Before the vineyard and winery, Stephen and Gloria Reustle owned
a successful marketing company that taught them the value of
providing “world-class” product to a loyal customer base. Upon
arriving in the Umpqua Valley of Oregon, Stephen carefully mapped
out 40 acres of vineyards to be planted. Each variety, clone, and
rootstock was carefully selected to match the diverse hillside soil
and unique micro-climates. Using only fruit grown from the estate’s
Prayer Rock and Romancing Rock Vineyards, winemaking is kept
to small lots preserving the distinctiveness of each varietal and
clone. Stephen became the award-winning pioneer of U.S. Gruner
Veltliner, and since 2009, Reustle-Prayer Rock Vineyards has
garnered 18 “Best of Class,” 7 “Double Platinum,” 17 “Platinum,” 38
“Double Gold,” and 99 “Gold” Medals across 10 different varietals.
And yes, there really is a “Prayer Rock” at the vineyard -- at the top
of the south-facing slope is a large rock that was the meeting place
for Stephen and his son in the mornings to pray to God for blessing
over their vineyard. Not only did this family practice establish the
name of the vineyard, but it has kept the Reustle’s very busy. Since
then, they have bottled 5,000 - 8,000 cases of wine annually, selling
out every year.