Mt. Boucherie
The big dreams of Mt. Boucherie Winery in West Kelowna are coming true.
Operating out of a cramped tasting room for far too long, the winery is building spectacular visitor spaces befitting the premium quality of its wines crafted by Jim Faulkner.
Ground broke last month on a 15,000-square-foot building designed by Vancouver architect Robert Ciccozzi.
Ciccozzi also had a hand in the vision for Manteo Resort on Kelowna’s Okanagan Lake and Zafiro, a beachfront resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
The stone-and-glass Mt. Boucherie addition will house an open-concept tasting room, barrel cellar for private tastings and events, dining lounge and observation deck overlooking vineyards and Okanagan Lake. The winery is aiming for next-fall completion. “We also aim to make it a launching point for other destinations in wine country with a concierge that can help set up golf, skiing, etc.,” said Mt. Boucherie’s new general manager Jesse Harnden.
“There will be a luxury B&B available to guests as well. This will overlook the lake and include golf clubs, skis, etc., so guests do not have to bring them if they don’t want to.”
Harnden is also involved in the management team at Rust Wine Co. in Oliver and was previously with The Hatch and Mission Hill Family Estate, both in West Kelowna.
The anything-goes nature of Thanksgiving wine pairing means all five of Mt. Boucherie’s new releases can be sipped this weekend.
Sparkling wine is always a remarkable aperitif, but if you want to continue drinking it during the meal, the effervescence will cut through the fat of the gravy and anything buttered to elevate the whole meal. As such, give Mt. Boucherie Bubbles ($22) a try. It’s a dry Prosecco-style blend of Riesling and Semillon that delivers vibrant apple, lemon and bready aromas and flavours.
Mt. Boucherie 2017 Semillon ($18) has the brisk acidity to stand up to turkey dinner, while also giving you stunning lemon, lime and honey framed by stony minerality. You’ve probably never heard of Blaufrankisch. But it’s a light red of German origin that also manages to be rich and spicy with blueberry and sour cherry notes.
Mt. Boucherie 2017 Blaufrankisch ($28) is classic of the varietal.
The soft and silky tannins of the Mt. Boucherie 2016 Merlot ($25) and Mt. Boucherie 2016 Syrah ($45) means both wines can be a smooth accompaniment to turkey and all the trimmings, as well as grilled meats and any other red meat dishes.
It’s all there in the Merlot – plum, cherry, chocolate and spice.
Meanwhile, the Syrah gives you blackberry, fig, pepper and violet. Founders Award at the Fall Okanagan Wine Festival.
Coletta was the founding executive director of the B.C. Wine Institute, the agency that forged the VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance) certification for fine wines made of 100 per cent B.C. grapes.
She also co-founded Wines of Canada, which encouraged quality nation-wide and promoted buy local