MarshAnne Landing

At first, I wondered what this winery’s UFO logo had to do with syrah. However, when I walked into the tasting room and got a “Welcome to MarshAnne Landing,” it began to dawn on me. Co-owner Frances Cramer pronounced “MarshAnne” like something having to do with the fourth planet from the sun — “Martian.”

In the mid-’90s, Greg Marsh and Frances Anne Cramer moved to Oregon from Maryland in search of a new life and to make wine. As far as I know, they were transported via a regular airplane rather than hopping a space shuttle. Greg, who has a doctorate in chemistry, had developed a penchant for making wine in the basement. Frances’ background is in computer science. Both loved Rhône-style wines — syrah, marsanne, viognier, and grenache — and believed that the warmer Umpqua region would prove best for these warm-weather grapes. The couple ultimately settled on a 109-acre “landing” site located four miles north of Oakland.

Inside the newly constructed (2006) tasting room, visitors encounter an elegant, light-filled space complete with an inviting fireplace and a set of French doors that open onto the outside deck. From there, you can ogle the Cramers’ 20-acre estate vineyard. Back inside the high-ceilinged tasting room, there is plenty of art to keep visitors occupied. At the time of my visit, 17 different local artists were exhibiting their work, which included quilts, paintings, and woven art. Opera music was playing in the background.

With the goal of making “out of this world” wines, the Cramers create approachable, food-friendly wines. In keeping with their love of Rhône-style wines, they offer syrah and grenache red wines, including a red blend called Cote de Umpqua, which, unfortunately, has a way of selling out. They also feature Bordeaux varietals, including a merlot-cabernet blend they call Red Planet. White “landing fluids” included a crisp viognier that went great with the 90-degree temps outside.

While partaking of their wines and listening to Frances talk about her affection for the Umpqua, it dawned on me that there was another reason for the flying saucer on the logo. It conveys a sense of humor and an approachability that lets the drinker know that these wines are not snooty. At MarshAnne Landing, you can feel right at home, imagining yourself rubbing elbows with astronauts while admiring a wine label bearing the image of the Southern Cross.