Life Lived Close to the Land
We are living our dream, now 40 years young. The ignition point was 1982 in Napa Valley… where Mary and Steve were first introduced to the world of wine… where the dream of family enterprise was nurtured… and where Brooke was, subsequently, born. The goal was/is to work together as a Family to build a wine estate capable of a multi-generational legacy; honoring a distinctive place - a distinctive taste. Born of unique geology found within The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater, as well as the climatic eccentricities of the Walla Walla Valley, Delmas is dedicated to producing exceptional wines of enduring value. Elegance is preferred to power and exoticism at Delmas; restraint, nuance, and those impossible-to-define, (pleasurable), qualities that elevate all great wines. Mary’s French ancestry provides the namesake for Delmas. In a tradition dating back many generations, the name “Delmas” is passed from one daughter to the next. This legacy lives on through Steve and Mary’s daughter, Brooke Delmas Robertson; and as of 2023 her daughter, Remy Delmas Robertson.
The Family
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Director of Winegrowing
Brooke Delmas Robertson heads the winemaking and viticultural direction for Delmas | SJR Vineyard. She spent five years in the Napa Valley working with renown growers like Barbour, Piña, and The Napa Valley Reserve. Additionally, Brooke worked in Australia for Torbreck, focusing on small lots of highly sought after Rhône-style wines.
She has a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from Oregon State University, an AAAS degree in Enology and Viticulture from Walla Walla Community College, and studied for a Master’s degree in Viticulture at Cal Poly; San Luis Obispo. In Brooke also completed the UC Davis winemaking certificate program and is certified as an Advanced Vine Master Pruners via the Simonit & Sirch Academy.
Brooke serves on the Board of Directors for the Oregon Winegrower Association, representing Eastern Oregon; is a Bâtonnage (Women in Wine) Level One Mentor; and created the Vineyard Technical Group for the Walla Walla Valley in conjunction with Oregon State University and the Rocks District Winegrowers. She was named as one of the Wine Enthusiasts Future 40 Tastemakers in 2024.
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Founders
Mary and Steve Robertson began their journey as grapegrowers with the planting of SJR Vineyard in 2007. Mary leads the sales effort for Delmas, given her extensive background in wine marketing, sales and distribution. She is an accomplished artist, whose keen eye for colo has been relied upon to lead Delmas’ label interpretations, bringing another level of depth to each wine.
Steve leads the business development, administration and finance for Delmas | SJR Vineyard. He is a seasoned executive with several decades of experience in real estate development and manufacturing. He combines business savvy with entrepreneurial creativity. Both graduates of the university ot Washington in 1974, Steve continued his education with an Associates in Applied Arts and Sciences Degree in Enology and Viticulture from Walla Walla Community College. Steve was awarded the Industry Leadership Award in 2020 by the Oregon Wine Board.
Always with an eye on the bigger picture, Steve spearheaded the successful TTB petition of The Rocks District AVA, and founded the non-profit, Rocks District Winegrowers; serving on that Board as President.
