Our Vineyards
One of the very best places in the world to grow premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wine grapes is in Northwestern Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Over the past five decades, this region has earned an international reputation for the exceptional quality of its grapes and it now produces some of the most admired and coveted Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines in the world.
Within this region, in the middle of the Willamette Valley’ western side, nestled up against the eastern edge of Oregon’s Coast Range, Erratic Oaks Vineyard was first planted in 2007 and has been producing grapes for us since 2009. Three-quarters of the vineyard’s total 200 acres of gently rolling, south and southwest facing hillside are planted to Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Riesling. This geographic orientation gives our grapes precious minutes of extra sunlight each day, as they grow to maturity.
Additionally, Erratic Oaks Vineyard is fortunate to have all three major soil types for which the Willamette Valley is acclaimed: Marine Sedimentary, Volcanic and Missoula Flood Sedimentary. The granite erratics that we found attest to the youngest soils, as the closest out cropping of such rocks is in Northern Idaho and Montana about 500 miles away! Our vineyard is to our knowledge the only one in the Willamette Valley to have such erratics.
Erratic Oaks Vineyard is located 45 miles east from the Oregon Coast and the Pacific Ocean. Between the coast and Erratic Oaks, the Coastal Range of mountains abruptly rise 3,000 feet to shield the Willamette Valley and moderate the cooling influence of the coast’s maritime climate, allowing for ample summertime warmth in the critical growing and fruit maturation seasons.
The finest blocks of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay will become Citation wines, with the remaining sold to some of the most notable producers in Oregon.
Sustainability at Erratic Oaks
“Our vineyard and winemaking practices meet or exceed industry standards for environmental stewardship.”
Howard Rossback
From the outset, the production of Citation Wines has been sustainable and mindful of our environment. Through Low Impact Viticulture and Enology (L.I.V.E) we participate in a third party annual review and accreditation process which sets high standards for the industry. We are conscious of the impact our vineyard has, and are certified and Salmon Safe.
Our Team
Howard Rossbach
President / Founder
“Like so many others, I did not initially set out to have a career in wine. I feel fortunate that life quickly steered me in this direction.” HMR
Howard first fell in love with the world of wine when, as an undergraduate in Botany at the University of Washington, he took a part-time job as a clerk in a wine shop. From that moment on, he never looked back. He’s been in the wine business since 1975 and in that time, he has moved gradually but steadily from retail sales to ownership of a winery and vineyards in the heart of the celebrated wine country of Oregon.
He’s an enthusiastic supporter and international ambassador of Oregon wine, serving in leadership positions within the industry. He currently serves as president of the Northwest Wine Coalition. With recent sale of Firesteed Cellars which he established 25 years ago, he now focusses exclusively on the higher-end Citation line, while continuing to own and operate Erratic Oaks Vineyard.
When he isn’t dreaming, thinking or talking about Oregon wines, Howard enjoys fly-fishing, skiing, playing golf and foraging for mushrooms. But anyone who knows him will tell you that he’s probably dreaming, thinking or talking about Citation while he’s doing each of those things.
Stephanie Hine
General Manager
Things tend to run pretty smoothly at Citation Wine and we tend to blame Stephanie Hine for that. To put it simply, she’s an organizational genius. Intrigued by her brother’s growing interest in fine wines, she came to work for us in 1998 and since that time she has moved from inspired novice to seasoned wine connoisseur.
Her responsibilities at Citation Wine include day-to-day financial and operational oversight, coordinating efforts between our headquarters in Seattle and our vineyard in Oregon, communicating with our partners, distributors and retail customers, and making sure that we’re on time and on target in every aspect of the business, from harvest to sales.
As her knowledge of and appreciation for fine wines have expanded, Stephanie enjoys trying new and unexpected wine and food pairings. So far, that project is going very well. And when she’s not working or exploring the world of wine, Stephanie stays busy trying to manage the complicated personal lives of her three energetic dogs, a Yorkshire terrier, a Cockapoo and a Pomeranian. As we said, she’s an organizational genius.
Mary Bellando
National Sales – WillaJory Wines
Mary Bellando is the National Sales Director for WillaJory Wines, leading commercial strategy, distributor performance, and market execution across more than 30 states. With extensive experience in luxury wine sales and national wholesale management, she has been instrumental in shaping WillaJory’s growth strategy and strengthening the brand’s presence in key markets nationwide.
Mary is recognized for building high‑performing distributor partnerships, driving pricing discipline, and identifying market opportunities that deliver sustained results. Her strategic, data‑driven leadership — paired with hands‑on field execution — has accelerated WillaJory’s national momentum and reinforced its commercial foundation.
A seasoned sales executive and native Oregonian, Mary brings proven expertise in scaling emerging brands and a collaborative leadership style that continues to position WillaJory for long‑term success.