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t was nearly the end of my long, hot day in the valley sun, and after talking to ambitious folks for hours about their sweet beverage plans, I was ready for a drink. So I was very happy indeed to come across Beaufort Vineyard & Estate Winery, open since May and happily pouring tastings with visitors like me. Owners, winemakers, vineyard labourers, marketers and tasting room pourers Susan and Jeff Vandermolen were already 60 percent sold out when I visited them six weekends after they opened their doors. In addition to the above titles, Susan and Jeff are also bonafide globetrotters (60 countries and counting), hold degrees in chemical engineering and business respectively, and have a combined 40-plus years of business experience. Their motto is “work to live – not the other way around!” So lifestyle was a huge consideration when they were deciding to set up shop in Comox. They looked at more than 100 sites before purchasing 85 acres of land in 2006. Susan and Jeff Vandermolen Not adverse to hard work, within two years at Beaufor t Vineyard & Estate Winer y they’ve converted eight acres from cattle pasture to groomed vineyard; purchased all vineyard-related farming equipment (tractor, ATV, trailers); improved site drainage; designed vineyard layout, trellises, drip irrigation and fencing; selected and sourced grape varietals; planted 7,500 vines; drilled a water well; renovated their family home and grounds to accommodate tasting room, wine production and storage; and sourced, processed, fermented and aged 16.5 tons of grapes as well as 2.5 tons of black currants/blackberries. And they’re still constantly smiling! The smiles persist because the hard work has paid off in the form of three recent awards they picked up at the 2008 Northwest Wine Summit in Oregon (Pinot Gris – silver; Ortega – bronze, and their fortified Black – bronze). Or it could be the overwhelmingly enthusiastic support they’ve received from local restaurants and residents. While they wait for their vines to mature, they’ve sourced their grapes from the Saanich Peninsula and Oliver, and, with the help of well-known consulting winemaker Todd Moore, have seven inaugural releases. When their own vines are ready for harvest in fall 2009, they’ll be picking mildewresistant hybrids specifically chosen for their cooler climate: Marechal Foch, Leon Millot, Cabernet-Foch X, Ortega (Riesling X) and Siegerrebe (Gewürztraminer X). And their distinctive label? On the eve of the millennium, they experienced the giant Moai statues of Easter Island and fell in love with the serene beasts. When it came time to consider an image for Beaufort Winery, the Moai (and its great “nose” for wine) won out. They sought out local carver Stan Skuse from Campbell River and commissioned him to carve the Moai from a giant fir tree on their land. The final result: a striking, 14-foot, four-ton guardian of the grapes looking out over the vineyard in the geographical direction of Easter Island. Beaufort Vineyard & Estate Winery 5854 Pickering Rd., Courtenay, 250-338-1357, www.beaufortwines.ca
I
! Mad for Merlot
ON THIS FARM THERE IS A “WINE ELF”
icewine, gifts and more…
VQA Wine Shop
at M AT T I C K ’ S FA R M
Open 7 days a week 5325 Cordova Bay Rd. 250-658-3116
www.matticksfarm.com
Our service can best be described as “Knowledgeable, yet not pretentious… …approachable, with a hint of sass!”
Pentage Merlot ‘05, $25
Finally, the Sideways silliness is over and we can get back to enjoying bottles of good merlot. And why not? BC may have found its signature red grape in this appealing vinifera that ripens nicely in the Okanagan sun. This fine example from Pentage, a winery high up overlooking Skaha Lake, avoids the cloying style of so many overripe new world merlots delivering instead a dry, medium-bodied, food-friendly sip that made me think Italian in its structure. I loved the mild tannic grip, the acidity and the nose of cherry, spice and mocha. Recommended with wild mushroom risotto. G.H.
www.eatmagazine.ca NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2008
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