Delmas

The story of Delmas begins decades before the first vine was planted. In 1982, Steve Robertson and his wife Mary took a two-week vacation to Napa Valley that changed the course of their lives. The couple spent five years working in the valley before returning to Seattle. In 2004, a friend suggested Steve visit Walla Walla. Within two hours of arriving, he called Mary and told her the scene reminded him powerfully of early Napa. The Robertsons purchased land on the southwestern edge of what would become The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater and planted the SJR Vineyard in 2007. They named the winery Delmas, Mary's maiden name, and released their first vintage in 2010. The initial production of just 53 cases was made by Billo Naravane, MW, a Master of Wine and founder of Rasa Vineyards, who served as consulting winemaker through 2022.

• Steve and Mary Robertson's wine journey began with a 1982 Napa Valley vacation; they spent five years working in the valley before returning to Seattle
• Steve visited Walla Walla in 2004 and immediately recognized parallels to early Napa Valley's potential
• SJR Vineyard planted in 2007; first vintage released in 2010 with 53 cases
• Billo Naravane, MW, served as consulting winemaker from the inaugural vintage through 2022

The 13-acre SJR Vineyard sits at the southwestern corner of The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater, an AVA approved in 2015 that covers just 5.9 square miles. The Rocks District is the only AVA in the United States whose boundaries were determined by a single landform and a single soil series. The defining feature is an alluvial fan of dark basalt cobblestones eroded from the neighboring Blue Mountains over millennia. These cobblestones absorb solar radiation during the day and radiate heat back to the vines at night, promoting early-season growth and assisting ripening in late summer and early fall. The coarse, well-drained soil forces vine roots deep into the ground, contributing to the mineral intensity and savory character that distinguish Rocks District wines. Steve Robertson was instrumental in the campaign to establish this AVA, recognizing that the cobblestone terroir produced wines of unmistakable identity.

• The Rocks District AVA was approved in 2015; it covers 5.9 square miles and is defined by a single basalt cobblestone alluvial fan
• Dark basalt cobbles absorb solar heat by day and radiate it at night, extending the effective growing season
• Well-drained cobblestone soils force deep root penetration, contributing to concentrated, mineral-driven fruit
• Steve Robertson played a key role in the establishment of The Rocks District AVA

The SJR Vineyard was originally planted in 2007 to Syrah, Mourvedre, Grenache, and Viognier, all Rhone varietals well suited to the warm, well-drained cobblestone soils. A vineyard redevelopment plan launched in 2023 added new clonal selections of these varieties along with plantings of Cinsault, Grenache Blanc, and Bourboulenc, expanding the estate's blending palette. Brooke Delmas Robertson manages all viticulture, farming the estate with a generational perspective. The winery uses 100% estate fruit from the SJR Vineyard. The vineyard's location on the southwestern edge of The Rocks District provides a slightly different expression than sites in the heart of the appellation, contributing finesse and elegance alongside the savory minerality common to the district.

• Original 2007 plantings: Syrah, Mourvedre, Grenache, and Viognier
• 2023 redevelopment added new clones plus Cinsault, Grenache Blanc, and Bourboulenc
• 100% estate fruit; no purchased grapes from outside vineyards
• Brooke Delmas Robertson manages all viticulture with a focus on long-term estate stewardship

The flagship wine is the SJR Vineyard Syrah, a co-fermented blend of Syrah with a small percentage of Viognier, a technique borrowed from the Northern Rhone where Viognier is traditionally added to Syrah in appellations like Cote-Rotie to enhance aromatics and stabilize color. The Viognier component has varied by vintage, reaching around 9% in the 2018. Beyond the flagship Syrah, the estate produces a single-varietal Viognier and a Grenache bottling. Billo Naravane, MW, guided the winemaking from 2010 through 2022, establishing the house style. Brooke Delmas Robertson took full charge with the 2023 vintage, continuing the estate's emphasis on site expression. The winery operates as a small-lot producer, selling primarily direct to consumer, and opened a tasting room in downtown Walla Walla at 3 South First Avenue.

• Flagship SJR Vineyard Syrah is co-fermented with Viognier in the Northern Rhone tradition
• Portfolio includes estate Viognier and a single-varietal Grenache
• Brooke Delmas Robertson assumed full winemaking responsibility starting with the 2023 vintage
• Tasting room located at 3 South First Avenue in downtown Walla Walla

Delmas has earned strong critical praise, particularly from Pacific Northwest wine critic Owen Bargreen. The 2017 SJR Vineyard Syrah received 97 points, with Bargreen noting the wine was entirely sourced from the estate vineyard in The Rocks District. The 2023 Syrah earned 96 points. Bargreen described the 2018 vintage, co-fermented with a higher percentage of Viognier (9%), as having a palate that was stony and salty with tension and depth. The estate Viognier has also drawn attention, with the 2020 vintage described as rich and well-structured with a strong mineral backbone. The 2023 Grenache, produced as a 100% varietal bottling, was praised for its red florals, cinnamon, and orange blossom character. Despite tiny production volumes, Delmas has established itself among the leading estates in The Rocks District.

• 2017 SJR Vineyard Syrah: 97 points from Owen Bargreen
• 2023 SJR Vineyard Syrah: 96 points from Owen Bargreen
• 2020 estate Viognier praised for richness, structure, and mineral backbone
• 2023 Grenache noted for red florals, cinnamon, and orange blossom character