There's no place like the Naramata Bench
Gary Reynolds of Lake Breeze Winery
This cross-post to CityCaucus.com and BCWineLover.com is part of BCWL's account of their recent "Okanagan 2010" wine travels.
Visiting the Naramata Bench is like a ride in the country but with benefits. Naramata is the bourgeoning "sub-appellation" of the Okanagan Valley that features some of BC's very best independent winemakers. We visited some of our favourite wineries on a glorious sunny day last week. Whenever it's possible to speak with one of the proprietors for a few minutes, we get a quick download on what's happening with their business and the surrounding region.
As we always only visit a maximum of four wineries (three is preferred) we settled on Lake Breeze Vineyards, Marichel Winery, Hillside Estate Winery and Nichol Vineyard. Lake Breeze and Hillside are more substantial operations and big wine tourist draws. Each has an accompanying eatery staffed with a professional chef and very pleasant servers; lunch at either venue is highly recommended.
By comparison both Marichel and Nichol Vineyard wineries are comparatively small operations. Both are run by a husband and wife team who pour their souls into what they bottle. Interestingly, both of these small wineries feature the Syrah (or Shiraz) grape as one of their core varietals. It's a grape that requires the summer heat that the microclimates of the Naramata Bench provide. Both Nichol's and Marichel's Syrah wines are simply some of the best bottles of BC wine you will taste.
Lake Breeze Vineyards hold the crown for the most consistently fresh and crisp Pinot Blanc wine in the province. Achieving "double gold" medals and Lieutenant Governor Awards hasn't let them sit back on their laurels, however. Lake Breeze are stepping up their efforts on red wines as well. In fact, it's a point of pride for co-proprietor Gary Reynolds that visitors are now making Lake Breeze reds their reason to visit.
Our latest visit to Bottleneck Drive in Summerland
8th Generation Winery proprietor Stefanie Schales with Stacey
Our first stop at 8th Generation Winery began a pleasant tour of "Bottleneck Drive", the marketing handle given to a route in Summerland, BC. It begins at Highway 97 and travels up a pleasant country road with a few turns to get to all your stops. On this day we visited one of our favourite stops – Thornhaven Estate Vineyards – and finished up at the lovely Silkscarf Winery.
8th Generation took us by surprise at the quality of winemaking, the smart pricing and the hospitable folks at their facility. 8th Generation refers to the eight generations of winemaking experience proprietor Bernd Schales – a native of Germany who has moved to the Okanagan – has in his family lineage. His wife Stefanie (seen above with Stacey) also runs the winery. She took time out to tell us about how they acquired an eighteen year-old planting of Riesling grapes in the Okanagan Falls area, eventually acquiring the Summerland winery formerly known as Adora.
8th Generation have definitely put their mark on this location. They're winning awards for their wines, including their exceptional "Classic" Riesling, produced in a dry German style (we picked up a few bottles). They had help from Brandever, the marketing and branding company headed up by Bernie Hadley-Beauregard. Stefanie said, "We already had the story – we knew it would be about eight generations. We just wanted labels that would stand out. We're very happy with the use of the numeral eight on all our labels."
Visiting Noble Ridge Winery in Okanagan Falls, BC
Noble Ridge Winery's Leslie D'Andrea speaks with BCWineLover.com
It's all about the stories. That's why we do BCWineLover.com. It's also the reason writers like John Schreiner have so much zeal for exploring the BC wine scene. There are so many stories.
This week we had the pleasure to make our first stop at Noble Ridge Winery, which is located in the desert region just between Vaseux Lake (the protected nature sanctuary to their south) and Skaha Lake at Okanagan Falls, BC, to the north. It was a blazing hot July afternoon when we got to speak with Leslie D'Andrea, who along with husband Jim created Noble Ridge early in this decade. They first settled part-time in the area, living in a tent trailer and using an outhouse as a biffy, about 10 years ago. They've since built a fine wine tasting room which opened in 2006.
Leslie manages the business affairs of the winery, and along with Jim they are both on a quest to make the best wine they can. We can vouch for their tasty selections – in particular their Chardonnay.
Parsons Fruit Stand - foodies' first choice in the Similkameen
Quentin Parsons delivers high quality at Keremeos' finest fruit stand
Visiting Parsons Fruit Stand while passing through Keremeos, BC in the Similkameen Valley has been a family tradition for us. This time around was no different, but we did take time to speak with our old friend Quentin Parsons, the proprietor who has taken up the generations old family business. The Parsons family have a long history in the Similkameen Valley. Quentin is descended from John Fall Allison, the railway engineer whose name is on the Allison Summit in Manning Park, Allison Pass and Allison Lake all in the same region. If I have my history correct, Allison's second wife was a member of the Lower Similkameen First Nations Band, giving the family even deeper ties to the region.
Unless you're growing grapes, selling fruit in BC in recent years has been a tough go for many. The pricing is being constantly undercut by imports and cut throat local competition. In order to succeed you really need a unique selling proposition. For Parsons that USP is high quality, organically-grown (though not certified) fruit, as well as local products. Of course, you get a whole bunch of that Parsons charm thrown in for good measure too.
Ross Hackworth of Nichol Vineyard talks Cabernet Franc
Ross Hackworth of Naramata's Nichol Vineyard describes his coveted crop of Cab Franc
It was a warm, bright visit early last August on the Naramata Bench. Stacey and I were able to visit one of our very favourite wineries – Nichol Vineyard – and the chance to talk with winemaker & proprietor Ross Hackworth. It was one of those days that a small winery has to face sometimes – an employee called in sick for work, and family were stepping in to help run things while Ross focused on one of his many jobs making wine.
He kindly stepped out on the balcony of his bright and simply appointed tasting room to describe what's happening with Nichol Vineyard. Over his shoulder I noted a row of grapes growing labeled Cabernet Franc. "Cab Franc" is one of those French varietals that grows very well in cool climate regions like BC. Several wineries over the years have produced very good Cabernet Franc, notably Hawthorne Mountain Winery (now known as See Ya Later Ranch, who now use their Cab Franc only for blends).
I turned on the camera and just let Ross go. In his two-minute talk he explained the way he crops the vines, and how it's unlike a more traditional "Scott Henry" growing style (I'm learning this stuff as I go, folks).
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