Longest-serving winemaker in Canada retires
What does a winemaker do when he retires after 37 years with the same company? He pulls the best bottles out of the cellar and throws a party, of course.
That’s exactly what Howard Soon did when he hosted his final soiree before retiring from Sandhill Wines at Oak+Cru at the Delta Grand hotel in Kelowna.
Guests mingled with Soon at Oak+Cru restaurant’s private lagoon-side patio to start and enjoyed Sandhill’s 2016 rose paired with a spot-prawn appetizer.
From then, there was a steady flow of wine and small plates from the 2016 Pinot Gris with seared sablefish and 2016 Chardonnay accompanied by roast chicken to 2014 Merlot matched to beef tenderloin and 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot with little lamb chops served in a martini glass.
The group then ambled over to Oak+Cru’s wine-experience cellar for vertical flights of 2012 and 2014 Sangiovese and 2008 and 2009 Petit Verdot paired to chocolate deserts.
The Grand’s executive chef, Iain Rennie, custom-designed the menu to match Soon’s wines.
Soon started with Calona Wines in 1980 and has been with the company through its ownership change to Andrew Peller Estates, which includes the Calona, Conviction, Peller, Wayne Gretzky, Red Rooster and Sandhill labels.
With 37 vintages on his resume, Soon was the longest-serving winemaker in Canada.
Along the way, Soon won many awards for his winemaking and wines and innovated in the vineyard and winery.
The day after officially retiring, Soon took off on a trip to England with his wife, Wendy.
He expects to travel and garden more, put some miles on the Porsche and spend more time with his family and grandkids in retirement.
He’s also open to some wine side projects and getting involved with wine education.
The celebration of Howard isn’t over.
Another invite-only reception is scheduled for Aug. 17 at Sandhill. rating is reserved for only the finest wines in the world.
To earn the prize, the Tinhorn Bordeaux-style blend had to rise to the top of the 4,200 wines entered from 31 countries.
The competition’s panel of judges and wine critics also gave 2Bench Red a score of 94 points out of 100.
“The Oldfield Series 2Bench Red is one of our greatest achievements,” said namesake and Tinhorn CEO and founder Sandra Oldfield.
“Our goal has always been to inspire innovation and improvement with every vintage and this award makes us very confident in the work we’re doing.”
The Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot grapes for the 2Bench Red were aptly sourced from two of Tinhorn’s benchland vineyards – Black Sage and Golden Mile, both in Oliver.
It’s powerful and full-bodied, but balanced with a complex aroma and taste profile from spice and herbs to tobacco and dark fruit.
The $30.50-a-bottle wine, which can be enjoyed now or cellared for up to 15 years, is available at the winery or online at Tinhorn.com.