51 min
May 11th, 2024- Cowichan Valley Spring Wines & singular Scout Wines Tasting Room Radio
-
- Food
Cowichan Valley Spring Wines & singular Scout Wines in Similkameen Valley
THE SHOW
Cowichan Valley Spring Wines in Victoria
Even though they are only a 30 minute drive from each other, the wines from Vancouver Island’s Cowichan Valley have worked hard to earn the respect of Victoria restaurants, stores and wine fans. The wineries delivered better wines every year that have earned that respect.
These interviews were done several weeks ago, when Cowichan Spring wines were poured for “the trade”. The sales people in stores and the staff in restaurants who can make or break a wine year.
Unlike their farming brothers and sisters in the Okanagan, the wineries of “warmland” didn’t have to deal with the deep freeze of the past two Winters.
Fair to say, there is renewed interest in the Cowichan.
Two wineries purchased by powerful California wine families, new plantings of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Even though we were all there to talk and taste Spring wines, everyone wanted to talk about the state of BC wines and how the farming community can help each other survive..
This weeks guests are
Xavier Bonilla – Cherry Point Wines. The one the only Xavier. www.cherrypointestatewines.com
Carla Busnardo – Devino Estate. Wine pioneer Joe Busnardo’s family carries on. www.devinowinetours.com
Lorin Inglis – Enrico Winery. Gaining in popularity every year. Platinum Winner. www.enricowinery.com
Linda Holford – Rocky Creek. Passionate wines. www.rockycreekwinery.ca
Zac Brown – Alderlea Winery. Swamped by interested trade. www.alderlea.ca
Sheila Bails – Zanatta Winery. One of the original wineries and a much admired treasure. www.zanatta.ca
www.cowichanwineries.com
www.tourismcowichan.com
www.tourismvancouverisland.com
www.vancouverisland.travel
Scout Vineyard – Similkameen Valley. Aaron Godard/Partner (with wife Carly plus Murray and Maggie Fontaine)
Scout vineyards are completely different from just about everyone.
Their vineyard is not perfectly manicured. Their vines are sharing the hard mineral soil with weeds. The partners are re-thinking the way they farm.
Ecosystem first through regenerative farming.
The Similkameen is their home. , so the way they farm has a direct impact on their families, friends and surrounding community.
(Like most of the wineries in the Okanagan, Scout was also devastated by two freezing Winters. Aaron explains how the Scout team is coping.)
How does all this unique farming show itself in the wines?
We tasted Scout Spring releases
2022 Gew Cab
This was born out of experimentation as a component for their Rosé.
Turns out that Cabernet Sauvignon and Gewurtztraminer are a wonderful match when co-fermented! They were co-fermented in open vats for about 10 days and then pressed off and into neutral barrels, where they sat aging undisturbed for 18 months.
Indigenous yeast, unfined, unfiltered, nothing added or taken away except 25ppm sulphur. This is a light, fragrant red wine. Think spring in a bottle, blossoms, herbs, wild berries. $30.00
NV Rose
Non-vintage (NV) blend of 2021 and 2022. The grapes come from four distinct “appellations”: Naramata, Oliver, Osoyoos, and the Similkameen Valley. Comprised of Cab Sauv, rosé (8 hours on the skins),
Cowichan Valley Spring Wines & singular Scout Wines in Similkameen Valley
THE SHOW
Cowichan Valley Spring Wines in Victoria
Even though they are only a 30 minute drive from each other, the wines from Vancouver Island’s Cowichan Valley have worked hard to earn the respect of Victoria restaurants, stores and wine fans. The wineries delivered better wines every year that have earned that respect.
These interviews were done several weeks ago, when Cowichan Spring wines were poured for “the trade”. The sales people in stores and the staff in restaurants who can make or break a wine year.
Unlike their farming brothers and sisters in the Okanagan, the wineries of “warmland” didn’t have to deal with the deep freeze of the past two Winters.
Fair to say, there is renewed interest in the Cowichan.
Two wineries purchased by powerful California wine families, new plantings of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Even though we were all there to talk and taste Spring wines, everyone wanted to talk about the state of BC wines and how the farming community can help each other survive..
This weeks guests are
Xavier Bonilla – Cherry Point Wines. The one the only Xavier. www.cherrypointestatewines.com
Carla Busnardo – Devino Estate. Wine pioneer Joe Busnardo’s family carries on. www.devinowinetours.com
Lorin Inglis – Enrico Winery. Gaining in popularity every year. Platinum Winner. www.enricowinery.com
Linda Holford – Rocky Creek. Passionate wines. www.rockycreekwinery.ca
Zac Brown – Alderlea Winery. Swamped by interested trade. www.alderlea.ca
Sheila Bails – Zanatta Winery. One of the original wineries and a much admired treasure. www.zanatta.ca
www.cowichanwineries.com
www.tourismcowichan.com
www.tourismvancouverisland.com
www.vancouverisland.travel
Scout Vineyard – Similkameen Valley. Aaron Godard/Partner (with wife Carly plus Murray and Maggie Fontaine)
Scout vineyards are completely different from just about everyone.
Their vineyard is not perfectly manicured. Their vines are sharing the hard mineral soil with weeds. The partners are re-thinking the way they farm.
Ecosystem first through regenerative farming.
The Similkameen is their home. , so the way they farm has a direct impact on their families, friends and surrounding community.
(Like most of the wineries in the Okanagan, Scout was also devastated by two freezing Winters. Aaron explains how the Scout team is coping.)
How does all this unique farming show itself in the wines?
We tasted Scout Spring releases
2022 Gew Cab
This was born out of experimentation as a component for their Rosé.
Turns out that Cabernet Sauvignon and Gewurtztraminer are a wonderful match when co-fermented! They were co-fermented in open vats for about 10 days and then pressed off and into neutral barrels, where they sat aging undisturbed for 18 months.
Indigenous yeast, unfined, unfiltered, nothing added or taken away except 25ppm sulphur. This is a light, fragrant red wine. Think spring in a bottle, blossoms, herbs, wild berries. $30.00
NV Rose
Non-vintage (NV) blend of 2021 and 2022. The grapes come from four distinct “appellations”: Naramata, Oliver, Osoyoos, and the Similkameen Valley. Comprised of Cab Sauv, rosé (8 hours on the skins),
51 min