Folin Cellars

Thirty-something Rob Folin is the winemaker, tasting room manager, and chief bottle washer for the Folin Cellars winery. Following graduation from Oregon State University, Rob cut his winemaking teeth at Domaine Serene for seven years. Rob’s parents, Scott and Loraine Folin, are proprietors of both winery and vineyard and reside at the family’s Sams Valley vineyard location in Rogue Valley, where Scott manages the 25 acres of vineyards. The grapes in these vineyards — viognier, syrah, tempranillo, petite syrah, mourvèdre, and grenache — thrive on the region’s hot summer days.
For the grape geeks among us, here is the vineyard data straight from FolinCellars.com:

• 25 acres planted
• VSP trellis
• 8-by-4 spacing
• Small-block irrigation
• Approximately 2.5 tons/acre
• Elevation: 1,300 to 1,450 feet
• Slopes 10° to 20° (Average 11°)
• Site aspect: southerly to westerly
o (150° to 270°)
o Average: southwest (216°)
• Average growing degree days: 2,583
• Soils: clay loam to sandy clay loam with gravel

What does all this data mean? I don’t have a clue, but I can testify that the 8-by-4 spacing and small-block irrigation translated into a truly remarkable viognier showcasing the long finish and combination of citrus and floral notes that only viognier delivers.
At the tasting room in Carlton, visitors find Rob pouring wine from Folin’s current releases, including the aforementioned viognier, as well as tempranillo, syrah, and a refreshing grenache rosé. You might notice that the winery uses the Vino-Seal glass closure, just like its next-door neighbor, Barking Frog Winery. As Rob points out, “No cork. No worries.”
At the time of this writing, the Folins are busy readying their new tasting room, located at their winery in Sams Valley, near Gold Hill. They anticipate opening the tasting room in the fall of 2009. Even with the opening of the new tasting room, they intend to maintain the tasting room in Carlton. Check out WineTrailsnw.com for updates, or if you’re planning a visit to Rogue Valley, call the winery to get the latest scoop.