Ashland Food Co-op - Blog

DRINK LOCAL

August 14th, 2009 by Matthew

In Europe we thought of wine as something as healthy and normal as food and also a great giver of happiness and well being and delight. Drinking wine was not a snobbism nor a sign of sophistication nor a cult; it was as natural as eating, and to me as necessary.

-Ernest Hemingway

Wooldridge Creek Vineyard and Winery, Applegate Valley

With all the talk about Eating Local, often times the movement to Drink Local is an afterthought. But for those of us that do partake in the drink, choosing local vineyards and wineries is as worthy a cause as choosing local farms. Not to say that the bottle of Brunello di Montalcino or that Chateauneuf-du-Pape should be left forgotten and unappreciated. What I’m saying is to think before you drink, and perhaps give the locals a larger portion of your wine dollar. After all, drinking local wine keeps money in the local economy, cuts the number of food miles that the wine has to travel, and supports smaller producers who prioritize stewardship of the land and who often utilize more sustainable practices (L.I.V.E. – Low Input Viticulture and Enology).

In this article, you will find a list of wine resources specific to Southern Oregon, and Southern Oregon wineries according to AVA (American Viticultural Area). I’ll also point out wineries that are L.I.V.E. Certified Sustainable, and profile Wooldridge Creek Vineyard & Winery (photos throughout blog are from their tasting room, vineyard, and barrel room). Hopefully this information will help people realize (or remember) the exceptional abundance and quality that we have at our doorstep.