REGION
Thursday, May 26, 2022
East Oregonian
Los Rocosos Vineyards opens second
tasting room in Milton-Freewater
By JOHN TILLMAN
East Oregonian
MILTON-FREEWATER
— Los Rocosos Vineyards
has opened a second wine
tasting room at 500 E. Broad-
way Ave. in Milton-Free-
water. Los Rocosos on
Broadway off ers tastings and
hospitality Fridays, Saturdays
and Sundays, plus small bites
inside and on its covered patio
area. Reservations and drop-
ins are welcome.
The original tasting room
at 84038 Eastside Road also
is available, by reservation
only, Mondays, Tuesdays,
Wednesdays and Thursdays,
for those seeking a vineyard
and winery experience.
“There is a multitude of
reasons for
adding the
second tast-
ing room,”
o w n e r
and vig n-
eron Roger
Lemstrom
Lemstrom
ex pla i ne d .
“The vine-
yard tasting room is tiny, but
well-appointed. It’s 13 by 13
feet, the smallest in the Walla
Walla Valley. It’s a two-season
room, spring and fall, when
the temperature is moderate.”
The difficulty in find-
ing the 7.2-acre vineyard is
another reason for setting
up a new tasting room just
two blocks off Highway 11,
Lemstrom said. Los Rocosos
on Broadway also is more
spacious, heated, air-condi-
tioned, accessible to guests
with disabilities and offers
adequate off -street parking.
Lemstrom established
Los Rocosos Vineyards in
Milton-Freewater’s Rocks
District in 2017. It grows gren-
ache, syrah, mourvedre, gren-
ache blanc and viognier. All
grapes are sustainably grown.
“For me, it’s all about the
grapes,” Lemstrom said.
“This is a late third career
for me. I went to Southern
Oregon Wine Institute in
Los Rocosos Vineyards/Contributed Photo
Los Rocosos Vineyards has added this second tasting room at 500 E. Broadway Ave., Mil-
ton-Freewater. The second room is two blocks of Highway 11 and larger and more accessible
than the tasting room at the vineyard.
Roseburg at age 60. Wine-
making is less exciting to me
than growing grapes.”
Los Rocosos produces less
than a thousand cases of its
estate- and neighbor-grown
wines a year, he said, and also
sells fruit to a number of local
wineries that value its careful
approach to viticulture.
“The Rocks District
rocks,” Lemstrom enthused.
Its grapes are noted for their
minerality and concentration
of fl avors, due to its unique
terroir, according to Los
Rocosos’ website.
The Rocks American Viti-
cultural Area is perhaps the
most interesting and challeng-
ing region in which to grow
grapes, the website stated.
Vintages produced by this
AVA’s wineries have consis-
tently won awards, and off er
premium wines to people who
know what they want.
“In the Willamet te
Valley, pinot and chardonnay
predominate,” Lemstrom
noted, “but the Walla Walla
Valley has 47 types of wine
grape. There are 6,000 vari-
etals in the world. Two of my
varietals have written records
for 4,000 years.”
High fuel costs don’t
seem to be hurting tourism
in the Walla Walla Valley,
Lemstrom reported.
“A couple cooped up in
Bellingham in a 600-square-
foot condo for two years want
to get off the couch and on the
road,” he said.
Lemstrom was, however,
shocked by how much he had
to pay to make a delivery to
Rogue River Valley in South-
ern Oregon. But surging agri-
cultural chemical prices have
not harmed his operation’s
Kip Moore to headline
2022 Round-Up concert
East Oregonian
PEN DLETON —
Chart-topping country star
Kip Moore will bring his
troubadour lifestyle and
timeless sound to East-
ern Oregon for the Pendle-
ton Round-Up and Happy
Canyon Kick-Off Concert.
Presented by Integrity
Corps, the event is Saturday,
Sept. 10, 7 p.m. at Happy
Canyon Arena. Tickets,
which are now on sale, range
from $51-$90. In addition,
VIP packages are available
for $156, which includes
dinner prior to the event and
water, soda and malt bever-
ages during the concert.
In 2021, Moore released
his fourth studio album,
“Wild World,” a revela-
tory collection written as
he traveled the globe in an
effort to make sense of a
world battling nothing short
of an identity crisis. While
searching through isolation
and nature, Moore said a
simple peace emerged.
“Music is the one thing
where I really try to unveil
where I’m at mentally, where
my soul is,” Moore said in a
press release. “As you get
bottom line, he said, while
some of his orchardist neigh-
bors have been hammered.
“We’re organic, so that
helps,” he said.
Wineries have however
been affected by supply
chain issues, such as glass,
Lemstrom reported.
Staff shortages plaguing so
many small businesses also
have not aff ected Los Rocosos
either.
“Being such a small opera-
tion, my signifi cant other and
I do 90% of our own work,”
Lemstrom said. ”A friend
recently came to our aid.
For agricultural procedures,
such as pruning, we hire reli-
able people who have full-
time jobs, but help us out on
evenings or weekends.”
Lemstrom also operates
without a line of credit, paying
as he goes out of receipts.
STANFIELD — The
superintendent of the Stan-
fi eld School District is the
2022 Administrator of the
Year for the Oregon Small
Schools Association.
The association recently
announced the selection of
Beth Burton to receive the
honor.
“W hen Bur ton took
over the helm at Stanfi eld,
the district was struggling
with academics and facility
issues,” according to a state-
ment from the OSSA. “Under
Burton’s leadership, facili-
ties have been updated and
tremendous improvements
made with student achieve-
ment and growth.”
Burton during the last
three years has prioritized
investment in early learn-
ing, and the Stanfi eld School
District now off ers kinder-
garten readiness programs
for students ages 3 and 4, she said. “I am fortunate to be
according to the association. surrounded by such a fantas-
And under her leadership, tic group of administrators
the district has seen
in our region and
an increase in enroll-
around the state. It
ment and provided
takes many people to
1:1 technology for the
make things happen
fi rst time. The district
in small schools, and
also completed its
the collective eff orts
strategic plan with a
of our staff in Stan-
community steering
field continue to
committee and now
Burton
make good things
is able to focus on its
happen for students.”
primary mission to “Educate.
IMESD Superintendent
Empower. Inspire,” accord- Mark Mulvihill expressed
ing to the OSSA statement.
happi ne ss about t h is
Burton also helped the announcement.
district pass a bond in spring
“I am thrilled Beth
2019 and oversaw the bond received this award,” he
construction projects to said. “She is a key member of
improve district facilities.
our regional superintendent
Burton in a statement family. I’ve always admired
from the InterMountain her work ethic, intelligence
Education Service District and dedication to improving
shared the spotlight.
the lives of students.”
“I am honored to be recog-
Burton will receive her
nized by my peers, especially Oregon Small Schools Asso-
during this incredibly chal- ciation award on June 24
lenging time for all of us,” at the Coalition of Oregon
E NTRY L EVEL
BILLING POSITIONS
AVAILABLE !
E XPERIENCE APPRECIATED
BUT NOT NECESSARY .
School Administ rators
annual conference in Seaside.
T he O regon Smal l
Schools Association recog-
nizes one school administra-
tor each year who excels in
his/her leadership position.
Criteria include integrity,
leadership, commitment to
community, scholarship, and
student achievement. OSSA
serves as an advocate for the
benefi ts of rural education
and small schools across the
state. For more information,
visit www.oregonssa.org.
L E A R N M O R E AT
S TA RT S E E I N G M E L A N O M A .CO M
New transit facility
and routes are possible
PENDLETON TRANSIT
OPEN
HOUSE
Another chance to weigh in: Learn more about the possible design ideas
for the proposed new Bus Barn Facility and potential new bus routes
planned for Pendleton.
COMMUNITY OPEN HOUSE #2: Arrive at any time, stay as long as you’d like
and talk to City staff again about these new projects
June 2, 4:30PM-6PM
Pendleton Convention Center, Room 4
For more information about the Open House and the projects, please contact Karen Kendall,
Transit Coordinator at karen.kendall@geodc.net or call Karen at 541-966-0201
S T . A NTHONY C LINIC
M ONDAY - T HURSDAY 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM
F RIDAY 8 AM - 5:00 PM
CI
W
TY
S
IT
N S NIN
P E N D L E T O N T R A LAN
P
G
N
E
BU
Visit sahpendleton.org or scan QR code to apply.
older, you start thinking
about bigger concepts and
where you fi t in the grand
scheme of this whole thing.”
Moore splashed into
the mainstream in 2012
with the double-platinum
“Somethin’ Bout a Truck.”
That was followed up with
three best-selling No. 1
hits — “Hey Pretty Girl,”
“Beer Money” and “More
Girls Like You,” as well
as a trifecta of critically
acclaimed albums and two
gritty EPs.
While touring across
the globe, Moore was met
with a fierce following.
Round-Up President Karl
Farber said it will be great
to have the country star kick
off Round-Up week.
“We’re excited to kick off
the week with Kip Moore’s
energy, heart and soul,”
Kenzie Hansell, Happy
Canyon president, added.
“He’ll bring entertain-
ment for all generations to
enjoy in the Happy Canyon
Arena.”
An opening act will be
announced at a later date.
For more information or to
reserve tickets, visit www.
pendletonroundup.com.
Melanoma stands out.
Check your skin.
You could spot cancer.
Stanfi eld superintendent recognized for achievements
East Oregonian
A3
OF
BA
RN
& TRANSIT ROUT
E