Established in 2007, SJR Vineyard is situated in “The Rocks” on 9.6 acres within the Walla Walla Valley. We are committed to making single-vineyard, estate-controlled wines utilizing sustainable farming practices. We’re passionate about exploiting balanced soil conditions and native weather patterns to make wines that fully express their terroir and vintage. Our viticultural discipline is strong and addresses each block and variety independently – assessing appropriate training form, trellis structure, pruning rigor, nutrient and irrigation strategy. We know that the eventual capacity of the whole vine (and the resulting wine quality) is based on very careful attention to these details.

Winegrowing Philosophy

Terroir rules the roost. Given our location in the alluvial fan of the Blue Mountains, the vineyard benefits from the Walla Walla River’s historic deposits of sub-rounded pebbles and cobbles along with several meters of gravel and silty loam generously gifted to us by the Pleistocene-era floods that originated in Missoula, Montana. The high permeability of the soil limits the vines’ water absorption, which encourages deep root growth. Moreover, the surface rocks store the heat of the day and release it to the vines in the evening hours.

Given the vineyard’s location in one of the warmer, dryer areas within the Walla Walla Valley, we’re mindful of the importance of a fully committed irrigation and canopy strategy that brings water to the roots and sun to the leaves and clusters. Enhanced by climate and terroir, the resulting balance of sugars, acid and flavor compounds produces a richness of fruit, round tannins and color not found anywhere else in the world. The unique soil type (Freewater very cobbly loam) features deep cobbles in the soil profile along with sand, silt and clay. This creates a lush backbone of minerality ideally suited to the Syrah, Grenache and Viognier wine grapes of SJR Vineyard.

We believe fervently in attention to detail and the concept of the “winegrower” – where leading-edge viticultural practices enhance the maturation process, where soil and meso-climate inform cultivation techniques. We strive to create the ideal conditions for winemaking, with as little need for intervention as possible. This approach allows for the combined effect of soil, wind, rain, daylight and warmth that embraced these vines throughout the growing season to reveal a truly distinctive finished product that gives voice to “the place.”

Certifications

SJR Vineyard is internationally certified for sustainable farming practices and as a Salmon Safe vineyard by the International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC) through its U.S.-based affiliate, LIVE, which is based in Oregon. The IOBC promotes environmentally safe methods of biological control and integrated pest management.