Happy Harry's Direct Offer No. 17

When Rollin Soles and Corby Stonebraker-Soles came to Oregon in the 1980s, they arrived at the leading edge of a movement. But in those early years, the movement we know today hadn’t yet picked up full momentum. The idea of Oregon wine was actively in the making, emerging in real time through the daring efforts of people like Rollin and Corby and a diverse group of entrepreneurs who wanted nothing more than to produce world-class wines in an unproven but promising winegrowing region. They built wineries, developed foundational industry organizations, and worked to establish Oregon as the premier place to make Pinot Noir and Chardonnay outside of Europe.

Now more than 35 years later, ROCO (ROllin and COrby) showcases Oregon winemaking at its peak— through a talent that has produced hundreds of 90+ scores from leading industry critics, repeated placement in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of the World, and multiple bottlings served in the White House!

Clarity is king in the ROCO cellar. Expertise is an expectation. So they never stop asking questions. They never trust popular ideas and always test their hunches. Firmly rooted in the science of agriculture and fermentation, they carefully build a vision for what every bottle can be, relying on Rollin’s mastery of the techniques and methods of winemaking and Corby’s instincts as an artist to transform the raw material of beautiful fruit into the exquisite wines you take to your table.

The glyph used for the winery logo – a regal bird with outstretched wings – once sat at the bottom of the Columbia River Gorge near Celillo Village. The Army Corps of Engineers saved a number of petroglyphs before damming the river in the 1950s. This particular work of art can now be viewed at the Horsethief Lake Park (Columbia Hills State Park) in Washington state.

Rollin and Corby encountered the image during one of their hikes and felt a connection to both the indigenous artist and the symbol. Artists themselves – Corby works with glass and Rollin’s wines are bottled works of art – they understand the desire to forge a lasting legacy. And they know what it means to work with the land to create something of value.

Subtle nods to the rich history of the Pacific Northwest abound at ROCO Winery. From the logo to the wine label and artwork on site, these native symbols serve as daily reminders to respect the land and the people who came before us.

Happy Harry’s was fortunate to exclusively obtain the entire first shipment into North Dakota just so our customers had the first taste of these magnificent Oregon Wines before anyone else in the state! Enjoy!