The vision of Dennis O91裸聊视频橰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.
O91裸聊视频橰ourke Family Estate head winemaker Nikki Callaway says it91裸聊视频檚 been a long process to get the space ready.
91裸聊视频淚 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 what91裸聊视频檚 happening on the hill. It91裸聊视频檚 still quite a ways away, we have no real definite date and time of opening.91裸聊视频�
The facility, however, doesn91裸聊视频檛 have to be open to show off its expertise. Callaway produced the 2020 O91裸聊视频橰ourke Family Estate Chardonnay which won gold in the Chardonnay du Monde international competition in Burgundy, France.
91裸聊视频淚 think it91裸聊视频檚 just fantastic to see the valley, to see Lake Country, to see what we91裸聊视频檙e capable of doing and being recognized in an international setting. It91裸聊视频檚 pretty neat and pretty exciting.91裸聊视频�
The award-winning wine, Callaway says, is particularly special.
91裸聊视频淚t didn91裸聊视频檛 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.91裸聊视频�
Obstacles are just a part of this winemaker91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淚 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 wasn91裸聊视频檛 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.91裸聊视频�
The 2020 O91裸聊视频橰ourke Family Estate Chardonnay is described as aromatic, soft, and floral. A Chardonnay that Callaway says can91裸聊视频檛 be compared to any other region of the world.
91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 think B.C. should be comparing ourselves to other regions. We are distinctly what we are and this wine is definitely an Okanagan Chardonnay.91裸聊视频�
The winemaker says her goal is to take on the 91裸聊视频渁nything but Chardonnay91裸聊视频� wine drinkers.
91裸聊视频淭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 91裸聊视频榦h my goodness, this is such a beautiful wine,91裸聊视频� she says.
With O91裸聊视频橰ourke Family Estate being in its infancy, Callaway had the chance to select her own tools and machines to have on site.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 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. It91裸聊视频檚 been fun to work in a new winery as well. It looks big and it91裸聊视频檚 a little daunting, but trust me when harvest is here and there are barrels all over the floor and equipment everywhere it91裸聊视频檚 not as big as it seems.91裸聊视频�
Callaway also loves the natural elements the matriarch O91裸聊视频橰ourke demanded in his building plans.
91裸聊视频淭he caves, it91裸聊视频檚 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. We91裸聊视频檙e doing what the Europeans and the Persians have been doing for years.91裸聊视频�
It is estimated the caves and underground tunnels span 400 metres and is completely sustainable as it doesn91裸聊视频檛 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.
O91裸聊视频橰ourke Family Estate is partnered with Peak Cellars and will bottle for the sister company at the new site.
Sign up for updates on the project, wine access, and special event details by visiting .
brittany.webster@blackpress.ca
Like us on and follow us on
