"Certainly there is a lot of excitement and interest. And the wines we have tasted merit the attention they receive."
The small footprint of The Rocks District limits wine production in the long run, but many new vineyards are in the works today. Water is an issue, of course, and so is profitability. High quality tree fruit from The Rocks District exported to Asian luxury markets can be more profitable than wine grapes at this time according to one source.
Land prices and grape prices here are far below Napa levels. $45,000 buys an acre of vineyard land with secure water rights, we were told. How much prime vineyard land do you think $45,000 buys in Napa these days?
Driving through the rocky area presents a different scene from Napa, too. Orchards, vineyards, a few residential houses, and open fields. I wonder what it will look like in twenty years? Very different, I think!
The Milton-Freewater local leaders want to encourage wine-fueled economic development in order to capture value-added beyond grape production. So, in partnership with Willamette Valley Vineyards, who have vineyard interests in the area, the city is working to develop a shared-use wine production facility and high-end tasting room. Read the full article»
