Building blocks to a fine winery
Okanagan Valley’s Painted Rock putting estate-grown reds up against world’s best
For John Skinner, the founder and driving force behind Painted Rock Estate Winery, success comes from the ground up.
Instinct and luck led John and Trish Skinner to select an abandoned apricot orchard overlooking Skaha Lake in Penticton, B.C., as the site of their family’s estate winery. They planted their vineyard in 2005 with an eye to make great wine, not just by local or Canadian standards.
The aim was for Painted Rock’s wines to stand shoulder to shoulder with the best in the world.
“We searched for years to find a property that’s a 10 out of 10 and I know we’ve found it,” Skinner said in 2014. “Now doing it justice is our journey. From farming practices to equipment and expertise, we stop at nothing to realize its potential.”
The vineyard was meticulously planned to produce a top-quality red wine with the finest available vines from Bordeaux. Famed French winemaking consultant Alain Sutre was attracted to the project in 2006 and has selected the blend for the estate’s flagship, Red Icon, each year. Depending on the year, Painted Rock’s top-of-theline release combines Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot in varying percentages.
But as good as that wine and the individual lots of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot released by Painted Rock each vintage are, they have been matched by the flavourful and expressive Syrah that comes from the Skinner’s vineyard. Syrah wasn’t originally part of the plans for the Painted Rock portfolio. Today, it’s one of the shining stars.
Since its first vintage in 2007, Painted Rock Syrah has impressed with a red wine that has a pronounced peppery and meaty character. With each passing vintage, the wine’s concentration, texture and structure have become more elegant and refined.
It’s a world-class expression, and one that has a rare release in Ontario. The 2014 Syrah from Painted Rock will part of Saturday’s release at LCBO Vintages outlets. At $50 a bottle, it isn’t cheap, but certainly lives up to the hype.