{"id":100,"name":"Mongata","image_url":null,"district":"Oregon","hours":"Open Thursday-Sunday, 11am-5pm","hours_type":"limited","dog_friendly":true,"red_wine":true,"white_wine":true,"bubbles":false,"brewery":false,"woman_owned":true,"year_established":2022,"winemaker":"Wine Consultant Peter Devison","website":"https://mongatawinery.com","phone":"(541) 861-9485","address":"81768 South Fork Walla Walla River Rd, Milton-Freewater, OR 97862","description":"Along the Walla Walla River’s ancient cobblestones, Mongata’s hillside vines whisper of moonlit journeys; unique terroir and Blue Mountain breezes yield wines that dance with history and beauty","lat":45.892774709086,"lng":-118.290482043487,"appt_url":"https://mongatawinery.com/visit/","walk_in":false,"tasting_fee":"$25 per person, waived with minimum purchase","explorer_tags":["relaxed","scenic","full day","lighter reds","occasions","experi"],"profile":"# Mongata Estate Winery — Sommelier Knowledge Profile\n\n## Founding Story\n\nMongata Estate Winery opened in June 2022, located in Milton-Freewater, Oregon, within the Walla Walla Valley AVA. The winery was founded by a blended family who sought a place to put down roots, ultimately settling on a vineyard property in the foothills of the Blue Mountains along the South Fork Walla Walla River. The founders began the process of establishing and permitting the on-site winery in 2020. Co-founder Scott Nokleby played a central role in the physical transformation of the property, personally working with reclaimed wood from the barn and old orchard materials to craft the winery space.\n\nThe name \"Mongata\" is the founders' adaptation of the Swedish word *Mångata*, which translates literally to \"moon street\" or \"path of the moon.\" The moon serves as the winery's central symbol, reflecting what the founders describe as the mystical character of the place — evoking the ancient travelers who followed the moon along the Walla Walla River. The logo and label design took more than a year to develop as the team worked to articulate the spirit of the land. In 2022, Mongata was honored with the Best Brick and Mortar Project award from the Milton Freewater Chamber/Downtown Alliance, recognizing its contribution to the revitalization of the region.\n\n## Winemaker\n\nMongata's winemaker is **Peter Devison**, described by the winery as brilliant, highly regarded in his craft, and \"pedigreed.\" Devison is the proprietor of his own label, Devison Vintners, and also makes wine for two other well-known wine labels. He is characterized as like-minded with the Mongata founders in their shared philosophy of allowing the fruit to tell its own story — trusting the vineyard rather than imposing heavy-handed winemaking techniques. The winery notes that he produces \"amazingly luscious, complex wines.\" Prior to Devison's involvement, the 2020 vintage was produced by another talented West Coast winemaker through a custom crush arrangement before the partnership with Devison was formalized.\n\n## Vineyard Sources\n\nMongata sources exclusively from its own estate vineyard, **Resurgent Vineyard**, located in a canyon formed by the erosion of the Walla Walla River as it cut through the Blue Mountain foothills. The vineyard sits at **1,440 feet of elevation** within the Walla Walla Valley AVA, on the Oregon side of the border near Milton-Freewater. The property is fed by the pure mountain and spring waters of the Walla Walla River.\n\nSoils at Resurgent Vineyard are described by Dr. Kevin R. Pogue of Whitman College as primarily a mixture of **basalt cobblestones and wind-deposited silt (loess)** eroded from the Blue Mountains and deposited by streams on the valley floor. The USDA has mapped the soils as the **Veazie series** — very deep, well-drained soils formed in alluvium from mixed sources, characterized by an abundance of cobblestones within the soil profile. The vineyard accumulates approximately **2,990 growing degree days per year**. Daily temperature variation is shaped by warm winds moving upward through the valley in the mornings and cooler winds descending later in the day. The winery's About page references a commitment to sustainability, noting that a portion of vineyard picnic experience pricing goes toward sustainability in the vineyard and the planet.\n\nSpecific vineyard blocks mentioned include **Block E**, the home of Mongata's 100% estate Syrah and Estate Reserve Syrah, situated on the edge of the Blue Mountain wilderness, and **Block D**, located along the grassy shore of the Walla Walla River.\n\n## Signature Wines\n\nMongata specializes in estate-grown wines, with a particular emphasis on Syrah and red blends. Current and recent wines include:\n\n- **Mongata Estate Syrah / Block E Estate Syrah** — 100% estate-grown Syrah; the winery's flagship variety, also produced as an Estate Reserve\n- **Up River Wild Syrah** (2022) — a distinct Syrah expression earning significant critical attention\n- **Voice of the Vineyard Red Blend** — a recurring red blend bottled across multiple vintages (2021, 2022)\n- **Estate Chardonnay** (2023) — a white wine earning Double Gold recognition\n- **Cabernet Trine** (2023)\n- **Cabernet Franc** (2023)\n- **Estate Syrah from the Hill** (2023)\n- **Estate Cabernet / Resurgent Cabernet** (2020, 2022 vintages referenced)\n- **Rosé** (2025 vintage listed)\n\n## Tasting Notes\n\nMongata's own language about their wines emphasizes lushness, complexity, and terroir expression. The winemaking philosophy centers on wines that \"trust the fruit to tell the story.\" The winery's website describes the estate terroir as something that will \"dance with the vines,\" and invites guests to \"enjoy the wine of the land\" — language that underscores a place-driven, expressive style. No detailed varietal tasting notes with specific flavor descriptors appear in the scraped content.\n\n## Accolades\n\nMongata has earned notable critical recognition across multiple wines and vintages:\n\n- **2023 Estate Chardonnay** — Double Gold, PNW Wine Competition\n- **2022 Voice of the Vineyard Red Blend** — 94 points, *Tasting Room Magazine*\n- **2022 Up River Wild Syrah** — 95 points, *Tasting Room Magazine*; 92 points, Critic's Choice, *Northwest Wine Report* (Sean Sullivan)\n- **2021 Voice of the Vineyard Red Blend** — 95 points, *Tasting Room Magazine*; 94 points, Jeremy Young, *International Wine Report*; 93 points, *NW Wine Report*\n- **2022 VV22 Blend** — Double Gold, PNW Wine Competition; 92 points, Critic's Choice, *Northwest Wine Report*\n- **2020 Estate Syrah** — 19+ out of 20, Rand Sealey's *Review of Washington Wines*; 92 points, Sean Sullivan, *Washington Wine Report*\n- **2022 Best Brick and Mortar Project** — Milton Freewater Chamber/Downtown Alliance\n- The 2023 Estate Chardonnay was also named a **Critic's Choice with 93 points** by Sean Sullivan, *NW Wine Report*, and included in his **Top 60 Wines for 2025**\n\n## Wine Club\n\nMongata offers multiple wine club tiers, including a primary membership and a prestigious founders-level tier:\n\n**Club Strawberry Moon** — Members receive two shipments per year (spring and fall) of six bottles each, a 15% discount on all wine bottle purchases, a 10% appreciation discount on all Mongata purchases, complimentary tastings at the vineyard, and an invitation to the Annual Stargazing Event — a hosted winemaker's dinner followed by an evening in the vineyard under the stars. Seasonal special offers provide additional savings. Selections include Mongata estate wines and occasional artist-feature bottles.\n\nThe name \"Strawberry Moon\" is drawn from the Native American and global tribal tradition of calling the June full moon the Strawberry Moon — a time of blooming flowers, ripening fruit, and abundance. The founders chose June 2022 for the winery's announcement, and that year's Strawberry Moon was also a Supermoon.\n\n**Club Blue Moon (Founders Club)** — A highly limited membership available only once per year, on the Blue Moon. Benefits include a 20% discount on all wine bottle purchases, two shipments per year of 12 bottles each (spring and fall), complimentary tickets to the annual Stargazing Winemakers Dinner, and two complimentary tickets to a second winemakers dinner or event of choice.\n\nThe website also lists two additional club tiers (Club B at 6 bottles and Club C at 12 bottles, four times per year), though pricing and detailed benefits were not populated in the scraped content.\n\n## Tasting Room\n\nThe Mongata tasting room is situated in the center of the estate vineyard, housed inside a **102-year-old barn** that has been carefully renovated into a working winery. Co-founder Scott Nokleby led the transformation using mostly reclaimed wood from the barn and old or","somm_notes":[{"title":"Patti's notes on Mongata","content":"When I say you can't miss this place, I really mean it! One of the most beautiful wineries to visit, with Vicky and Scott offering some of the best hospitality around. The wines are spot-on-my favorites are the Cab Franc and the Syrah."}],"wines":[{"name":"Rose","vintage":"2025","variety":"Rosé","price":"$36.00"},{"name":"Cabernet Trine","vintage":"2023","variety":"Cabernet Sauvignon","price":"$56.00"},{"name":"CabFranc","vintage":"2023","variety":"Cabernet Franc","price":"$58.00"},{"name":"Estate Syrah from the Hill","vintage":"2023","variety":"Syrah","price":"$58.00"},{"name":"Up River Syrah","vintage":"2022","variety":"Syrah","price":"$59.00"},{"name":"VV22 Blend","vintage":"2022","variety":"Red Blend","price":"$45.00"},{"name":"Estate CAB Resurgent","vintage":"2022","variety":"Cabernet Sauvignon","price":"$58.00"},{"name":"Estate VV21 Red Blend","vintage":"2021","variety":"Red Blend","price":"$45.00"}],"patti":null,"visitor_ratings":[{"source":"yelp","rating":5.0,"count":5},{"source":"tripadvisor","rating":5.0,"count":2},{"source":"google","rating":5.0,"count":19}],"sample_reviews":[],"critic_scores":[],"community_scores":[],"events":[]}