Oregon's first AVA (1984) and, in some respects, its most neglected: the Umpqua Valley was where Richard Sommer planted vinifera in 1961 at HillCrest Vineyard, four years before Eyrie's famous Dundee Hills planting. A geologically complex basin with remarkable variety diversity — pinot noir, tempranillo, syrah, and riesling all succeed on appropriate sites. Abacela's tempranillo programme in the Umpqua has established a benchmark for Spanish varieties in the Pacific Northwest.
| Year | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 93 | Umpqua Valley's 2024 was warm, clean, and excellent across all varieties. The diverse southern Oregon appellation produced its strongest showing in years, with Pinot Noir, Tempranillo, and Syrah all standing out. |
| 2022 | 95 | Southern Oregon's warmest region produced exceptional Tempranillo, Grenache, and Syrah in 2022. Abacela and HillCrest both reported their finest red wine vintage in years. Umpqua's continental climate — warmer and drier than Willamette — made it the strongest-performing Oregon region in an already-exceptional year. |
| 2020 | 82 | Southern Oregon's more continental climate provided partial protection from the valley fog that concentrated wildfire smoke in the Willamette. Umpqua fared better than the valley floor. Tempranillo showed resilience. Not a banner year but significantly cleaner than Willamette. |
| 2017 | 88 | Good warm season delivered concentrated, accessible wines. The mix of cool and warm sites again demonstrated the valley's unique versatility. |
| 2016 | 92 | Umpqua Valley 2016 benefited from ideal growing conditions. The valley's unusual mix of warm and cool sites expressed the range of Oregon winemaking — from lean, cool-climate Pinot to richer, warm-site Tempranillo — all at their best. |
| 2015 | 88 | Umpqua Valley 2015 again demonstrated its unique dual character: the cool sites produced elegant early-drinking Pinot while the warm valley floor sites made their biggest, most concentrated wines. |
| 2014 | 92 | Umpqua Valley's warmer southern position made 2014 a particularly successful vintage for the diverse range of varieties grown there. Pinot Noir, Tempranillo, and Rhône varieties all achieved excellent ripeness with a long, even growing season. |
| 2013 | 91 | Umpqua Valley's 2013 delivered a diverse range of excellent wines across the region's variety spectrum. The longer season and southern position produced Pinot Noir, Tempranillo, and Syrah of high quality. |
| 2012 | 92 | Umpqua Valley's 2012 was warm and dry — unlike the troubled Willamette Valley vintage. The southern Oregon location meant the September rains were lighter and the harvest was largely unaffected, producing a strong vintage across all varieties. |