July 16th, 2022- Cowichan Valley Wineries Party and Pour Aug 4
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Cowichan Valley Wineries Party and Pour Aug 4
A blend of stories from Cowichan Valley and Naramata Bench.
Starting with master storyteller Lorin Inglis, the GM of Enrico Winery in the Cowichan.
Then off to Upper Bench Road in Naramata and a visit with Wilbert and Joka Borren, the owners and winemakers at Four Shadows Winery.
And finally to the epi-centre of the Naramata Bench. We meet Nathan Todd, President and GM of legendary Foxtrot Winery.
It’s the wine version of “something for everyone”
Lorin Inglis – Enrico Winery GM (Cowichan)
TDM and Lorin Inglis
13 Cowichan wineries will kick off their August wine month on August 4th, on a glorious Summer evening outside, on the lawn of the classic Brentwood College School in Mill Bay.
Lorin takes us through how the evening will unfold.
Wines poured by owners and winemakers, food from the Brentwood College kitchens, and music from Roland Barrett.
It’s such a great location and the people who made the wines are pouring, so you know It will sell out.
If you can’t make the Aug 4th – then pick any other day in August. They’re ready to welcome you.
Details at www.cowichanwineries.com
- Alderlea Vineyards
- Averill Creek
- Blue Grouse Estate Winery
- Cherry Point Estate Wines
- Damali Lavender and Winery
- Divino Estate Winery
- Emandare Vineyard
- Zanatta Winery and Vineyards
- Deol Estate Winery
- Enrico Winery
- Unsworth Winery and Restaurant
- www.cowichanwineries.com
Wilbert and Joka Borren – Co-owners of Four Shadows (Upper Bench Naramata)
What a great story.
Wilbert and Joka
Joka and Wilbert were pig farmers in Lacombe Alberta with four growing sons. They had dreams of moving to the Okanagan and farming. That’s exactly what they did.
They bought a forgotten property on Upper Bench Road and decided to bring back the vineyards and plant their own vines to then sell the fruit to wineries.
Along the way, it made much more sense to become a winery and Four Shadows was born. The name is from a photo of their four sons.
Did I mention they had no wine knowledge but they knew how to farm pigs. I mean, how tough can it be to grow grapes?
They had amazing mentoring from Lindsay and Graham O’Rourke at Tightrope and consultant Pascal Madevon. It paid off. They learned well.
You say “Pigs to Pinot” They say “Swine to Wine.”
They poured
2020 Rose, 2020 Riesling Classic, 2020 Riesling Dry, 2020 Riesling sparkling, 2018 Pinot Noir and 2018 Merlot. From Swine to Wine.
Nathan Todd President and GM Foxtrot Winery (Naramata Bench)
Even though he made his name working in very serious wine sales out of New York City he did have an early connection to the Okanagan Valley. Harvesting fruit to make ends meet.
Years later he blind-tasted a Foxtrot Pinot. It may have changed his life.
Nathan-Todd-Foxtrot-
He never forgot that wine and years later convinced his wine friend Douglas Barzelay to eventually buy the winery from the Allander family.
Barzelay is one of the World’s leading authorities on Burgundian wines. Their wine consultant is Veronique Drouhin from Domaine Joseph Drouhin. Torsten Allander’s son Gustav was retained as winemaker. Quite a team.
Nathan poured:
2 versions of Foxly Rose 2019/2020 (both instantly likable. $24)
An Estate Vineyard 2019 Pinot Noir. (everything a great Pinot should be. texture. balance. Defines a long finish.)
Thank you, Tina Baird, Naramata Bench. Thank you, Barry and Carol Beecroft for “the swim”.
STORIES WE’RE WORKING ON
- Fort Berens – New Releases
- August Wine Month – Cowichan
- Howard Soon
- Victoria Wine Festival
