“Winegrower” is rarely used in wine conversations these days because there really are very few situations where it fits. A recent experience had me searching through my wine vocabulary for an appropriate descriptor and then it hit me: “winegrower.”
Arriving a few minutes early for a meeting, I was told the owner-winemaker was in the vineyards on his tractor. Honestly, I can’t recall the last time I heard those three words: owner, winemaker and tractor– in the same sentence. And this was happening on a Sunday no less.
Sure enough, Eric showed up on time and had to shake the dust off before shaking hands.
Eric Weisinger with his Weisinger Family Winery is definitely not your typical winemaker. Some of his colleagues in Oregon label him a “winemaker’s winemaker.” But after my most recent visit and after tasting many of his new wines, “winegrower” fits him perfectly.
His bio on the winery’s website (weisingers.com ) is a brief one paragraph. To summarize: His parents moved from Texas to Oregon and in 1978 he helped plant the original vineyard. Located on the rural outskirts of Ashland, that vineyard was one of the first in Southern Oregon. He and his father planted it to Gewurztraminer. He grew up on the farm and by 1998 became the winemaker.
One thing he did early on was to re-work the winery’s name to Weisinger Family Winery, emphasizing “Family.” And he then gradually converted sections of the vineyard to Tempranillo and Pinot Noir. Between 2007 and 2015, he visited Australia and New Zealand working at several wineries during their harvest seasons. Today, he also makes wines for his Oregon neighbors, most recently the Peter William brand, and has worked several vintages for a winery in Texas.
With his own winery, he makes a wide variety, adding and dropping wines from time to time. He simply enjoys making wines because, as he says, “No two days are the same and there is always more to learn about wine.”
Let the Terroir Speak
It may be a cliche, but Eric truly believes that great wines are made in the vineyard. And he backs that up by focusing on single vineyard wines. He works not only with his estate vineyard but sources grapes from independent growers and even other wineries for his single vineyard program.
As he explains, “Our goal as winemakers is to let this terroir come through in the expression of the fruit and in the finished wine, with minimal interference. Rather than using a lot of oak, we focus on cultivating the highest quality fruit, and let the terroir speak for itself.”
The Current Wine Roster
Ten wines were available at the winery during my last visit, and over this summer another 5 or 6 will be released. If you look for a pattern or theme, don’t bother. There is none, only an eclectic mix of Rhone, Bordeaux, Burgundy and Spanish, varietals and blends.
I almost forgot there was a first-ever Gamay and a Tannat being offered to members and visitors that day. BTW: The 2023 Tannat, sourced from the only vineyard In the Rogue Valley, growing that variety, is a rich, beautiful rendition. Lucky club members!
Back in 2020, he made an attractive Touriga Nacional from the Gold Vineyard. In 2021, his Malbec from the Peter William Vineyard went off the charts. Well, you get the point.
But the main point is that Weisinger is the proverbial treasure trove of high quality, small batch, hand made wines with the personal touch of a winegrower.
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Because there are so many small batch wines, the best approach is to take it slow, one flight or deep dive at a time.
So what follows are my notes and reviews from the initial dip, not quite a dive.
The scores are there to keep to a consistent format used when posting reviews on winereviewonline.com
Sampling Current Releases
Weisinger Family Winery, Applegate Valley Cole Family Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc 2024 $34
Drawing from his experience in New Zealand, Weisinger works with Cole Family Vineyards, a small organic vineyard located in Williams Oregon, a region among the coolest within the Rogue Valley. This is the second vintage I’ve tasted from this vineyard, and both are among my favs.
In 2024, the fruit ripened in mid-September and the wine was barrel fermented and aged for six months in neutral French oak. The result is a Sauvignon with high toned aromatics of green apple, lemongrass and verbena. Medium bodied, firm and balanced, with lots of bright fruit (melon, and apple) on the palate, it finishes on a crisp note. Overall, it has more depth than New Zealand Sauvignon. 134 cases made. 92
Weisinger Family Winery, Rogue Valley Avra Vineyard Viognier 2024 $36
Vibrant and balanced from the first sip to the finish, here’s a Viognier that’s easy to like. The steep (2221 ft) hillside Avra Vineyard was planted in 2005, and Eric has also made a Grenache and Sauvignon Blanc from this nearby vineyard. In 2024 the grapes were harvested in late September and the wine is barrel fermented and aged for 6 months in neutral French oak. Light yellow in color, this Viognier combines white peach and apricot fruit with subtle hints of jasmine. Medium full in body, it delivers lively peach and honeysuckle flavors with a touch of green tea popping up toward the finish. More subtle and vibrant than powerful, it ends on a mouth-watering note. 116 cases made 93
Weisinger Family Winery, Rogue Valley Tempranillo 2023 $49
From the family’s steep, high elevation (2235 feet) vineyard behind the winery, Tempranillo is emerging as the winery’s signature wine. In 2023 the fruit was harvested in mid-October at a healthy 25 Brix. The wine was barrel aged for 17 months in 35% new French oak. From the first sip it becomes clear this is a generously flavored wine. Dark in color with an enticing aroma of black fruit and anise, along with cloves, it is medium full bodied. Plush and round on the palate, it offers rich, ripe black cherry flavors and spice. No hard edges here, just well-integrated tannins and attractive ripe fruit to make it a versatile, food companion. 91
A 2022 Reserve Tempranillo aged longer in oak, it much more layered and structured, similar to
An age-worthy Rioja Reserve. A detailed review is set for the next dive session.
Weisinger Family Winery, Rogue Valley Buxton Vineyard Grenache 2022 $40
Planted in 2015 and located along the Rogue River, Buxton is a new source of Grenache for Weisinger. This vintage was aged in French oak, 30% new and is a rich, fruit-forward style of Grenache. Deep in color, it displays aromas of black cherry, pomegranate with back notes of cloves. Round, smooth and polished on the palate, it delivers bright cherry and cranberry flavors. With soft, integrated tannins, this is a drink now red that can be enjoyed with a wide range of entrees. 90
Weisinger Family Winery, Rogue Valley GSM 2023 $40
This is a winemaker’s wine with each component harvested from a separate vineyard over three days in mid-October. You can imagine the number of different lots after the fermentation process. Anyway the final blend consisted of 49% Grenache, 30% Syrah, and 21% Mourvedre and it was aged French oak, 30% new. Deep dark in color with lively fragrances of
plum with a touch of leather and white pepper. Medium bodied with juicy cherry and plum fruit flavors backed by dried herbs and pepper. With well-integrated tannins, it finishes with a layer of yummy plum fruit and earthiness. Overall, quite charming, and yet has the depth and complexity to be ever so food friendly. Then again, isn’t that what a GSM is all about? 108 cases made 92
Though it was not planned, it became apparent when going over these wines and the notes that a common thread is their food affinity. Quite a few wines are too heavy, ripe or powerful to make you think of what to enjoy them with during a tasting.
Food for thought?
Norm Roby's Unfiltered Guide to Savvy Wine Shopping 