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.

2016 could be characterized as a traditional growing season where cold, wet winter weather prolonged the maturation period and prepared the vines for good yields. The extra hang time the fruit needed created excellent flavor concentration and riper tannins. Harvest was spread out over many weeks, creating a slow pace that allowed the winemaking team to devote more attention to each batch of fruit. This extra care resulted in exceptional fruit quality that shines through in this wine.