January 25th, 2025 Alderlea (Cowichan) and Meyer/Mayhem(Okanagan Falls)-

Alderlea (Cowichan) and Meyer/Mayhem (Okanagan Falls)

 

THE SHOW

North of Duncan, Vancouver Island lies Alderlea Vineyards.  Formerly home of Roger and Nancy Dosman.  Roger would talk about his Pinot Noir plantings until you ran out of batteries.

Rightly so.  For over 20 years, they had beautiful Pinot Noir harvests.

When they sold, Zac and Julie were the perfect couple to carry on.

Julie and Zac

Think of their training.

Zac had been involved in personal security in places he can’t talk about (and had grown up in Port Hardy. Had family still on the island.) Julie had spent her life in executive training and leadership. No mention of wine until….

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They began to  make and blend wines at home but this was a chance to really create on another level.

They started with Pinot Noir vines over 20 years old.  Such a blessing.

 

As I was doing this  series of interviews about the state of wineries in the Okanagan that had been decimated by cold snaps,  I was also aware the Cowichan Valley had not been touched by that Artic weather. The Cowichan is not called Warmland for nothing.

Julie ands Zak did make and send wines for several winery friends in the Okanagan.

They’ve created a really fine uptake on Island wines. Wine fans have taken notice.  Me included.

Whites, reds and Rose.

Bacchus, Pinot Gris, S Blanc, Pinot Noir, PN Reserve, Merlot, Clarinet, a fabulous red blend called Valerie. Named after Julie’s Mother and more.

 

I talked to Zak about how they handled the Winter conditions on Island and what their plans were for 2025.

 

Find Alderlea – in bottle or in Duncan. Its a classic small winery that’s really going to grow.

 

www.alderlea.ca

JAK Meyer – Meyer Family Vineyards (OK Falls)

Terry Meyer Stone – Mayhem Wines  (OK Falls)

 

The Meyer Family is a real family. Not just a name on a label.

 

JAK Meyer runs Meyer Family Vineyards. The #2 winery in Canada. As voted by Wine Align Canadian Wine Awards.

Terry Meyer Stone runs Mayhem Wines. Both are in the Okanagan Falls Sub Region.  Brother and Sister.

Terry Meyer Stone (Western Living Mag)

 

JAK makes sublime Pinot and Chardonnay that wins awards every year.

TDM with JAK & Janice Meyer

Terry runs Mayhem.

Fun and affordable wines, also in OK Falls.

I was looking for answers to:

How did your vineyards do in the cold snap?

What grew and what died?

What varietals did you harvest in Washington State?

How’s your Alberta base doing?

What’s next?

 

www.mfvwines.com

 

SHOWS WE’RE WORKING ON

VICTORIA WHISKY AWARDS

VANCOUVER WINE FESTIVAL

SPEARHEAD WINES

HESTER CREEK

FORT BERENS