Vietnam Vet Roger Lemstrom, founder and winemaker of Los Rocosos, is a big believer in second and third chances in life
May 22, 2024, Milton-Freewater, OR … One visit to the Los Rocosos tasting room in the heart of The Rocks District of Milton Freewater, Oregon will tell you you’re someplace very different. With a glass of Sangiovese or Mourvèdre or any of Los Rocosos’ 15 wines in hand, visitors in see music posters of venues where Roger has performed, keepsakes from lifelong travels with he and his wife Lucinda from all over the globe, and lively conversation about making sweeping life changes in your 60’s and 70’s. Roger served in the Vietnam War, and he also worked for the Peace Corps in Fiji, and this Veteran isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
Lemstrom’s wine journey began when he enrolled at Southern Oregon Wine Institute (SOWI) at Umpqua Community College at the age of 60. He had been working in Veteran affairs for the State of Oregon and the State of Washington for decades, Lemstrom moved to Medford to do premium construction projects with his son. His doctor suggested he get into a less demanding line of work. Armed with a nice bottle of wine and Netflix, one night he watched the movie Bottleshock and was awestruck with the story “of the middle-aged guy leaving his law practice, and trying to make a go of starting a winery.” Needless to say, he followed suit.
In 2016, Lemstrom bought a distressed vineyard in Milton-Freewater that had been on the market for over a year. All viticulture is now organic and sustainable and all fruit is hand-harvested. They make between 400 to 900 cases of wine per year, and source to nine additional vineyards throughout Oregon and Washington.
Now with seven harvests under their belts, Los Rocosos is starting to take off. This spring at the 2024 Savor Northwest Wine and Culinary Festival, Los Rococos netted three gold medals for their 2021 Sangiovese, the 2019 Tempranillo, and the 2022 Sauvignon Blanc. He has also been honored with Golds, Double Golds, and a Platinum from Oregon Wine Experience, Great Pacific Northwest Wine Competition, and the Sip Magazine Wine and Spirits Competition. In June, he will return to school for one night, as a guest lecturer at Walla Walla Community College, and will discuss growing and making of Tempranillo and Grenache with wine students..
Many who visit his estate vineyard and tasting room leave refreshed, hopeful and exuberant. “We serve our wines thoughtfully and can take anywhere from a half hour to two hours of tastings,” he said. “But the difference with our tasting room is we encourage people to take those chances in life, whether people are young are old. Most people give us hugs upon leaving,” destined to return, he said.
Over half of their visitors to the relaxed winery’s tasting room travel from Portland, Boise, Spokane, Salt Lake City, and Montana, and Los Rocosos has experienced double digit growth over the past two years.
The fruit for Los Rocosos wines is primarily sourced at the estate vineyard in the Rocks District of Milton Freewater, where they grow Grenache, Grenache Blanc, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, with eight acres under vine.
They also own two smaller vineyards located near Walla Walla in Washington State, where they grow their estate Sangiovese as well as Italian grapes Nebbiolo, Barbera, Carménère, Dolcetto, and Counoise. They source their Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc fruit from Oasis Vineyards in Prosser, Washington and their Albarino from a nearby Oregon winery.
Visits can be booked in advance by calling (541) 306-1290, and stop-ins are welcome. You can also read more about Los Rocosos on the Oregon Wine Board blog here.
About Los Rocosos
Small, friendly, and personal. World class wines in a boutique setting located in The Rocks District of Milton Freewater, Oregon AVA. All grapes are sustainably grown. Dogs are welcome at the vineyard.
