Roco Winery 'Gravel Road' Chardonnay, Oregon

Mandarin, white peach, and nectarine meet a saline, mineral edge in 2022 Roco Winery Gravel Road Chardonnay, a lively expression built from three distinctive vineyard sites. Gran Moraine and Marsh Estate bring fruit from sandstone-shale-derived soils associated with creamy texture, while the higher-elevation Knudsen Vineyard contributes the racy mineral character of its volcanic soils. Fermentation and élevage in neutral oak, along with malolactic fermentation, give the wine texture and complexity while preserving the freshness that founder and winemaker Rollin Soles has long pursued in Oregon Chardonnay.

Product Details:

• Founders: Rollin Soles and Corby Stonebraker-Soles
• Winemaker: Rollin Soles
• Assistant Winemaker: Jarod Sleet
• Varietal Composition: 100% Chardonnay
• Vineyard Sources: Gran Moraine, Marsh Estate and Knudsen Vineyards
• Soils: Sedimentary and basalt
• Harvest: Handpicked
• Fermentation: Fruit chilled overnight at 38°F, whole bunches pressed, juice settled in tank, inoculated and fermented in neutral oak
• Malolactic Fermentation: Yes
• Oak: Neutral oak
• Aging: At least five months in French oak
• Alcohol: 13.5%
• Production: 1,590 cases

Sensory Description:

Captivating aromas of mandarin, young white peach and nectarine are accented by graphite and delicate white peony. The palate is lively and refreshing, combining luscious white peach and Mountain Rose apple with a distinct saline quality. Creamy texture from the lower- and mid-elevation sedimentary sites is countered by the racy mineral character associated with the higher-elevation volcanic site, while naturally bright acidity gives the wine freshness, definition and a clean finish.

Awards & Accolades:

• James Suckling: 93 Points
• Wine Enthusiast: 90 Points

Winemaker's Background:

ROCO Winery was founded in 2003 by Rollin Soles and Corby Stonebraker-Soles, two figures whose work in Oregon wine reaches back to the formative years of the modern Willamette Valley industry. Rollin, a microbiologist by training, arrived in Oregon in the 1980s and built a career around a technical, experimental approach to Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and traditional-method sparkling wine, while Corby brought experience in marketing, hospitality and industry development, including work with the International Pinot Noir Celebration. Rollin remains ROCO's winemaker, working with Assistant Winemaker Jarod Sleet, an Oregon State University viticulture and enology graduate who progressed from harvest work into the cellar. In 2022, ROCO joined the Marzotto family's wine group and is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Santa Margherita USA, while Rollin and Corby remain central to the winery's identity. ROCO is LIVE Certified Sustainable, reflecting its commitment to environmentally and socially responsible winegrowing and winemaking throughout its work with Willamette Valley vineyards.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve at approximately 10-12°C in a medium-to-large white wine or Chardonnay glass, allowing the wine's floral aromatics, orchard fruit and subtle texture to open as it warms slightly. Its combination of creamy texture, bright acidity and saline minerality makes it particularly well suited to roasted or grilled fish, Dungeness crab, scallops, roast chicken, creamy vegetable dishes and mild, soft-ripened cheeses.