Located northwest of Dry Creek Valley, the Rockpile AVA differs from its neighboring appellation in several ways. Not only does it sit at a higher elevation, its steep vineyards are very shallow. The loam and red clay soils have a gravel top and few nutrients. This results in vine stress that contributes to low yields and small berries with intense concentration. The area also experiences a persistent wind that blows across the vineyards every afternoon which further concentrates the fruit by drying out the soil. Though the conditions are harsh, they are exactly what Petite Sirah needs to produce extracted and highly fragrant fruit.

2015 was an outstanding vintage that produced extremely high-quality grapes. Warm, dry conditions throughout spring and summer helped reduce yields. From this climate, we harvested smaller than normal berries that offered intense concentration, but were also balanced by a vibrant natural acidity for structure.