Interview with Grant Stanley – Winemaker at Spearhead. #1 Winery in Canada.
And the BC Ale Trail (Mid-Vancouver Island!)
grant stanley Spearhead
THE SHOW
Grant Stanley – Winemaker and GM Spearhead Winery (Kelowna)
Grant Stanley is the winemaker and general manager at SpearHead Winery, on the south eastern slopes just outside Kelowna, BC.
Grant is a dual citizen of Canada and New Zealand. He’s acclaimed for growing and creating exceptional Pinot Noir wines.
When the 2024 Wine Align Canadian National Wine Awards took place and 1800 wines from over 200 Canadian wineries were judged.
SpearHead Winery won three Platinum medals in the Pinot Noir category. That’s not all they won.
When the points were tallied, Spearhead had won Best Performing Small Winery In Canada and the Winery of the Year.
It was the wine version of the Kelowna Rockets beating the Russian National Hockey team. They had won 12 medals in all.
The medals won in the Nationals by SpearHead included Platinum medals for the 2022 Pommard Clone Pinot Noir, 2022 Club Consensus Pinot Noir, and 2022 Saddle Block Pinot Noir, as well as a Gold Medal for the 2021 Golden Retreat Pinot Noir.
Then, Mother Nature took over and a Winter cold snap wiped of many of their vineyards.
In order to keep making wine and paying the bills, Grant headed south to the wine regions in Washington and Oregon looking for just the right vineyards to gather harvest from.
Grant had made wines in Oregon in past years. He knew exactly where to find the best grapes.
We’ll talk about those award-winning Pinots and those special new wines – called Dual Citizen – on this edition of Tasting Room Radio.
Ken Beattie – Executive Director BC Craft Brewers Guild
(Ken Beattie)
Interview also includes Matt Hill – Founder and Owner – Fern and Cider Brewing.
The BC Ale Trail is kicking off two exciting Tasting Passport campaigns, inviting craft beer lovers to explore, sip, and win in some of British Columbia’s best beer destinations. From February 1 to March 9, 2025, participants can collect stamps while enjoying locally crafted beers, ciders, and spirits— all while supporting BC’s brewing communities.
Both the Langley Ale Trail Tasting Passport and the Central Island Tasting Passport highlight the diverse flavours, rich brewing history, and stunning landscapes that make these regions must-visit destinations for beer lovers and adventurers alike.
Each completed passport enters participants into a Grand Prize draw, featuring overnight stays, dining experiences, and more in Langley, Comox Valley, Cowichan, Nanaimo, and Parksville-Qualicum Beach.
In a brisk last segment, Ken and Matt become BC travel guides taking us down the Central Island Tasting Passport BC Ale Trail. This ale trail is a blast.
Check out the fabulous website –
www.fernandcider.ca
STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON
Hanks Provisions – Duncan
The Hatch
Vancouver Wine Festival
Wine Growers of BC
Spring Releases
New “out of BC” wines…
