Rock Garden Vineyard Syrah
⏳ Drinking Window
Typically best enjoyed 3–10 years from the vintage release.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
roasted lamb chops, grilled wild game, wild mushroom risotto
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the distinctive Rocks District of the Walla Walla Valley, the Rock Garden Vineyard Syrah is a masterclass in terroir-driven winemaking. The vineyard itself is situated on an ancient riverbed paved with smooth basalt cobblestones. These stones absorb the intense Washington sun during the day and radiate warmth back to the vines at night, forcing the roots deep into the earth. This unique environment imparts a signature savory complexity to the wine, often referred to as 'Rocks funk,' characterized by aromas of black olive tapenade, smoked meats, peat, and crushed wet stones. Winemaker Ryan Crane employs low-intervention techniques, including partial whole-cluster fermentation and aging in neutral French oak, to ensure that the wild, stony character of the vineyard remains the undisputed star of the glass. It is a compelling expression of one of America's most distinctive microclimates.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 2007 by winemaker Ryan Crane, Kerloo Cellars takes its name from the echoing call of the sandhill crane, symbolizing Crane's calling to craft authentic, terroir-driven Washington State wines. After studying viticulture and enology in Walla Walla and honing his cellar craft at Forgeron Cellars and Va Piano Vineyards, Crane built Kerloo around meticulous fruit sourcing from esteemed, sustainably farmed vineyard sites spanning the Walla Walla Valley, Yakima Valley, and Columbia Gorge. His cellaring philosophy prioritizes minimal intervention, foot-treading, native fermentations, neutral oak, and concrete maturation to highlight purity of site and varietal transparency. Kerloo built a devoted following for its cool-climate Rhone-style expressions and vibrant single-vineyard bottlings, including Celilo Vineyard Chardonnay, Boushey Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, and single-site Grenache, Syrah, and Grenache Rosé from benchmark crus like Upland and Painted Hills.
🍇 Grapes
Syrah