June 28, 2023, Cave Junction, OR . . . Passing through the small town of Cave Junction (population 2071), you may not know one of of Oregon’s most established wineries, Foris Vineyards, has been quietly sitting here since 1974. You also may not know that wine critics have awarded a number of 90+ scores for Foris wines this year, including Wine Enthusiast and James Suckling in spring of 2023.
With 400+ acres of vineyard land, 200 of it planted with wine grapes in Southern Oregon’s Rogue Valley AVA, the family-owned Oregon winery was founded by Ted Gerber and his late wife Meri. The winery employs their daughter Alicia in the tasting room. While the wine is distributed in 37 states plus Canada and Japan, the reach of Foris is far beyond its Oregon borders, and notoriety from critics is on the rise.
First, Wine Enthusiast has awarded Foris with new ratings for five of its wines coming in with 90+ scores, and five were also designated as “Best Buys” from the magazine’s editors. Starting at $17 for Alsatian variety Gewürztraminer, and with the designation of Best Buy and a score of 90, it’s not surprising that the editors commend the wine’s value and quality. Wine Enthusiast, and its weekly newsletter which reaches more than 400,000 wine lovers, periodically reviews wines, this latest one released in June 26, 2023.
The Foris scores are as follows:
- 92 rating, Best Buy: Foris 2022 Pinot Blanc Rogue Valley $17
- 91 rating, Best Buy: Foris 2022 Pinot Gris Rogue Valley $17
- 91 rating: Foris 2021 Estate Pinot Noir Rogue Valley $22
- 90 rating, Best Buy: Foris 2022 Dry Gewürztraminer Rogue Valley$17
- 90 rating, Best Buy: Foris 2022 Rosé of Pinot Noir Rogue Valley $17
- 89 rating, Best Buy: Foris 2022 Riesling Rogue Valley $17
For James Suckling, one of wine’s most renowned critics who evaluates wines from all over the world, his recent Oregon report put Foris among the heavy hitters of wine. Foris’ 2018 Tempranillo received an outstanding rating of 92 points from JamesSuckling.com, which wrote: “Aromas of black and blue fruit, leather and dried herbs. Full-bodied with grippy tannins. Steady and ripe on the palate. Melted chocolate. Rich and intense.”
Similarly, the 2021 Rogue Valley Pinot Noir received a score of 91 points with the accolade, “this has a vibrant red-fruited character with citrusy notes, violets and wet stones. It is round-textured with supple tannins and a lingering, chocolaty mouthfeel. It is vivid and fruity with a flavorful finish.”
Also in the report is the 2021 Rogue Valley Chardonnay with a 90. They write, “clean-cut chardonnay with aromas of chopped apples, yellow pears, lemons and wet stones. Some flint. Fresh, medium-bodied and crisp, with nice density too.”
Winemaker Stephanie Pao has been at the helm of Foris wine production since 2017. She’s got a degree in molecular biology, as well as having studied viticulture and enology at UC Davis, and experience in vineyards and wineries in Oregon, Washington, California and New Zealand.
As one of the first vineyards in the Illinois Valley, Gerber is a self taught, hands-on grower. In 1977, when Oregon State University imported from France just a few dozen clones of Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, and Gewürztraminer, Gerber was one of six growers in Oregon to receive them. Located only a few miles north of the California border, Foris is made up of five ranches, with some of the buildings, including the main house and tasting room, literally built by hand by Gerber.
Foris wines are available online and at large local specialty retailers including Kroger/Fred Meyer, New Seasons, Basics, and Market of Choice, as well as small wine shops such as John’s Market.
About Foris Vineyards
Located just outside Cave Junction, Oregon, Foris is an agriculture based winery known for producing high quality, estate grown Alsace varietal white wines and Pinot Noir. Ted Gerber planted his first vineyard in 1975 and founded the winery in 1986. Today, Foris has 200 acres of estate vineyards at five different sites within a few miles of the winery. Foris wines are distributed in 37 states, Calgary, Toronto and Japan.
