Stoney Vine

Rocks District of Milton-Freewater AVA, Walla Walla Valley, OR

In 2012, W.T. Vintners formed a partnership with Stoney Vine Vineyard in one of the world’s most unique viticultural areas, the Walla Walla Valley’s sub-region known as The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater AVA. Unlike the dominant soils of Washington’s flood-affected vine-growing areas, the soils from “The Rocks District” are an ancient alluvial fan of river-tumbled basalt cobblestones formed by the Walla Walla River. “The Rocks District” area shares its soil structure with only a couple of very rare and special regions, evoking visions of Châteauneuf-du-Pape in France’s Southern Rhône Valley or New Zealand’s Hawkes Bay sub-region known as the “Gimblett Gravels.” While Châteauneuf’s famous “galet roulés” are largely just surface stones, the Walla Walla Rocks are deep, well over 200’ in some spots.

The lower-hanging fruit benefits from the radiant heat being absorbed by the cobblestones throughout the sunny days. More importantly, the heat that is absorbed by day continues warming the root system and assisting in ripening well into the night. The resulting flavors from the region are decidedly very different from anywhere else in Washington/Oregon. Flavors and aromas of wild game, earth, and deep heady fruits pervade the wines made from fruit grown in this small area, regardless of varietal. It is truly a special place and worthy of the critical honors the region’s wines continue to garner each year.