March 24, 2025 (Milton-Freewater, OR) — Rocks District Winegrowers (RDW) is excited to announce the first annual Basalt Bash & Barrel Auction, a two-day celebration of wine, community, and philanthropy. Taking place July 25-26, 2025, this inaugural event is designed to showcase the world-renowned wines of The Rocks District and Walla Walla Valley while raising essential funds to support mental-behavioral health services for the Milton-Freewater School District.
A Weekend of Wine, Food, and Fun
The Basalt Bash kicks off Friday, July 25, with a free Agriculture Parade down North Main Street in Milton-Freewater, highlighting the vibrant farming community of Walla Walla Valley. . This lively, family-friendly, celebration will be followed by a ticketed Wine & Tamale Tasting on the Watermill patio in Milton-Freewater, hosted by all 24 RDW members.
On Saturday morning, the festivities continue with a ticketed Bash golf tournament at the Milton-Freewater Municipal Golf Course. This fun event will include a RDW winegrower within each foursome, featuring an opportunity for some fun and relaxation prior to the Main Event that afternoon.
The weekend culminates on Saturday afternoon with the Main Event – a ticketed, Silent Barrel Tasting and Auction at Davis Orchards in Milton-Freewater. Attendees will have the opportunity to taste and bid on exclusive Bash barrel lots, each lot comprising of no more than 10 cases. Each case is derived from Walla Walla Valley’s renowned vineyards, including the distinctive Rocks District. Winning case bidders will receive their exclusive wine(s) as futures, post-bottling, complete with custom Bash labels provided by Trysk Print Solutions.
Confirmed Barrel Tasting & Auction winery participants include Betz Family Winery, Bionic Wines, Bledsoe McDaniels, Canvasback, Cimento, Delmas, Devison, Dusted Valley, Echolands, Gramercy Cellars, Grosgrain Vineyards, JM Cellars, L’Ecole, LeArtishasic, The Walls-Pasxa, Reynvaan Family Vineyards, Saviah, Sleight of Hand-Devium, and Valdemar Estates.
A Cause That Matters
Proceeds from the Barrel Auction and related events will benefit the Milton-Freewater School District, funding critical mental-behavioral health services for the community. This initiative addresses a particularly vital need on the Oregon side of the Walla Walla Valley.
Supporting the Vision
“We are proud to launch the Basalt Bash & Barrel Auction as our first event, combining the collective vision and commitment of the Rocks District Winegrowers to create globally distinctive wines along with a mission to positively impact the local community-at-large,” said Steve Robertson, founder of Delmas and Chair of the Basalt Bash. “This event represents an opportunity to bring people together for fun; while fostering community pride, celebrating the incredible wines being produced from Walla Walla Valley wine grapes, all of which drives a commitment to raise critical funds that will create lasting change in Milton-Freewater for its students, residents and businesses.”
With a goal of 30 barrel lots, and an anticipated 350 attendees, the Basalt Bash is sure to become a hallmark event for the Northwest wine community. Wine donations from esteemed estates, generous partners and sponsors, and dedicated volunteers are excited to launch a new tradition; shoulder-to-shoulder with the Milton-Freewater community.
About Rocks District Winegrowers
Founded in 2017, Rocks District Winegrowers (RDW) is a non-profit association dedicated to supporting independent winegrowers within The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater AVA. Recognized for exceptional, globally distinctive, wines, the Rocks District is , renown for its terroir and unique farming and cellar practices. Learn more at www.rocksdistrict.com.
Join Us for an Unforgettable Experience
Mark your calendars for July 25-26, 2025: for The Basalt Bash & Barrel Auction. Tickets are limited and will be available as of 4/1/2025. To learn more about RDW, and how you can support this critical need while having a ton of fun, visit https://auctria.events/TheBasaltBash.
Let’s come together to raise a glass for wine, community, and a bright future for Milton-Freewater.
