Women might make better winemakers
MacNAULL
Fill ’er Up
Winemaker Alison Moyes doesn’t want to spark a battle of the sexes.
“I hate to generalize because everyone has their strengths and weaknesses,” said Moyes with a laugh.
“But, statistically women tend to have better sensory perception than men and can perceive aromas and flavours more intensely. Plus, women tend to have more attention to detail.”
We’re asking Moyes, winemaker at Liquidity Winery in Okanagan Falls, about female prowess in winemaking because it’s International Women’s Day on Monday, a time to recognize women’s contribution to society and business, celebrate their achievements and ensure they have equality and opportunity.
“The majority of winemakers in the Okanagan are still men, but I’d say there’s now probably 30-35% women,” said Moyes.
“We have strong female representation in the Okanagan.”
Moyes looks up to three women winemaker pioneers.
Lynn Bremmer was B.C.’s first female winemaker with Andres in Port Moody in the 1970s and Bright’s in Oliver in the 1980s and is now a consultant with her own Mount Kobau Wine Services.
Sandra Oldfield was co-owner and winemaker at Tinhorn Creek in Oliver before starting her own consulting business.
And starting in the 1990s, Senka Tennant was co-founder and winemaker at Black Hills in Oliver, which produced the Okanagan’s first big, cult red, Nota Bene. Moyes has many peers.
Just off the top of my head, I can think of Sandy Leier at Sandhill in Kelowna, Corrie Kriebel at Mission Hill in West Kelowna, Heidi Noble at JoieFarm in
Naramata, Nikki Calloway and Stephanie Stanley at O’Rourke’s Peak Cellars in Lake Country, Nadine Allander at Terravista in Naramata, Ann Sperling at Sperling in Kelowna, Gina Harfman at Oliver Twist in Oliver, Kathy Malone at Hillside on the Naramata Bench,
Val Tait at Gold Hill in Oliver and
Elaine Vickers at Red Rooster on the Naramata Bench.
International Women’s
Day tasting
The team of females at Time, Evolve and McWatters Collection wineries in Penticton is celebrating International Women’s Day on Monday with a virtual tasting.
Those invited to the event will sip six wines: Evolve Pink Effervescence ($20) and Time’s 2018 line up of Viognier ($23), White Meritage ($25), Cabernet Sauvignon ($40), Syrah ($40) and Cabernet Franc
($35).
Time-Evole-McWatters winemaker Lynzee Schatz and general manager Christa-Lee McWatters will lead the tasting and also introduce the other women at the winery in leadership roles: operations manager Darrien McWatters, hospitality manager Kimberly Hundertmark, controller Becky Marte, accountant Alla Gray, hospitality supervisors Brittney Vieira and Angelle Sigston, events and marketing co-ordinator Chelsea Dumayne and retail and guest services manager Kerri-Anne Sexton.
McDermott creates Benchmark series
Speaking of women winemakers, Mary McDermott has been crafting the vintages at Township 7 on the Naramata Bench since 2014.
Her latest achievement is the creation of the Benchmark Series, which recognizes elevated quality, meticulous winemaking and sustainable viticulture.
The first three Benchmark releases are 2019 Muscat ($27), 2018 red blend NBO
($36) and 2018 Syrah ($38).
While the Township 7 Fool’s Gold Vineyard 2018 Riesling ($27) isn’t part of the Benchmark series, it’s worth spotlighting
as one of the best Rieslings in the Valley for its aromas and flavours of nectarine, lime and honey with mouthwatering minerality.
A new wave of winemakers
LeFranc is part of the new wave of young female winemakers who are making their mark in the Okanagan.
After starting with Stag’s Hollow in Okanagan Falls in 2017 as a cellar hand, she was quickly promoted to assistant
winemaker and then winemaker in 2018.
As such, she’s the talent behind the winery’s two newly released Syrahs, the 2018 Renaissance ($38) and 2018 White Label ($27).
Both wines are made with grapes from Amalia Vineyard in Osoyoos, but the White Label is a little lighter with aromas and flavours of violet, blackberry and white pepper, compared to the Renaissance’s brooding blackberry-black pepper-and-earthy profile.
Making Tracks
The clock on winter activities is ticking even faster with the arrival of March.
With roughly a month (or less) to go, now is the time to get in those last downhill, cross-country or snowshoe days. For those exploring valley bottom trails, take your ice and snow grippers in your backpack — just in case.
Last weekend, the Sheriff and Constant Companion Carmen did our favourite loop at Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre under ideal conditions.
The conditions sign at the chalet entrance reported –9 C but it wasn’t that cold, thanks to unending brilliant sunshine. The website reported: “Conditions are very firm today.”
The downhill glides were incredible and uphill climbs seemed shorter somehow.
In Sovereign news, “we are excited to launch our new trail reporting tool, Nordic Pulse, designed by Sovereign Lake website developer and former National Ski Team member Julien Locke,” said general manager Troy Hudson.
“We are the first club to fully integrate the Nordic Pulse grooming app in Canada. Nordic Pulse is a cross-country ski trail grooming report app, bringing trail condition reports from ski areas across North America together on one platform, and streamlining grooming reporting for ski areas. Users can view real-time grooming updates, search for clubs and interact with trail maps with many more features on the way.”
You can find the app
at
Sovereignlake.com under Conditions, then Trail Report.
With mild temperatures on Sunday, we e-biked the Kelowna waterfront from Sutherland Park in the North End to Bellevue Creek in the Mission. It’s a key part of what the Sheriff has nicknamed the Grand Okanagan Triangle — Kelowna waterfront, Mission Creek Greenway (still a little muddy/slushy) and Okanagan Rail Trail.
On Monday, we hiked up the three-kilometre Rush Trail of Mount Boucherie in West Kelowna, also a bit muddy in places but with the added disincentive of slush and wet ice on the trail as you near the summit (274metre elevation gain). We spotted the first buttercups of the season, which Brian Sutch of the Vernon Outdoors Club warns coincides with the emergence of ticks.
On reflection, Mount Boucherie offers the best panoramic views on a mountaintop in the Central Okanagan with all 360 degrees of
viewing if you hike along the ridgelike top.
On Wednesday, Big White Ski Resort had –5 C and unlimited visibility with 38 centimetres of fresh snow during the past seven days. It was another exquisite day with perfect grooming no matter which trail you zoomed down.
Talk about first runs. You can enjoy knee-deep powder (on powder days at Big White) with one of its Snow Pros for 45 minutes before the rest of the mountain can even load the lift. Plus, First Tracks lessons are 50% off for the first person until March 12 - with each addition participant just $69.
An accommodation deal comes to an end on Tuesday (March 9). If you book a weekend or midweek stay through Central Reservations, you’ll save 40%.
On Thursday, we e-biked the Okanagan Rail Trail, Old Vernon Road and Bulman Road loop, all in good spring condition but watch out for debris in the bike path and no bike path on the northern leg
of Old Vernon Road.
—————
Dates to remember at the Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre: International Women’s (Free Ski) Day, March 8; Last Evening of Night Skiing, March 11; Spring Break, March 13-28; Easter Holiday, April 3-5; and Last Day of Operations, April 11.
—————
Arion Therapeutic Farm will hold a giant moving sale at 2457 Saucier Rd, in Kelowna from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on March 13-14 after its current location was sold.
“We are not able to disclose the new location yet as we are still going through the subject-removal phase,” said founder/director Heather Henderson this week.
“We are mainly selling horse and household items, tools, indoor and outdoor furniture, toys and knick knacks. We have accumulated a lot of things over the past 12 years so we thought a two-day sale would make most sense. Everything will be set up outdoors with standard
COVID protocols in place. We are a large 12-acre facility with plenty of parking where people can enjoy the farm fresh air while shopping,” she said.
“People are also welcome to book a private animal tour using our website booking page. Bring a picnic and enjoy our amazing spring weather.”
This peaceful farm sanctuary for people and animals in southeast Kelowna is a volunteer-driven social enterprise that offers an escape from city life just 10 minutes out-of-town. It’s open daily for tours, various programs surrounding organic farming and animal care as well as therapeutic farm and horse experiences. Tour fees help with farm operations and to feed a large herd of 50-plus animals.
—————
Telemark Nordic Club is holding an online ski gear auction after winning prizes in the Cross Country BC membership contest. “We are auctioning them off to help raise funds for the Team Telemark Youth Race Program,” said general manager Mike Edwards. “Up for auction are a set of skis and boots as well as some clothing items.”
You can get more details and bid at telemarknordic.com/race-teamauction/
Telemark has also organized a Spring Solstice Ski and Snowshoe Nordic Experience on March 20 — skiing and/or snowshoeing the entire trail footprint.
For skiers, it’s the 15-kilometre “south perimeter” or 35-kilometre “full perimeter” routes.
For snowshoers, it’s the five-kilometre “half-course” or the eightkilometre “full-course.”
For Nordic Nuts, it’s the “Total Nordic Experience” — a five-km half-course snowshoe plus 35-km full-perimeter ski.
Registration is $25 with proceeds going to the junior racing team. Purchase at the lodge when you arrive.