The family estate has appointed Brooke Delmas Robertson to lead all winemaking operations for its legacy project, located in the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater (Oregon)
WALLA WALLA, Wash. (June 6, 2023) – Delmas and SJR Vineyard, a Robertson Family legacy project founded by Steve and Mary Robertson 15 years ago, announced today the appointment of Brooke Delmas Robertson as Winemaker. She will oversee the management of all operations, having worked closely with the winemaking team over the last decade. Her formal education, certifications and experience have positioned her well to deliver on the promise of Delmas: expressing world-class wines from a singularly distinctive place. Her deep understanding of the potential of the land and how that translates to the wines she will produce has been widely recognized.
Robertson “the Younger” represents the next generation of winegrowing in the Rocks District, the only AVA in the United States whose boundaries are predicated on a singular soil series. Internationally respected wine reviewers have consistently recognized the Rocks District for some of the most uniquely identifiable wines in the world.
SJR Vineyard consists of 10 planted acres, exclusively dedicated to Delmas and its highly allocated range of wines, including a cofermented Syrah, a Viognier and a Grenache-based RED Blend. The Peddler, a 100% whole-cluster, 100% barrel-fermented Syrah offered in magnums only, completes the current offerings. Next year will mark the 14th harvest for SJR Vineyard, located at the southwestern corner of the Rocks District, on a bench directly below the VanSycle Ridge.
“Brooke’s many contributions to Delmas and SJR Vineyard have been essential to the estate’s top-tier positioning, earning greater respect for the Rocks District as a world-class winegrowing region,” said Steve Robertson, founder and co-owner of Delmas I SJR Vineyard. “Her contributions include the creation and execution of a new terroir-based training form for the region’s vineyards — called the MHT or ‘mini head trained’ vine — which allows winegrowers to protect each plant from severe cold over the winter. This new training form is being adopted by other vineyards in the region and around the world.”
Brooke Delmas Robertson began her winegrowing journey in the Napa Valley, working for iconic vineyards and wineries, including Barbour Vineyard Management and Piña Vineyard Management. During this important period, she spent an immersive harvest season in Australia for Torbreck, focusing on small lots of highly sought-after Rhône-style wines. She completed her tenure in the Napa Valley as viticulturist for The Napa Valley Reserve.
She also has a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Oregon State University, an AAAS degree in Enology and Viticulture from Walla Walla Community College and studied for a Master’s degree in Viticulture at California Polytechnic State University. She holds a Winemaking Certificate from the University of California – Davis, and is currently working toward completing the Simonit & Sirch Vine Master Pruners Academy certification.
“We want our vines to outlive us and be sustainable and strong for generations to come. That expectation requires daily oversight and a commitment to sustainability and healthy plants,” said Brooke Delmas Robertson. “The driving vision to create a small, family-estate operation has been a family dream since my brother and I were kids. My work on behalf of the estate will continue to be a tribute to my late brother, whom the vineyard is named after. To life!”
Brooke currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Oregon Winegrower Association, representing Eastern Oregon. She is a Bâtonnage (Women in Wine) Level One Mentor and created the Vineyard Technical Group for the Walla Walla Valley in conjunction with Oregon State University and the Rocks District Winegrowers. This program provides educational credits and continuing education opportunities for winegrowers throughout the region.
Mary Robertson will continue to be the liaison for retail direct customers within Washington, and Steve Robertson will continue to oversee all business-related activities for the estate and winery. His contributions to the Rocks District AVA have been essential to its acclaim and prestige over the years, spearheading its successful TTB petition and founding the Rocks District Winegrowers, a nonprofit collective of independent winegrowers and producers, for which he currently serves as president of the board of directors. In 2020, the Oregon Wine Board acknowledged his contributions with its Outstanding Industry Leadership Award.
For more information on Delmas I SJR Vineyard, visit www.delmaswines.com.
About Delmas I SJR Vineyard
SJR Vineyard was planted in 2007 and is located in the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater, on the Oregon side of the Walla Walla Valley. Delmas is located in Walla Walla, Washington. The Robertson family is commited to building a world-class wine estate of enduring value, focusing on Rhône-style wines. Brooke Delmas Robertson, Winemaker for Delmas and Director of Winegrowing for SJR Vineyard, is dedicated to enhancing the singular wine expression that is Delmas, while celebrating the globally distinctive qualities of the Rocks District. For more information on Delmas I SJR Vineyard, please visit www.delmaswines.com. Visitors are welcome by appointment only.
