The vision of Dennis O香蕉视频直播橰ourke is coming to life along Commonage Road in Lake Country. After blasting through rock and incorporating many natural elements, the future of what will be a world-class one-of-a-kind winery is taking shape.
O香蕉视频直播橰ourke Family Estate head winemaker Nikki Callaway says it香蕉视频直播檚 been a long process to get the space ready.
香蕉视频直播淚 think a lot of neighbours and people that are looky-loos that have been coming up and down the road are eagerly excited and anticipating the opening and what香蕉视频直播檚 happening on the hill. It香蕉视频直播檚 still quite a ways away, we have no real definite date and time of opening.香蕉视频直播�
The facility, however, doesn香蕉视频直播檛 have to be open to show off its expertise. Callaway produced the 2020 O香蕉视频直播橰ourke Family Estate Chardonnay which won gold in the Chardonnay du Monde international competition in Burgundy, France.
香蕉视频直播淚 think it香蕉视频直播檚 just fantastic to see the valley, to see Lake Country, to see what we香蕉视频直播檙e capable of doing and being recognized in an international setting. It香蕉视频直播檚 pretty neat and pretty exciting.香蕉视频直播�
The award-winning wine, Callaway says, is particularly special.
香蕉视频直播淚t didn香蕉视频直播檛 take very much to make an award-winning wine of this level. This was a brand new facility, we were still under construction and there was construction dust everywhere and workers everywhere. I barely even had the power to the site to get the harvest going.香蕉视频直播�
Obstacles are just a part of this winemaker香蕉视频直播檚 life, she also was met with the hurdle of working with young vines, less than 10 years old, and the new site brought uncertainty about how the vines would grow.
香蕉视频直播淚 also took out a lot of wine-making variables because I wanted to see what the fruit and this land would provide for me, so everything was natural, everything was Indigenous, everything was mostly in neutral barrels all aged in the caves. I wasn香蕉视频直播檛 playing around with any wine-making tools, I was just depending on what the soil, the climate, and the geology that this site was able to give me.香蕉视频直播�
The 2020 O香蕉视频直播橰ourke Family Estate Chardonnay is described as aromatic, soft, and floral. A Chardonnay that Callaway says can香蕉视频直播檛 be compared to any other region of the world.
香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 think B.C. should be comparing ourselves to other regions. We are distinctly what we are and this wine is definitely an Okanagan Chardonnay.香蕉视频直播�
The winemaker says her goal is to take on the 香蕉视频直播渁nything but Chardonnay香蕉视频直播� wine drinkers.
香蕉视频直播淭he moment that anybody has tasted this wine or actually put it in their nose, people have converted from never enjoying a glass of chard to 香蕉视频直播榦h my goodness, this is such a beautiful wine,香蕉视频直播� she says.
With O香蕉视频直播橰ourke Family Estate being in its infancy, Callaway had the chance to select her own tools and machines to have on site.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 been an amazing professional opportunity to build and commission and work in a facility that you designed and had in your mind and then it all comes together. It香蕉视频直播檚 been fun to work in a new winery as well. It looks big and it香蕉视频直播檚 a little daunting, but trust me when harvest is here and there are barrels all over the floor and equipment everywhere it香蕉视频直播檚 not as big as it seems.香蕉视频直播�
Callaway also loves the natural elements the matriarch O香蕉视频直播橰ourke demanded in his building plans.
香蕉视频直播淭he caves, it香蕉视频直播檚 using old-world technology of aging barrels and moderate cave systems where the weather is kind of temperate all year long and nice and cool and humid. We香蕉视频直播檙e doing what the Europeans and the Persians have been doing for years.香蕉视频直播�
It is estimated the caves and underground tunnels span 400 metres and is completely sustainable as it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 require heating or cooling to maintain the right temperature.
The estimated $100 million winery project will once again put the Okanagan on the map as a must-visit destination. The facility will include over 150,000 square feet of building with a restaurant, offices, tasting rooms, an event centre, a retail centre, and an outdoor amphitheatre overlooking the lake.
O香蕉视频直播橰ourke Family Estate is partnered with Peak Cellars and will bottle for the sister company at the new site.
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brittany.webster@blackpress.ca
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