Canada’s 150th birthday is plenty reason to pop a cork! Here from coast to coast we offer a toast with wines from Canada’s premier wine regions British Columbia and Ontario. The celebration doesn’t stop there, in our next issue, we’ll explore and salute what has been called “Canada’s next great wine region” that is Nova Scotia! Garnering huge accolades and international attention this burgeoning wine region is producing bubbly that many connoisseurs are saying rival those of Champagne!
To you Canada with a glass of bubbly!
Our wine journey begins out west in the stunning wine growing region of the Okanagan Valley located in the southern interior of British Columbia. It is Canada’s second largest wine region and is home to 85% of the province’s vineyards. A picturesque valley stretching over 250 km with a landscape dotted with close to 175 wineries including artisanal and family-run, to world class, it is a must for a wine lovers’ bucket list.
And what is in the glass is often deemed first class, with the Okanagan’s wines consistently ranking among the best at international competitions.
We had the opportunity to visit this incredible region and experience a few of the many spectacular wineries, alas only one can be featured here today. In honour of Canada’s 150 birthday, our pick is Nk’Mip Cellars, the first Aboriginal owned and operated winery in North America producing stunning award-winning BCVQA wines. Voted as Canadian Winery of the Year 2016 by Intervin, there is so much to be said of Nk’Mip, pronounced IN-KA-MEEP, meaning ‘bottomland’ in English. From the history and the heritage and passion of the owner/operators the Osoyoos Indian Band, to the spectacular setting, the patio restaurant, the Aboriginal inspired farm to table dishes, the view and the wines! Simply glorious!
Nk’Mip Cellars is located in Osoyoos, the hottest and driest part of Canada, in fact Canada’s only pocket desert, just a few kilometres north of the Washington border. A site to behold, the winery is nestled in the vineyards and surrounded by time-weathered mountains, with more vines gently sloping down to the lake.
The OSOYOOS Indian Band (OIB), led by Chief Clarence Louie has more than 1,300 acres under vines in the Okanagan, including the Inkameep Vineyard (300 acres) and Nk’Mip Cellars Vineyards (21 acres), with some vines dating back to 1968.
The vines are managed collaboratively as part of the partnership between Nk’Mip Cellars and Constellation Brands Canada. Wines are produced under the direction of Senior Winemaker, Randy Picton and Assistant Winemaker, Osoyoos Indian Band member Justin Hall.
Nk’Mip Cellars was designed as a small winery with the intention to focus on small quantities of high quality wines.
Randy Picton, Winemaker, Nk’Mip Cellars
Statue greets visitors at Nk’Mip Cellars, Osoyoos, B.C.
Dreamcatcher 2016, Nk’Mip Cellars
Nk’Mip Cellars ROSÉ 2016
Nk’Mip Wine Cellars
BC, sockeye salmon Nk’Mip Cellars
Ontario’s new wine region beckons…
Heading back east now over to Ontario and this province’s stunning wine regions, it is comprised of over 15,000 acres of spectacular vineyards. Ontario also boasts being home to over 150 wineries from smaller boutique wineries, to elegant Chateau and ultra modern. With all of this to choose from, where does one begin?
We too are blessed here in Ontario with our three official wine regions and many sub appellations all being unique in geography, allowing for a wide array of styles of wine.
Our Niagara Peninsula is home to close to two-thirds of all Ontario VQA wines, is well known and respected around the world. Our most southerly vineyards lie in the Lake Erie North Shore appellation, Canada’s most southern reach where the grapes enjoy the greatest sunshine and produce excellent wines too! Prince Edward County, Ontario’s newest wine region located two and half hours from Toronto, on the other side of the lake from Niagara-on-the-Lake, is yet another oasis for fine wine and great food!
And the buck doesn’t stop here…or we should say the vineyards! Pioneering winemakers are busy discovering new wine regions within the province with differing local terroir very much suited to grape growing. Our Ontario winery of choice today comes from one such region, aiming to become Ontario’s next VQA appellation Norfolk County! Once the tobacco belt, no longer, wine grapes are staking a claim! Today up to nine wineries in the county have recognized that tobacco and grapes actually enjoy similar growing conditions.
How perfect to toast Canada’s 150th birthday than with the latest winery to join this emerging wine region, that is the Frisky Beaver!
On our recent visit to the area we dropped in at the winery.
A super cool barn constructed with three types of wood sourced from their neighbor, previously a lumber mill. Rustic, casual and comfortable, the barn is outfitted with a massive parsons table and seating for guests to sit and sip. A glorious glass chandelier hangs from above offering a contrasting touch of elegance. At the bar one can enjoy the wine tastings and get the full scoop on the area and winery from either Brock or Ginny.
Frisky Beaver came onto the scene just a couple of years ago, but has captured the hearts and pleasured the palates of many we learn. In fact the Frisky Beaver Red was awarded the DOUBLE GOLD last year at the “All Canadian Wine Championships”, a special category in which ALL judges must concur on the winner.
So what’s the story? Not so steeped in deep history, but still a story of three investors with a great passion, belief and investment in this emerging wine region. They experienced a few rough breaks along the way with their initial vineyard plantings in 2013 being subjected to an “arctic air” that destroyed many of the vines, only to experience the same in 2014 and 2015! Persevering, to today, Frisky Beaver wines are made with grapes both owned by Frisky Beaver, as well as grapes sourced from approximately 15 acres of vineyards farmer owned, but winery managed.
Frisky Beaver and their premium line Smoke & Gamble are produced in the quaint town of Port Dover located on the north shore of Lake Erie. Quite amazing is the success these wines have enjoyed so quickly. With catchy names, good quality and fun attractive labels they have captured the wine drinker’s attention and loyalty. Wines such as their Shades of Grey Chardonnay, Ravishing Riesling, Blushing Beaver rose and their sparkling wine Bubbly Beaver. This bubbly’s initial release saw a six month order sell through in six weeks… the wine lover is clearly responding to and embracing this latest new comer to the newest wine region!
A few words on the Smoke & Gamble wines. What makes Smoke & Gamble one of Norfolk’s most exciting wines? In this case, aging is a good thing! “Time in the barrel allows for more structure, body and tannin softening the wine to form a richer, more complex flavour” says Smoke & Gamble winemaker Peter Graham. We go on to learn that the barrel aging also “brings out the pepper and blends the aromas of a newly opened cigar box with burning autumn leaves”. Smoke & Gamble… perfect! We have to say that the folks at Frisky Beaver don’t take themselves too seriously but do take their wines seriously.
Frisky Beaver Wanted Poster
Frisky Beaver winery
Canada’s 150th Birthday Frisky Beaver winery, winemaker Peter Graham
Frisky Beaver Bubbly Beaver
Smoke & Gamble Cabernet Merlot
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!