“The most distinctive AVA in the United States… making some of the greatest wines in America” -Harvey Steinman, Wine Spectator

www.rocksdistrict.com Milton Freewater, What is The Rocks District? The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater is an American Viticultural Area (AVA) approved by the TTB on February 9, 2015.

The Rocks District is known for producing a unique flavor profile that is recognized by wine aficionados around the world. The wines from The Rocks District are of the highest quality, and have a track record of receiving some of the highest scores on average of any wine region in the new world. The Rocks District is also the only wine region in Oregon to produce a wine to received a perfect 100 point score from one of the three major wine publications (Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Wine Advocate).

The Rocks District AVA resides on the Oregon side of the larger, cross-state, Walla Walla Valley AVA. The Rocks District is the only AVA in the United States whose boundaries (96%) have been fixed by virtue of a single soil series (Freewater Series) and a single land form (alluvial fan).

www.rocksdistrict.com Milton Freewater, Oregon What Makes The Rocks District AVA Unique? The singular Freewater soil series Specialized farming practices and found within The Rocks District is training forms are being developed to unlike any winegrowing region in support growing vines in this distinctive the new world. Different from the soil focusing on capturing and radiating compacted sand, silt and ash of the the sun’s energy by virtue of exposed surrounding Valley, The Rocks District cobbles, assuring phenolic ripeness/ is easily identified by its composition flavor development. of volcanic basalt stones and gravels at the surface. The additional heat provides protection from extreme temperature fluctuation Derived from the Blue Mountains and facilitates aromatic wines with this cobblestone-rich soil type was savory complexities and umami The cobble/gravel layers extend many feet below the surface, making for extremely well-drained soils, deposited by the . character. encouraging deep root penetration in pursuit of water.

www.rocksdistrict.com Milton Freewater, Oregon Walla Walla Valley History 1 Million BC to 100,000 BC: find its way into the wild Walla Walla 1818: The Canada-based Northwest Continental shift forms the basalt base River, eventually being deposited, Company establishes Fort Nez Perce of the Walla Walla Valley hundreds of feet deep, within The as a fur trading outpost. This is the Rocks District as an alluvial fan. first permanent, non-tribal, settlement 100,000 BC to 15,000 BC: Volcanic in the Walla Walla Valley. activity prior to the last ice age leaves 7,000 BC: People of the First Nations, layers of compacted volcanic ash. the ancestors of the modern day 1856: Fort Walla Walla is built and Umatilla and Nez Perce tribes, arrive the city of Walla Walla is founded. 13,000 BC to 10,000 BC: The in Southeastern and receding ice shelf causes the Missoula Northeastern Oregon. 1868 & 1873: The independent Floods, which remove layers of topsoil cities of Milton and Freewater are and deposit massive amounts of silt 1805 & 1806: Lewis and Clark formed in the Walla Walla Valley as loam throughout the Valley. become the first eastern explorers to processing towns for lumber and local travel through the Walla Walla Valley, agriculture. 10,000 BC to Present: Erosion causes then part of the English territory volcanic basalt to break off of the known as the “Columbia District”. surrounding Blue Mountains and

www.rocksdistrict.com Milton Freewater, Oregon A History of Walla Walla Valley Wines 1859: A.B. Roberts establishes 1917: Prohibition ends any remaining a nursery and brings in the first commercial production of wine. recorded vinifera to the Walla Walla Valley. 1974: Gary Figgins plants Leonetti Vineyard, beginning the modern wine 1859-1883: Walla Walla develops as a era in Walla Walla Valley. wine region. Settlers produce wines for consumption and to sell to travelers 1981-1985: Woodward Canyon, on the Oregon trail and heading to the L’Ecole, Waterbrook and Seven gold fields of . Hills are founded, forming a firm foundation for the Walla Walla 1883: Severe frost kills most of the wine industry. vinifera in the Walla Walla Valley, and other crops are planted in their 1984: The Walla Walla Valley place. appellation is approved by the TTB.

www.rocksdistrict.com Milton Freewater, Oregon A History of Rocks District Wines 1997: Cayuse Vineyards plants the 1998 & 1999: Tom Waliser plants 2011: Work begins on the AVA first modern day vineyard in what is Waliser and Eidolon Vineyards; formation; spearheaded by Steve now known as “The Rocks District of making Rocks District fruit available Robertson. Geologist, Kevin Pogue Milton-Freewater”. to the larger marketplace. Ph.D is hired to provide the technical petition requirements, and to 2005: A Rocks District wine is delinieate the boundaries of The rewarded a perfect 100 point score Rocks District, predicated upon the from the Wine Advocate. Wine Freewater soil series. Enthusiast follows with another perfect 100 point score in 2008...many 2015: The TTB grants formal AVA more 95+ scores follow. designation status to “The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater”. 2006: Plantings increase and for the first time orchards are removed to 2018: The Rocks District Winegrowers make way for vinifera wine . (non-profit) is formed, marking the first time a member effort has been made to promote the region.

www.rocksdistrict.com Milton Freewater, Oregon Where is The Rocks District? The Rocks District is a nested AVA, residing entirely in Oregon and within the WA/OR, cross-state Walla Walla Valley AVA.

The 3767 acre (5.9 square mile) AVA was defined by the wild Walla Walla River; which formed an alluvial fan when it found the Valley’s floor, depositing basalt cobbles and gravels hundreds of feet deep from its Blue Mountain headwaters.

Located in the rain shadow of the Cascade mountains, the Walla Walla Valley receives an average of 12 inches of rain and nearly 300 days of sunshine annually. While the dry and sunny conditions make for excellent growing conditions, The Rocks District lies in close proximity to the foothills of the Blue Mountains, making it more temperate then other winegrowing areas in the Columbia and Yakima Valleys. In addition to grapes, The Rocks District is also a major producer of tree fruit.

www.rocksdistrict.com Milton Freewater, Oregon Who grows in The Rocks District?

At present there are only 338 acres of wine grapes spread MEMBER VINEYARDS across 37 planted vineyards with another 175+ acres in A & K Estates River Rock Vineyard development. Ancient Stones Riviere Galets Ansbah Vineyard Rockgarden Estate This makes The Rocks District one of the smallest AVAs in Arthur Estate Rotie Rocks the United States. This AVA’s Rhone varieties are capturing the Barrett Station Vineyard SJR Vineyard Cougar Hills Vineyard Stone Valley wine world’s attention with wines that are capable of Eidolon Stones Speak Vineyard showcasing “place”. Freewater Rocks The Walls Vineyards Funk Estate Vineyard Waliser Vineyard Of the total 3,767 AVA acres, approximately 3,400 acres are Hooker Vineyard Watermill Estate Vineyard Maison Bleue Estate Waterstone Vineyard plantable. With only 14% of viable land currently in use for wine Noble Rock Winesap Road Vineyard production there is tremendous potential for growth. Proper Estate Vineyard Yellow Jacket Vineyard Rasa Estate

www.rocksdistrict.com Milton Freewater, Oregon Who makes wine from Rocks District fruit?

More than 35 producers utilize Rocks District AVA MEMBER WINERIES fruit in their wine. Beresan Winery Rasa Vineyards Betz Family Winery Rotie Cellars Currently, there are three production facilities and no tasting rooms Brook & Bull Rulo Winery open to the public located within the AVA. (Close by, many more are Buty Winery Saviah Cellars located in Walla Walla.) Additionally, there are three new wineries in Canvasback Seven Hills Winery Cougar Crest Winery Siren Song Vineyard various stages of construction within the AVA. Delmas Tertulia Cellars Doubleback The Walls Vineyards Estimated maximum production for the region is currently around Ducleaux Cellars Two Vintners Force Majeure Valdemar Estates 55,000 cases. In comparison, the Walla Walla Valley is upwards of Maison Bleue Watermill Winery 500,000 cases, Red Mountain about 425,000 cases, and the Dundee Proper Winery Zerba Cellars Hills about 125,000 cases.

www.rocksdistrict.com Milton Freewater, Oregon The Rocks District by the numbers

▶▶3,767 and 5.9 - acres and square ▶▶338 - acres currently producing ▶▶12 and 2,935 - annual rainfall miles (respectively) of Rocks wine grapes within the AVA inches and average GDD ‘s District land surface (Growing Degree Days) of ▶▶175 - acres in development the AVA ▶▶3,400 - plantable acres within the AVA ▶▶4 - number of perfect 100 point ▶▶2015 - The Rocks District of ▶▶45.4 - percent of vines that are scores which have been awarded Milton-Freewater is , the most common variety to wines from the AVA by Wine approved by the TTB in the AVA Enthusiast, Wine Spectator, and Wine Advocate ▶▶1997 - Cayuse Vineyards plants ▶▶37 - number of vineyards in The the first (modern day) vineyard Rocks District ▶▶3 - current number of production in these soils. facilities within AVA boundaries ▶▶35 - number of wineries currently producing wine with Rocks District fruit

www.rocksdistrict.com Milton Freewater, Oregon A Promising Future for a Youthful, Vibrant AVA

The Rocks District will continue to focus on winegrowing; producing world- class wines that showcase the typicity of terroir found in this unique region.

Winegrowers will work to promote Many new vineyard acres will be cooperative partnerships within the developed within the AVA, supported Walla Walla Valley, as well as the with new destination facilities. northwest region; increasing the AVA’s recognition within the wine industry Increased production will allow those and with consumers worldwide. wineries making wines from Rocks District fruit to reach new consumers The standard of quality and limited in new markets, further spreading availability of wines will keep demand the message that The Rocks District high and increase investment interest produces some of the most distinctive in The Rocks District. wines in the world!

www.rocksdistrict.com Milton Freewater, Oregon www.rocksdistrict.com Milton Freewater, Oregon