oregon. The group hosts The
Days of RAGS Wines and Roses on
May 31 in a private rose garden in the
Medford/Ashland area.
Wines of Trium (Talent, Oregon),
Daisy Creek, Madrone Mountain and
Bendock Estate will be featured, along
with good food. Roses may be spe-
cially ordered ahead. For reservations,
phone 899-8329 or 592-5333.
Deer Creek Vineyards is located
on 70 acres on Deer Creek Road near
Lake Selmac. Pinot Gris, Chardonnay
and Pinot Noir are bottled under their
label. Deer Creek’s tasting room and
gift shop is located at 2680 Deer Creek
Road, southeast of Redwood Hwy.
and Selma.
For information, visit deercreek-
vineyards.com or phone 592-4226.
A more recent addition to Illinois
Valley is Draper Valley Vineyards,
which specializes in nonalcoholic
wine grape juices, starting in 2004. It’s
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Southwestern Oregon’s Illinois Valley
located on Reeves Creek Road near
Lake Selmac. For those who prefer
non-alcoholic beverages, Draper Val-
ley offers a delicious alternative with
their Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon,
Chardonnay and Riesling.
None of its grape juices have
sugar or water. They are pure pre-
mium juices with all the flavor of S.W.
Oregon wines, but no alcohol. For
information, phone 597-4737 or visit
potomacabc.com.
One could spend a pleasant week-
end or longer, touring Illinois Valley’s
wineries, sampling the wines and tour-
ing the scenic properties. There often
are special events during the summer
and at special art events in Cave Junc-
tion and Kerby where local wines are
offered for tasting.
Illinois Valley wines also are
available at several restaurants in the
region including Taylor’s Country
Store, The Chateau at Oregon Caves,
Junction Inn, and Pietro’s Italian Res-
taurant in Cave Junction, Summer Jo’s
in Grants Pass, and the Jacksonville
Inn in Jacksonville.
If you love fine wine, try those
from Illinois Valley. They are afford-
able and can stand up to or beat most
higher-priced California versions for
taste and smoothness.
As people in Illinois Valley like to
say, “Buy local!” Not only does that
support the local economy, but buyers
find fine wine in the bargain.