Elkton Oregon AVA

Elkton Oregon
Wine region
Other namesElkton OR
TypeAmerican Viticultural Area
Year established2013
Years of wine industry54
Country United States
Part ofOregon, Southern Oregon AVA, Douglas County, Umpqua Valley AVA
Other regions in Oregon, Southern Oregon AVA, Douglas County, Umpqua Valley AVARed Hill Douglas County, Oregon AVA
Growing season220 days
Climate regionRegion Ib
Heat units2,436 GDD units
Precipitation (annual average)52.5 inches (1,334 mm)
Soil conditionsPredominately residual clay and/or silt loam or small to large cobble-dominated alluvial deposits
Total area74,900 acres (117 sq mi)
Size of planted vineyards305 acres (123 ha)
No. of vineyards12
Varietals producedGewürztraminer, Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, Riesling
No. of wineries7

Elkton Oregon is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) within Douglas County in Southern Oregon encompassing the small town of Elkton, Oregon. It was established as the nation's 207th, the state's seventeenth and the county's fifth appellation on February 5, 2013 by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), Treasury after reviewing the petition submitted in 2002 by Michael Landt, vineyard owner, on behalf of himself and the owners of seven other Elkton area vineyards, proposing the Douglas County viticultural area in southwestern Oregon named ”Elkton Oregon.”

The TTB determined in the final ruling that the abbreviated name "Elkton OR" for the AVA is appropriate. The 74,900-acre (117 sq mi) viticultural area, as per the petition, cultivates 96.5 acres (39 ha) with 12 commercially-producing vineyards. Elkton Oregon is a sub-appellation within the larger Umpqua Valley and vast Southern Oregon viticultural areas and is warmer than the northern Oregon appellations. Elkton Oregon's acreage covers approximately 11 percent of the 689,904-acre (1,078 sq mi) Umpqua Valley and 0.04 percent of the 2.0-million-acre (3,125 sq mi) Southern Oregon. The marine influence from the Pacific Ocean distinguishes the Elkton Oregon viticultural area from the larger Umpqua Valley. The USDA plant hardiness zones are 8b and 9a.