We’ve been watching Wooldridge Creek Winery progressing for almost a decade. This boutique winery in Applegate Valley of Oregon continues to impress us.
For some time now, it’s more than a winery. It’s also a creamery and charcuterie. They make delicious cheeses from the milk that comes from the goats roaming their vineyards. But it took time before they got to this point.
In the 70s, Ted and Mary escaped LA and settled in Applegate Valley of Oregon. They planted the vineyard and built a “guest cabin” they ended up living in for 25 years. In the early 2000s, Greg Paneitz joined them as winemaker after completing winemaking studies in Southern France.
Wooldridge Creek started making winery, and in 2004 they opened the original tasting room (known as the “carriage house”) and started building the winery that opened in 2005.
Back in the 1870’s part of the land where the winery is today was a homestead to the Wooldridge Family. The creek that runs through the property has the family’s name.
We found this interesting because, in a way, winery owners are connected through time to people who lived and worked there, people they never met.
Wooldridge Creek Vineyard
In 2020 Wooldridge Creek celebrated 42 years of grape-growing. Today, they have 46 acres under the vine, with another 130 acres mostly forested area.
From the start, they aimed at sustainability, watershed protection, and forest preservation. For over a decade, Wooldridge Creek is Salmon Safe and LIVE (Low Input Viticulture and Enology) certified. Most recently, it became a USDA Organic farm.
Rich Lorelli, the vineyard manager, is tending the vineyards since the early eighties. They grow a dozen varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Malbec, Tempranillo, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Viognier, Riesling, and Gewurztraminer.
Wooldridge Creek Winery
While Wooldridge Creek started as Ted and Mary’s “hobby,” it evolved into a commercial vineyard first and winery later.
They met their sustainability goal not just in vineyards but at the winery as well. The winery was built with logs harvested in the surrounding area and using recycled materials.
In the summer, the barrel room cooled naturally. The wells with river rock under the barrels are hosed down to provide cooling and optimum humidity.
While a commercial winery, Wooldridge Creek remains a boutique winery with around five thousand cases production. They produce both single-varietal, blends, and sparkling wines from twelve organically grown grape varietals.
Wooldridge Creek Wine Recommendations
On our visit to the winery, we tasted a wide range of wines, including Sparkling, Rosé, whites, and reds.
We were impressed by the tropical and floral profile of 2019 Brut Blanc de Blanc. This Charmat Method sparkling is 100% Chardonnay and is an excellent choice for Sunday Brunch or picnic on the beach.
2019 Rosé is a unique blend of Tempranillo, Zinfandel, Malbec, and Syrah. They also produce a somewhat similar sparkling version of this Rosé, and it was a delight.
Other notable wines were 2018 Viognier and 2017 Tempranillo.
Wooldridge Creek Creamery and Charcuterie
In June of 2015, Wooldridge Creek started a creamery as well. It was the first in Oregon winery and creamery. They make many styles of cheese, from fresh and soft to aged, hard cheeses. While they source cow milk from a local organic farm, the goat cheese is all in-house operations. As you arrive at Wooldridge Creek tasting room, you might see their small herd of goats roaming the vineyard.
The creamery building was finished in 2020, and now visitors have a unique chance to view the entire cheese-making process, from goat to table. They even launched a Cheese Club.
Most recently, to take your experience to the next level, Wooldridge Creek added the charcuterie.
Why Visit Woodridge Creek
Let’s start with the wine. If you go wine swinging to the wineries regularly, we sure that you’ve been in the following situation. You invited friends to come along, and at least one “party pooper” couldn’t find the wine to love. There’s a solution for that.
Wooldridge Creek has such a diverse range of wines that everyone can find one to enjoy.
Besides, wine, cheese, and charcuterie all under one roof! Hard to beat that!
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