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VALLEY VIEW

WINERY

one of Rogue Valley’s

oldest wineries celebrates
its almost 50-year history
with new hires

liza b. zimmerman

david gibb

hen Valley View’s co-owner Mark
Wisnovsky was traveling in Korea
and Japan to promote his family’s
Wwines, there were a few things he
learned. Something Wisnovsky wasn’t aware of before
hitting these trade shows was the fact that most buyers
outside the United States didn’t know that Southern
Oregon producers were making any Tempranillos and
Viogniers. Most thought the world’s top Tempranillos
have historically been found in Rioja and other areas
of Spain and the bulk of Viognier—a classic Southern
French grape—in the Rhône Valley.

The Valley View estate is the Rogue Valley’s oldest,
according to Wisnovsky, with roots dating back to
1971 when its 76 acres was purchased by Mark’s father
Frank. The next year he planted 12 acres of grapes in
the spring. The winery was intended to be part of a
cooperative so the Rogue Valley grape growers could
share equipment, as it often done in Europe. The
cooperative didn’t pan out and Frank had the winery
bonded in 1978.

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