Roger Lemstrom, founder and winemaker at Los Rocosos, celebrates wines medaling in the 2024 Pacific Northwest Wine Competition held in Walla Walla, Washington, including two Double Golds
July 19, 2024, Milton-Freewater, OR — The Pacific Northwest Wine Competition, now in its 9th year at Walla Walla Community College, received a record number of wines submitted in 2024, almost 30% more than those submitted in 2023. Results for the late June competition were just released, and out of 717 wines entered, Los Rocosos Vineyards emerged a winner with five medals for their wines, including two Double Gold medals for their 2020 Arenas Suaves, Sangiovese-Grenache Estate Blend, and their 2018 Nine Moon Estate, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre (GSM) Blend. The 2020 Bad Elk Estate Syrah, 2020 Cosecha de Luna Estate Mourvèdre, and the 2019 Paco y Gustavo Estate Sangiovese, all received Silver medals.
Situated on the Oregon side of the Walla Walla Valley in The Rocks District of Milton Freewater, Los Rocosos is run by Vietnam Veteran Roger Lemstrom and his wife Lucinda Borneman, with its tasting room neatly tucked into the primary vineyard behind their home, just steps from the downtown business district of Milton-Freewater. The Rocks is the only American Viticultural Area (AVA) in the US designated solely based on its soil type.
“We are honored to represent the Eastern part of Oregon with our wines,” said Lemstrom. “Eastern Oregon has become not only a source of exquisite grapes for regional winemakers, but also hosts a number of wine producers making world-class wines, and this competition and these medals highlight our winemaking prowess in this special part of Oregon.”
The tasting room vibe is relaxed yet optimistic as the couple host talkative tastings and are living proof supporting second chances in life. Having served in Vietnam and in the Peace Corps in Fiji, Lemstrom is now 70 and went to wine school at SOWI in Southern Oregon at the age of 60. Many of the names of the wines, including all that medaled, and the winery itself (Los Rocosos means “rocky” in Spanish), pay tribute to Lemstrom’s Mexican heritage.
Now with seven harvests under their belts, and in their eighth year of operation, Los Rocosos is gaining momentum. Los Rocosos has also been honored with Golds, Double Golds, and a Platinum medal from Oregon Wine Experience, as well as the Sip Magazine Wine and Spirits Competition. In June, he returned to school as a guest lecturer at Walla Walla Community College, discussing growing and making of Tempranillo and Grenache with wine students.
Over half of their visitors to the winery travel from Portland, Eugene, Southern Oregon, Boise, Moscow Spokane, Tacoma and the Puget Sound area. 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.
Los Rocosos’ tasting room is open noon to 5, every day, seven days a week, with no reservations needed at the vineyard located at: 84038 Eastside Rd., Milton-Freewater, OR 97862.
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.
