◆ Similkameen
Big flavours from small lots at Eau Vivre
H
ands in the dirt, that’s the key to making great wine,” says winemaker Anthony Buchanan from the Eau Vivre Winery and Vineyards.
“I like to be involved directly in every aspect of the process, from spreading compost on the vines in the spring to putting in 15-hour days while punching down the grapes
Recipient of a 2012 Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in British Columbia Wines.
Wine shop open daily 10:30-5:30. Our wines are available at BC VQA and other fine liquor stores and restaurants.
716 Lowe Drive, Cawston, BC
250.499.2655 www.EauVivreWinery.ca
Come Flirt With Us And Find Out Why...
Ranked #1 Winery To Visit
- OkanaganWines.ca, Online Peoples’ Choice A Must Stop Through The World Of Temptation ART GALLERY • RIVERSIDE PICNIC AREA • ORGANIC Open April 1-Oct.31. daily 10am-6pm 620 Sumac Rd., Cawston, B.C. 250.499.2649 forbiddenfruitwines.com www.winetrails.ca
in the tank to get will age well for at least the extraction I’m another year or two. looking for.” And keep an eye out for Situated in the Eau Vivre’s first reserve town of Cawston, Pinot Noir, which will the fruit-packing likely be released this centre of the fall. Similkameen If you prefer something Valley, Eau Vivre with more body and has been in operdeeper fruit aromas, Eau Vivre also produces ation only since a 100% Similkameen 2009. Production Cabernet Franc, a is limited to robust Malbec, and a about 1,200 silky Bordeaux blend cases per year. called Buddhaful. That suits owners Anthony Buchanan Their white wines Dale Wright and Jeraldine Estin just fine, as their include a well-balanced, buttery intention was always to produce Chardonnay, a lush Gewürztraminer, small lots of well-crafted wines. and a refreshing Riesling. All are “Wines that people love to savour,” well priced. Eau Vivre recently introduced as Buchanan says. Last year Eau Vivre caught the its Cinq Blanc, the perfect patio attention of the industry when sipper. A delicious blend of its sold-out 2009 Pinot Noir won Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc, the Lieutenant-Governor’s Award Muscat, Chardonnay and Riesling, for Excellence in BC Wines. The this is summer in a bottle. Available 2008 bottling, which you can still only at the Eau Vivre tasting room, buy, exhibits the earthiness and Cinq Blanc alone will make your trip austerity you expect from the fin- worthwhile. ~ Barry Potyondi est Burgundies. Well-structured, it
Forbidden Fruit offers temptation in a bottle
W
Playful names ild horses like Plumiscuous, drinking at Impearfection and the river’s edge. Row upon maniCrushed Innocence — cured row of organic often dreamt up in the apples, pears, peaches, hot tub after a hard day’s apricots, cherries and work — mask a very serigrapes maturing on ous dedication to the the gentle hillsides. vintner’s craft. The off-dry An inviting picnic area Pearsuasion, for examoverlooking the treed Steve Venables ple, is slightly smoky valley bottom. An intibeneath its subtle pear mate sales shop with handcrafted and vanilla top notes. Speachless, jewellery and original art. And rack the winery’s newly released “mystery after rack of sophisticated wines wine,” is an extraordinary confection made with a master’s touch. of lingering white peach and pasThis is Forbidden Fruit Winery, the sionfruit flavours. most recent component of a pristine The Earth Series, which supports sev52-hectare orchard, vineyard and eral conservation causes, employs nature preserve now celebrating 36 only grapes — what Steve calls “the years of sustainable development. other fruit.” For something truly Owners Steve Venables and Kim different, try the Sauvidal, a crisp, Brind’Amour have dedicated their intriguing blend of Sauvignon Blanc lives to responsible use of the land. and Vidal. Their environmental stewardship and Stop by for wine tastings and off-sale dedication to craft has been reward- fruit sales all summer long. Like the ed with hundreds of awards and flavours of these gorgeous wines, the honour of being voted the best you’ll find yourself lingering. winery to visit in the Interior. ~ Barry Potyondi B.C. Food & Wine Trails • SUMMER 2013 • Page 41