The scenic town of Elkton runs along the Umpqua River about an hour drive from the Bay Area and 35 miles east of Reedsport.

The town’s population hovers somewhere around 200, but it is home to four wineries — and along with the warmer weather the wine touring/tasting season is about to get cranked up.

“We have about two barrels of wine for every citizen,” Mike Landt, owner of River’s Edge Winery said.

Brandborg Vineyard and Winery, the largest of the town’s wineries, has its tasting room open every day all year. The rest of the wineries have limited schedules until the Friday before Memorial Day (May 23).

All the tasting rooms have the same hours, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., but the days vary.  After the holiday, Brandborg and River’s Edge are open every day. Bradley will be open Wednesdays-Sundays and Anindor is schedule to be open Fridays through Sundays.

Landt said it’s easy to make a day-trip out of Elkton, with visits to the Butterfly Pavillion and Fort Umpqua at the Elkton Community Education Center on Highway 38, lunch at one of the excellent restaurants in downtown and then visits to the four wineries. If you want to stay overnight, there are several bed and breakfasts in the area.

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Brandbord and Bradley wineries are part of five-stop wine tour on May 31.

Tickets are now available for the tour which benefits Great Afternoons/RCLC programs. Tickets cost $50 each and are available from Judy Macho at (541) 271-2100 or the Family Resource Center at (541) 271-9700.

Participants will leave the Reedsport High School parking lot at 9 a.m. and return about 5:30 p.m. The tour will stop at Misty Oaks Vineyard, Henry Estate Winery and Ruestle-Prayer Rock Vineyard in the Umpqua area first. Then on the way back to Reedsport, the bus will stop at Brandborg and Bradley wineries. There will be snacks and games on the bus.

Only 42 tickets are available.

Proceeds from the event support the many programs of Great Afternoons including the infant care program, pre-school activities, childcare for children up to 12 as well as after school and summer enrichment programs.

For more information or to purchase tickets, those interested can call Judy at (541) 271-2100 or Delaine at (541) 271-9700.