Starting a winery called BLACK CLOUD in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley. The ups, the downs and the everyday experiences as we build our dream.
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Wine Access Awards
It's not the newest of stories but the Wine Access magazine awards are in the current issue on the stands right now.
Township 7 made out quite well with a bronze and a silver for our 2005 Semillon and 2004 Chardonnay respectively. Noticed my old haunt Stag's Hollow had some kudos tossed their way as well. Use the link in the headline if you need some guidance on last minute holiday shopping.
Township 7 made out quite well with a bronze and a silver for our 2005 Semillon and 2004 Chardonnay respectively. Noticed my old haunt Stag's Hollow had some kudos tossed their way as well. Use the link in the headline if you need some guidance on last minute holiday shopping.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Vines Face Trouble In Early Okanagan Winter
Cold snaps that started in the last days of October and continue on the run-up to Christmas are a mixed result for Okanagan grape growers.
Wine makers and growers who leave grapes for ice wine have had text book conditions for the delicacy and should have no problem producing a stellar sticky. Sub zero temps (C) through part of November and into December were unseasonable early. This results in bigger, fatter less atrophied clusters and allows the traditionally stingy yields to be little more bountiful.
On the other hand, vines were still not completely shut-down when the cold weather arrived. There could be some damage, especially to young plants, but the truth won't be revealed until spring. In the mean time, viticulturists and experienced growers are advising growers to delay their pruning until vine health can be assessed. Growers may have to go easy on their pruning should the vines have fewer viable buds than in past years.
Killing freezes have been few and far between in recent years. Old timers associated with the wine business recall 1978 and 1985 as the last true killers, with 1996 causing some frigid trouble as well. Since that time the Okanagan Valley has transformed from a grower of labrusca and hybrid varieties to a stable of vinifera thoroughbreds that have never had to face the extreme temperatures of winter over a sustained period. Some doubt the ability of varieties such as Merlot to be as winter hardy as required.
It all started just before Halloween when temperatures plunged to -5 to -7C over at least two nights. Many growers still had late varieties on the vine and others had failed to address irrigation system preventative maintenance issues in a timely fashion; their pipes froze and burst.
Wine makers and growers who leave grapes for ice wine have had text book conditions for the delicacy and should have no problem producing a stellar sticky. Sub zero temps (C) through part of November and into December were unseasonable early. This results in bigger, fatter less atrophied clusters and allows the traditionally stingy yields to be little more bountiful.
On the other hand, vines were still not completely shut-down when the cold weather arrived. There could be some damage, especially to young plants, but the truth won't be revealed until spring. In the mean time, viticulturists and experienced growers are advising growers to delay their pruning until vine health can be assessed. Growers may have to go easy on their pruning should the vines have fewer viable buds than in past years.
Killing freezes have been few and far between in recent years. Old timers associated with the wine business recall 1978 and 1985 as the last true killers, with 1996 causing some frigid trouble as well. Since that time the Okanagan Valley has transformed from a grower of labrusca and hybrid varieties to a stable of vinifera thoroughbreds that have never had to face the extreme temperatures of winter over a sustained period. Some doubt the ability of varieties such as Merlot to be as winter hardy as required.
It all started just before Halloween when temperatures plunged to -5 to -7C over at least two nights. Many growers still had late varieties on the vine and others had failed to address irrigation system preventative maintenance issues in a timely fashion; their pipes froze and burst.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
The Busy Winery
As I've mentioned before, I often get questions and remarks about the wine business this time of the year. Usually it's : What are you guys up to? You must have a lot of time on your hands, I mean, the grapes are all in, the wine is made, what have you got going?
Depending on the operation, there's still lots to do.
Many wineries in my area are busy with ice wine ferments that can take an inordinate amount of time in relation to a regular table wine ferment.
Producers of sparkling wine in the traditional methode champenoise will be assessing their base stock and considering blending. There's also all the specialized packaging that needs to be ordered for this process.
Table wines need to be assessed and the process of clarification and filtering will be initiated. This varys from winery to winery but all wine makers are looking for stability. Once that wine goes into consumer packaging the winery and the wine maker don't want some kind of radical, uncontrolled change occuring that can lead to spoilage or a perceived lack of value (hazy).
Depending where you are and who supplies you - there's a need about now to finalize details on bottles, corks, screwtops, labels and, on top of all that, you better have your vines ordered for next season's planting projects.
There's no shortage of things to do... just a shortage of hours to do them in.
Depending on the operation, there's still lots to do.
Many wineries in my area are busy with ice wine ferments that can take an inordinate amount of time in relation to a regular table wine ferment.
Producers of sparkling wine in the traditional methode champenoise will be assessing their base stock and considering blending. There's also all the specialized packaging that needs to be ordered for this process.
Table wines need to be assessed and the process of clarification and filtering will be initiated. This varys from winery to winery but all wine makers are looking for stability. Once that wine goes into consumer packaging the winery and the wine maker don't want some kind of radical, uncontrolled change occuring that can lead to spoilage or a perceived lack of value (hazy).
Depending where you are and who supplies you - there's a need about now to finalize details on bottles, corks, screwtops, labels and, on top of all that, you better have your vines ordered for next season's planting projects.
There's no shortage of things to do... just a shortage of hours to do them in.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Township 7 Okanagan Wine Shop Winter Hours
People keep asking when the Township 7 Okanagan wine shop is open and so I thought I would quickly post the news . . .
The shop is open at noon until 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday through the 'off-season' or winter.
Drop by and pick up your Christmas wine. Maybe we can taste a barrel or two if you catch me lurking about.
The Langley store has more open hours. Check the website or call 604-532-1766 for details.
We have a limited amount of 2004 Reserve Merlot available if you're looking for that special holiday offering for one you love or perhaps one you'd like to have love you. If someone gave me some I'd be inclined to love that gifter.
The shop is open at noon until 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday through the 'off-season' or winter.
Drop by and pick up your Christmas wine. Maybe we can taste a barrel or two if you catch me lurking about.
The Langley store has more open hours. Check the website or call 604-532-1766 for details.
We have a limited amount of 2004 Reserve Merlot available if you're looking for that special holiday offering for one you love or perhaps one you'd like to have love you. If someone gave me some I'd be inclined to love that gifter.
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Long, cold & hard: ICEWINE season kicks off.
That strange little offspring of the wine world is being born one more time in the Okanagan.
And so freakin' early.
ICE, ICE (baby) wine.
Temperatures rocketed down on Sunday and have been Subzero since. Tonight and tomorrow morning are supposed to be the coldest. There was plenty of snow since Saturday and more on the way off and on through the week.
Glad I'm not out there.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Wine Business Perspective - SIZE MATTERS
The other day I was talking to a cellar hand I know and I asked what size of winery they worked for. The answer -
"Quite large - I think we're doing over 10,000 cases this year."
Earlier in the month I met a wine maker visiting from Australia and I asked the same question.
The answer was -
"Just a little one - about 10,000 cases a year."
It's all a matter of perspective and into that you must figure what the PR and marketing department wants for an image.
Next time you see 'small, family-run estate winery' or such consider what that means and to whom. The owners might believe 20,000 cases fits that description. On the other hand, some people may regard that kind of operation as a major operator.
"Quite large - I think we're doing over 10,000 cases this year."
Earlier in the month I met a wine maker visiting from Australia and I asked the same question.
The answer was -
"Just a little one - about 10,000 cases a year."
It's all a matter of perspective and into that you must figure what the PR and marketing department wants for an image.
Next time you see 'small, family-run estate winery' or such consider what that means and to whom. The owners might believe 20,000 cases fits that description. On the other hand, some people may regard that kind of operation as a major operator.
Monday, November 06, 2006
The Best Sparkling Wine in the World
The best sparkling wine hasn't been made yet. I think it will happen and when it does it will be from grapes grown in British Columbia and, most likely, the Fraser Valley just outside of Vancouver.
The weather is perfect for bubble grapes. Long periods of mild weather, never really hot, never really cold. Plenty of rain, just like Champagne.
What do you do when all your friends are growing beautiful grapes in warm, humidity-balanced climates and you're stuck with a a long, cool and wet growing season? You ferment your sad little berries once and then add some sugar and ferment them again in the bottle and then you spin, baby, spin!
You tell people yarns about widows and their kitchen doors and blind monks who "see" stars. You get dressed up with no where to go and you stay dressed up and go everywhere. You tell people that drinking your bubbly wine will make you a better person because all the better people are drinking it.
You make a wine that would have a hard time as a table wine into something luxurious and continue to spin.
I just finished a couple days picking Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Langley. This will end up as Township 7's Seven Stars in time for Christmas 2009. The grapes of early November were still unripe despite an "excellent" growing season. The Pinot gave up almost no colour at crush and the Chardonnay still had 90% green seeds. The hangtime flavours were complex and elegant.
Ideal conditions for sparkling wine production.
Somebody grab 100 to 200 acres of land in South Langley or Abbotsford on a gentle south facing slope about a mile or less from the border, do a really good job of soil reprofiling and plant only PN and Chard.
And start spinning.
In 15 years you'll have the best bubble in the world.
Harvest, Crush, Vintage
Whatever you call it ... it's finally coming to an end. Township 7 has still got 8 tons of Cab coming in this week. That will be the end of it. I put my foot down.
Stone Mountain is catching up with the tail end of some ferments and Hijas Bonitas is pretty much under control.
The photo is Scott Robinson, assistant winemaker at Township 7, helping some grapes to their mushy doom. Please excuse the grotty Mog device as our 'official' one fell beneath the auger's grinding screw.
Wines are tasting good and we're already figuring out our bottling schedules and packaging requirements!
Monday, October 16, 2006
Rain
Did I mention it's pissing down rain today?
Well it is.
Good day for getting caught up in the cellar.
All picking is off.
Looks like it may clear off by the end of the week.
Check it out for yourself.
Well it is.
Good day for getting caught up in the cellar.
All picking is off.
Looks like it may clear off by the end of the week.
Check it out for yourself.
Looking at a WHOPPING BIG YEAR. Lots of GR8 Wine.
Yields are way up in the white department after a dissapointing 2005. The quality is above average across the board. Quality of fruit was never an issue last year, just the small amount of it.
In the reds, volumes are again above normal but not as dramatically as the whites. Merlot came in early as it kept maturing during the heat spikes while other more sensitive varietals (you know who you are Mr. Pinot) shut down.
Quality will not be an issue for reds, either.
Handling and traffic is the main concern.
Township 7 may end up 40% above last year's numbers. Some of the other interests I'm involved in are looking at total volume increases as well with Stone Mountain (new) up a whopping 150%.
In the reds, volumes are again above normal but not as dramatically as the whites. Merlot came in early as it kept maturing during the heat spikes while other more sensitive varietals (you know who you are Mr. Pinot) shut down.
Quality will not be an issue for reds, either.
Handling and traffic is the main concern.
Township 7 may end up 40% above last year's numbers. Some of the other interests I'm involved in are looking at total volume increases as well with Stone Mountain (new) up a whopping 150%.
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Township 7's Wine Maker
If you do nothing else today pick up a copy of the Globe and Mail (Saturday) and see me on the front of the business section. Big story inside about the Okanagan wine. Limited version of print stories by clicking on the link above.
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