What to Buy
'06 Claret Ripe currant, black cherry, blackberry $26
'07 Pinot Gris Ripe pears, peach, grapefruit, spice $16.50
'06 Syrah Juicy blackberry, cherry, white pepper, lavender blossoms, spicy oak $30
Getting There
From I-5, take Exit 27 (Hwy 238/Barnett Rd.) and go east on Barnett Rd. to N. Phoenix Rd. Turn left on N. Phoenix Rd. to Hillcrest Rd. and turn right. Winery is on the left.
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On the southeast slopes of Roxy Ann Peak in the Rogue Valley lies a century-old farm that now bears the fruit for the wines of RoxyAnn Winery. The mission of the winery is to produce world-class wines while preserving the land for future generations.
Under the direction of the vineyard manager, the soil is cultivated using sustainable practices. In fact, the winery has recently joined in the Low Input Viticulture and Enology (LIVE) effort, which was originally formed by a small group of Oregon wine grape growers who wanted to establish a certification process for farmers who comply with a specific sets of sustainable production practices.
According to Winemaker John Quinones, "A winemaker can't craft wines that surpass the quality of the fruit. It's our job to fully develop, preserve, and showcase what comes from the vineyard. With appropriate viticulture practices, desired flavor profiles, balance, and texture can be developed in the vineyard long before the grapes are brought into the winery."
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| John, who recently joined RoxyAnn, has more than 20 years of experience making wine in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys and beyond. "I am very focused on the texture of a wine," John says. "When the texture is balanced, the wine is in harmony."
Several of RoxyAnn's wines have received national attention, including the dark, juicy 2006 Syrah. It garnered a Gold Medal at the 2008 World Wine Championship—along with the 2007 Pinot Gris, which also captured Best of Show Whites, plus Best USA Pinot Gris Gold Medal in the 2009 World Wine Championship, and a Gold Medal in the 2008 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
The storied farm that has made all this possible is a popular place to visit. The RoxyAnn Winery tasting room in the historic Hillcrest barn has repeatedly been voted the best tasting room in the regional media. There's a 360-degree bar and separate tables for wine tasting, bucolic gardens for picnics, and a general feeling of oneness with the land that provides RoxyAnn wines.
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