Guide to Wine Podcast: Episode 15

Producing Wine in the Rocks District with Brooke Delmas Robertson of Delmas | SJR Vineyard

Air Date: Wednesday, August 30th 2023

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From scorching summer heat to freezing winter temperatures, Delmas | SJR Vineyard faces many unique challenges when it comes to growing grapes and producing wine in the unique Rocks District of Walla Walla. 

This is why I’m so excited to chat with head winemaker and director of wine growing, Brooke Delmas Robertson of Delmas! Brooke has an extensive background in the wine industry, has worked at iconic vineyards and wineries in Napa and Australia, is a viticulturist with a B.A. in philosophy and has her winemaking certificate. So all of this to say Brooke is a wealth of knowledge and we’re so lucky to have her sharing it all with us today!

Brooke takes us on a fascinating journey through the world of viticulture, discussing the shape she has trained her grapes to grow in and shedding light on the relationship between the rocks in the vineyard and heat. She shares insights into her winemaking process, which involves open-top fermentation as well as why they add yeast to complete fermentation.

If you are as curious as I was to learn all about Delmas | SJR Vineyard then press play and after you listen I’d love it if you would leave a review on Apple or Spotify with your favorite takeaway from this episode with Brooke!

Are you interested in trying Delmas? Delmas’ allocation offering will be LIVE Aug 16-Sept 13 2023. This is your chance to purchase 3-packs of individual Delmas wines for Fall Shipping! They only open this opportunity for 1 month and all you have to do is sign up on their website for email notifications via their Newsletter and they will notify you when the offer is LIVE! https://www.delmaswines.com/register

Episode Highlights:

• Meet Brooke, head winemaker and wine grower, of Delmas | SJR Vineyard​
• How philosophy plays a big role in winemaking
• Benefits of being a viticulturist AND a winemaker
• Discussion of what is an AVA , American Viticulture Area, and what it means for winemakers
• The effect of growing grapes in the Rock District and how it affects the taste of wine
• Different characteristics of grapes depending on whatever part of the state you are in
• The challenges extreme weather conditions has on growing grapes
• The time 70% of bud death occurred to their grape vines and they had to be cut down
• What are goblet vines and why are they used at SJR vineyard
• How canopy management is necessary for the best quality fruit
• Brooke’s philosophy when it comes to making wine
• The benefits of a cloudy wine
• Challenges that women in the wine industry face
• The best advice Brooke received when she was starting out in the wine industry
• The different wines that are produced at Delmas 
• Brooke’s favorite $5 bottle of wine

Connect with Brooke:
https://www.delmaswines.com 
https://www.instagram.com/delmas__sjrvineyard/ 
https://www.facebook.com/SJRvineyard/

Tune in on your favorite podcast apps Apple, Google, Amazon, Spotify, Stitcher, and more!  If you’re loving this podcast, please rate, review and follow! 

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