May 18th 2024-Spring wine releases from the Naramata Bench
hello
THE SHOW
Last week we featured Part Two of the Cowichan Spring Wine Releases. 10 interviews in total.
This week, we’re again set up in a very busy room. This time there are even more wineries pouring their Spring releases and all telling the stories that go with each.
This week we reconnect with the wineries of the Naramata Bench.
Like many others in the BC wine community, The Naramata Bench was also hit with heartbreaking losses of their prime vineyards due to a killer Winter deep freeze.
Even as they pour the wines this year, we’re still talking about the growing season last year and how each and all with survive.
The pouring and presenting of Spring wine releases is an annual traditional event. Talking about failed bud breaks, the loss of complete vineyards and the big question – what to do next?
Many changes coming to BC Wine farming.
What to plant? Where to plant? How to survive the crisis?
New Varietals, new Blends and new owners/makers/farmers.
As tough as the next couple of years may be, none of that showed itself in the Spring pour at Vancouver Community College on West Pender.
The Bench is a very tight community. Even though they are all hyper-competitive, when it comes to showcasing their individual wines The Naramations pull together as a team. Impressive, to say the least.
Here are the guests for Part One – talking Spring Wines and Vineyard Survival!!
- Colin Ross – President of Bench Wineries (Tightrope)
- Tyson Archer – (co-founder) Fox and Archer
- Emma Roberts – (GM) Howling Bluff
- Bob Ferguson – (co-founder/winemaker) Kettle Valley
- Kathy Malone – (Winemaker) Hillside Winery and Bistro
Marcus
(Marcus Ansems/Daydreamer)
- Marcus Ansems – (Winemaker Co-owner) Daydreamer Wines
- Richard Da Silva – (Owner-Winemaker) Da Silva Vineyards and Winery
- Lyndsay O’Rourke (co-founder/winemaker) Tightrope Winery
- Dylan Roche – (co-founder/co-winemaker) Roche Wines
- Graham Pierce – (winemaker) Ruby Blue
- Rebecca Mikulic – Three Sisters Winery
- Robert Van Westen – (co-founder/winemaker) Van Westen Vineyards
- Lauren Bunckle – (Asst Winemaker) Elephant Island Winery
- Wilbert Borren – (co-owner/winemaker) Four Shadows Vineyard and Winery
- Will Hardman – (co-founder/winemaker) Deep Roots Winery
- naramatabench.com
- foxandarcherwines.com
- howlingbluff.ca
- kettlevalleywinery.com
- hillsidewinery.ca
- daydreamerwines.ca
- dasilvavineyards.com
- tightropewinery.ca
- rterroir.ca
- rubyblueswinery.ca
- 3sisterswinery.com
- Vanwesternvineyards.com
- elephantislandwine.com
- fourshadowsvineyard.com
- deeprootswinery.com
STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON
- Haywire/OK Crush Pad
- The Hatch
- Mayhem
- Poplar Grove Pinot
- Winemakers Cut
- Okanagan Spring Wine Fest
- Best Coast Distillery