Two Wine Stories –New wineries in Garnet Valley, Solvero & Garnet Valley Ranch Plus Two from Bottleneck Drive, Dirty Laundry and Pamplemousse Jus.
As much as I like to follow the wines we all share, I’m equally driven by the people who make them. The battles they wage against weather and man!
Best of all are the stories they tell. Every wine has a story.
Those are the people and stories I want to share with you on Tasting Room Radio.
Christine Coletta – Co-founder of Okanagan Crush Pad/Haywire etc and now Garnet Valley Ranch Wines
Alison Moyes – GM and Winemaker at Solvero Wines in Garnet Valley.
Discover Garnet Valley Ranch., a quick 7 minute drive from the town of Summerland! The 320-acre ranch is a working farm that is surrounded by natural habitat, organic vineyards, fields of ground crops and a lavender farm. A small pond attracts more than 70 species of birds and wildlife. With no immediate neighbours, the site is tranquil and relaxing. There are places to hike and horseback riding options, or go off grid, listen to nature, and read a book while you sip wine.
Christine talks about the wines being planted, grown, harvested and released.
Christine Coletta is one of the veteran leaders in the BC wine industry. We’ll also be talking about the future of BC wine.
Her only “next door” neighbor in Garnet Valley is Alison Moyes and the team at Solvero Wines.
“It was just a dense forested mountainside, very steep slopes, very challenging terrain to farm. But over the course of two years, a 16-acre vineyard was planted in 2016. Then we started building the winery in 2020 to be able to produce the wines. And then finally, we’ve just finished this beautiful new tasting room and we’re ready to launch this year.” Alison Moyes (Global TV)
This destination, is one of the highest vineyards in BC, almost 600 metres. Its perfect for growing their signature releases of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
By hiring Alison Moyes, they’ve found the final piece of the puzzle.
She learned her winemaking craft through years at Stoneboat, Osoyoos Larose and Liquidity.
Enjoy the conversation between winery neighbours. Both creating new wines in a new destination. We get to taste and compare the same varietals from both locations.
Then a short trip down the road to Summerland’s Bottleneck Drive.
Jordan Kubeck – owner/winemaker Pamplemousse Jus natural winery (Bottleneck Drive)
Jordan Kubeck winemaker/owner at Pamplemousse Jus
One of BC’s most admired new wineries is Pamplemousse. Not only making highly creative natural wines, they are also creating “natural” converts with every season.
Jordan has been making wine in BC since 2010. After working at Cellar Tek, Okanagan Crush Pad and Lightning Rock, Jordan was excited to launch her own project along with her husband Tyler Knight and business partner James Langford-Smith in 2021.
Pamplemousse Jus is natural wine! Neutral vessels, basket press, manual labor and wild ferments create these wines. The wines are made in a garage turned winery with basic winemaking equipment and a whole lot of happy hearts. The Pamplemousse Jus team works hard, experimenting with unusual blends and winemaking styles to bring you the freshest, yummiest wines possible.
Mason Spink Winemaker at Dirty Laundry (Bottleneck Drive)
Mason Spink
When the recent Top 50 BC wines were announced, at the very top of the list – the wine of the year was
Dirty Laundry’s 2022 Cellar Series Gamay.
“this wine stood out among all entries for it’s exceptional quality and distinctive character, earning the highest honor in the competition.” Okanagan Wine Festivals.
dirty laundry
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Mason Spink winemaker at Dirty Laundry Vineyards
After study at Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont. by 2009, he was making wine and, in 2013, he left See Ya Later Ranch to join Dirty Laundry. Since Mason Spink took over as winemaker in 2013, Summerland’s Dirty Laundry Vineyard has doubled production. He likes to make serious, interesting wines but they don’t have to be pretentious. Over his time at Dirty Laundry he has been evolving the house style and winning awards. Including #1 at the new Top 50 in BC hosted by the Okanagan Wine Festivals
The vineyards were originally planted in the 1970s and are now some of the Okanagan Valley’s oldest vinifera vines.
Mason takes us through some of their recent releases and their plans for replanting vines lost in the latest winter freeze.
The other voice you hear belongs to Leeann Froese, the owner of Town Hall Brands. An outstanding wine advisor and marketing firm.
STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON
Meyer Family
Sipster 3
The Hatch
Township 7
Fort Berens
Hillside
Black Swift Whites.
Burrowing Owl Estate Winery Cookbook
