Bradley Vineyards
Bradley Vineyards offers something different from other Elkton-based wineries — its tasting room is at the vineyard. Just one mile south of Elkton’s town center, visitors will find Bradley Vineyards’ 25 vine acres, winery and tasting room. Still, guests might be hesitant to make the trek outside of town and turn off the highway onto the unpaved road leading to the winery. This explains the Burma Shave–inspired signs telling visitors:
Row after row
Drive to the top
To taste what they grow
Since 1983, John and Bonnie Bradley have been growing grapes in this remarkable area. The vineyard includes wine varieties you come to expect in this marine-cooled climate: pinot noir, gewürztraminer, and riesling. In addition to these wines, the Bradleys also produce a wine unique to Umpqua — Baco noir. However, these grapes are grown much farther south in the Umpqua region.
If you are working your way north to south in the Umpqua, this will probably be your first exposure to Baco. A turn-of-the-century cross between folle blanche and Vitis riparia by the famous French hybridizer François Baco, this grape is grown principally at the Melrose, Girardet and Reustle-Prayer Rock vineyards to the south. The elegant taste of Baco noir will likely have you scratching your head wondering why we don’t see this wine throughout the Northwest.
The views from the tasting-room deck include the vineyards in the foreground and the stunning Coast Range in the distance. On summer evenings, the golden light is spectacular and gets even better with each sip of Bradley Vineyards pinot noir. Beside the tasting room is a venue for weddings. It’s easy to imagine friends and family gathered for a perfect wedding at Bradley Vineyards. During those events, perhaps the Bradleys should change their roadside signs to read:
Row after row
Drive to the top
And bring your sweetie in tow
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Order the book!
Bradley Vineyards was featured in WineTrails of Oregon as part of the Umpqua Valley WineTrail North on page !
