Rockpile

Rockpile is a region covering 15,000 acres northwest of Dry Creek Valley. The name comes from Rockpile Ranch that once counted 20,000 acres in cattle and sheep. Tradition tells the tale of the legendary Sheriff Tennessee Bishop, who is know for having put his prisoners to work and making them carve more than fifteen miles of road to his mountain ranch. When asked what he was doing with the men, he was known to answer, “They are working on the Rockpile.”

Perched at elevations of up to 1,900 feet, Rockpile is too far upland for the penetrating fog, which influences other Sonoma appellations, to reach. This remote, high-country area exposes grapes to more warmth and sunshine, boosting their ripeness and richness. The Rockpile ridge line runs northwest toward the Pacific Ocean, giving much of the vineyards either a southwestern or northeastern slope. Vineyards with a southwestern exposure have the benefit of full sun during the heat of the day, often leading to bold and powerful wines. Vineyards with a northeastern exposure present an indirect angle to the sun during the afternoon, regularly leading to longer hang times and more complex flavors. The demanding landscape brings out the best in Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon.