Field guide · Food & wine
Orchards, vines, and the tables between them.
Southern Oregon grows a shocking amount of what it eats and drinks: pears and wine grapes in the valley, tomatoes and lavender on the margins, and a restaurant scene that has quietly developed across Ashland, Medford, Jacksonville, and Grants Pass. This guide is the shortlist Tim hands to every newcomer.
Wine country
Jacksonville is the cork, the Applegate is the corkscrew.
The Rogue Valley and Applegate Valley appellations sit on different geologies and grow different wines, which keeps the tasting map interesting all year. Jacksonville's historic brick storefronts hold tasting rooms that spill onto the boardwalks, while the vineyards above town reward the drive with views of the whole valley.
Tim's standing advice for a first visit: start at the tasting rooms in the historic district, then follow the hills south toward the Applegate for an afternoon of small-production pours. Late summer brings the region's signature wine festival, Savor Southern Oregon.
Barrel room on the Jacksonville hills
Tasting rooms worth the detour
South Stage Cellars
Tasting room in the heart of Jacksonville's historic district.
Visit siteSomar Family Vineyards
Family vineyard above Jacksonville with valley views.
Visit siteAnchor Valley Wine Bar and Tasting Room
Pouring local wines in a restored downtown Jacksonville building.
Visit siteDaisy Creek Vineyard
Small-production wines on the hills outside Jacksonville.
Visit siteRellik Winery
Old Stage Road tasting room between Central Point and Jacksonville.
Visit siteHummingbird Estate
Vineyard, tasting room, and overnight stays on Old Stage Road.
Visit siteDos Mariposas Vineyards & Lavender
Vines and lavender fields on the south side of Medford.
Visit siteThe tables
Where locals actually go.
Ashland
Larks | Home Kitchen Cuisine
Farm-driven menu at the Ashland Springs Hotel with a serious wine list.
Pie & Vine
Wood-fired kitchen and a natural-leaning wine bar on East Main.
Cocorico
A little French-corner spot off the Plaza with devoted regulars.
Ruby's
Neighborhood breakfast and lunch near the university.
The Breadboard Restaurant
Main Street institution for generous plates and an honest bar.
Brickroom
Brick-walled bar and kitchen right on North Main.
Medford
Buttercloud Bakery & Cafe
The valley's morning line: laminated pastries and strong coffee by the tracks.
Mellelo Coffee Roasters
Medford's homegrown roaster with a Main Street flagship.
Outsider Coffee
Specialty coffee in downtown Medford with quiet corners.
Forage Coffee Company
East Main cafe with a rotating menu and good light.
Solid Ground Coffee + Tea
Downtown stop for coffee, tea, and long conversations.
Grants Pass
Cartwright's Taprock Northwest Grill
Riverside grill on the Rogue, a Grants Pass institution.
The Horny Goat Gastro Pub
Downtown pub on K Street with a big, friendly bar.
Food Studio
Elevated cocktails and a kitchen that likes to experiment.
Powderhorn Café & Pies
The classic breakfast-and-pie café on NE 6th.
Musashi Sushi Bar and Japanese Cuisine
A long-running sushi staple just off the downtown grid.
Zoom City Bar & Grill
Lively bar and grill on G Street for game days and casual nights out.
Also, the pears
The Rogue Valley has grown pears for generations, and the orchard country around Medford is one of the great quiet pleasures of the region: bloom in April, fruit stands through late summer, and the Pear Blossom Festival every spring downtown. Ask any local and they will tell you their favorite stand.
Eat like a local
The first-year food tour.
Week one: Buttercloud for pastries. Week two: a Saturday on the Ashland farmers market and a flight in Jacksonville. After that, the rhythm of the year takes over: harvest dinners in the fall, treadmill-coffee in the winter, and the valley's full table by the time spring returns.
Want the full list, town by town?
Ask Tim for his favorites.