Collector’s Pack

What it is
Bacchus is a German grape variety (Silvaner/Riesling X Müller-Thurgau cross) that produces lively, aromatic wines that are naturally low in alcohol.

Where it was grown
Arrowleaf Estate, Lake Country, Okanagan Valley
Panucci Vineyard, East Kelowna, Okanagan Valley
Wendell Vineyard, Lake Country, Okanagan Valley

When it was grown
The story of the 2022 growing season started with a blast of arctic air in late December 2021. The cold weather damaged some of the tender vines, Bacchus included, reducing yields substantially. The spring was cooler and more damp than usual. Budbreak was delayed which suggested it was going to be a short growing season. Summer was reliably hot and dry, as it tends to be in the Okanagan. The highlight of the growing season was the fall, which felt more like an extension of summer. It was a phenomenal stretch of warm and dry weather that lasted through most of October. The extended season coupled with low yields produced grapes of excellent quality.

How it was made
The grapes were whole-cluster pressed to preserve acidity and to keep the juice sharp and clean. The juice was fermented with yeasts that highlight the variety’s unique aromas. After a short aging period in stainless steel tanks, the wine was bottled in late winter for maximum freshness - preserving spring in a glass.

How it tastes
Tropical, floral and herbaceous. Look for aromas of papaya, elderflower and fresh-cut grass. Dry on the palate with lingering flavours of herbs, citrus and grapefruit. 🌱 Vegan Wine

Drink by: 2023-2024. Bacchus is best consumed within 1 year of release.

Technical Details
Residual Sugar 4.9 g/l
Acidity 6.2 g/l
Alcohol 12.5%
Cases Made 725

What it is
Petite Arvine is an ancient white grape variety indigenous to the Valais region of Switzerland where it has been cultivated for over 500 years. It is considered the best white grape of the Valais, routinely planted on its prized alpine vineyard sites, which are often very steep and difficult to work. Although relatively obscure, Petite Arvine is gaining an international reputation as a variety that produces high quality wine.

Where it was grown
Arrowleaf Estate, Lake Country, Okanagan ValleyWe planted a small plot (0.6 acres) of Petite Arvine in the heart of our estate vineyard in 2017. The site sits at roughly 475m/1560ft elevation and has a westerly exposure and sandy loam soil. As a Swiss family, we are excited to produce this unique alpine variety here in the Okanagan Valley. Having studied winemaking in Switzerland, our winemaker Manuel Zuppiger found Petite Arvine to be the stand-out among the country's native varieties. We are currently the only producer of Petite Arvine in British Columbia.

When it was grown
2021 was one of the hottest and driest years on record in British Columbia. The early part of summer brought the highest temperatures ever recorded in the Okanagan, followed by prolonged drought that lasted well into the fall. These conditions resulted in a smaller than average crop of very ripe, concentrated grapes. Harvest started in early September and wrapped up by mid-October. All in all, it was an extreme growing season that has created the potential for some truly unique wines.

How it was made
Petite Arvine is a late-ripening grape variety, and it was the last one to be harvested in 2021. The hot growing season gave us perfectly ripe grapes which were whole-cluster pressed, barrel fermented and aged in neutral oak. The wine did not undergo malolactic fermentation as in previous vintages, giving the primary aromas centre stage.

How it tastes
Rich and fully aromatic, this wine displays notes of peaches, cream, lemon and white blossom. On the palate it presents as generously textured and dry with moderate acidity and ripe fruit on the finish.🌱 Vegan Wine

The plant on the label is Switzerland’s national flower, the Edelweiss.

Technical Details
Residual Sugar 2.9 g/l
Acidity 6.0 g/
lAlcohol 13.0%
Cases Made 95

Where it was grown
Wendell Vineyard, Lake Country, Okanagan Valley
This vineyard is located on the lower slopes of the Carr’s Landing area in Lake Country, which features sandy loam as well as some clay loam soils.

When it was grown
2020 was a year of ups and downs in the vineyard. An unusually warm stretch of winter weather started the year off in a pleasant way until an arctic cold front moved in and damaged a lot of the fruitful buds on the vines. This resulted in a 40% reduction in overall yield. The silver lining, of course, is that with reduced yield generally comes exceptional quality. It turned out that the vines needed a light load this vintage as the summer and fall were cooler than normal causing the fruit to ripen late. All in all, 2020 is a stellar but scarce vintage.

How it was made
We decided to harvest relatively early to maintain natural acidity and keep the alcohol level moderate. The grapes were gently whole-cluster pressed and the juice was transferred to French oak puncheons for fermentation and aging. The wine spent a total of 10 months in oak (20% new French), with roughly half of it undergoing malolactic fermentation.

Technical Details
Residual Sugar 2.2 g/l
Acidity 6.1 g/l
Alcohol 13.0%
Cases Made 416

What it is
A fruit-forward Pinot Noir grown in the Lake Country area of the Okanagan Valley.

Where it was grown
Wendell Orchards, Lake Country
Ritchie Farm, Lake Country

When it was grown
The 2019 vintage was a welcome return to cooler weather that was more in line with the long-term average. The forest fires that caused widespread smoke in the previous three vintages did not happen in 2019; instead we got clear skies for most of the summer and early fall. An extended rainy period proved tricky during harvest but the wines turned out to have good balance, finesse and aromatics.

How it was made
The grapes were harvested in mid-October and the fermentation took place in multiple batches, some were inoculated with yeast and others were left to go wild. The wine went into French oak barrels (10% new) for malo-lactic fermentation and aging. It was racked in late spring to remove most of the lees and returned to barrels until it was bottled in late summer.

Technical Details
Residual Sugar 1.7 g/l
Acidity 5.0 g/l
Alcohol 13.0%
Cases Made 1865

What it is
A barrel-aged blend of Merlot, Zweigelt and Pinot Noir grown in the cooler reaches of the Okanagan.

Where it was grown
Merlot from Arrowleaf Estate in Lake Country (84%)
Zweigelt from Ritchie Farm in Lake Country (8%)
Pinot Noir from Beaumont in West Kelowna (8%)

When it was grown
The 2018 vintage started off with a mild winter and plenty of snow. The spring was cool and bud break in the vineyard was later than average. The large snowpack left a lot of groundwater in the soil and the vines grew fast with little or no irrigation until summer. July was very hot and the heatwave would have continued in August but high atmospheric smoke from forest fires provided a cooling effect that slowed the ripening of the grapes. The cooler temperatures stuck around in September; further delaying ripening and allowing the grapes plenty of time to develop flavour. The skies cleared in October for an ideal grape harvest.

How it was made
The grapes were harvested in mid to late October and were fermented with a 10-14 day maceration time before being pressed, racked and moved to 225l oak barrels for 12 months. The barrel program consisted of 75% American oak and 25% Eastern European oak (10% new). After barrel aging, the wine was given a coarse filtration before bottling.

Technical Details
Residual Sugar 1.5 g/l
Acidity 5.6 g/l
Alcohol 13.9%
Cases Made 1350

Background
Pronounced 'ts-vi-gelt', this crossing of Blaufränkisch x St.Laurent was pioneered by Dr. Zweigelt of Austria. We initially planted it in our vineyard in 1999 and we remain one of a handful BC wineries producing a varietal wine from it. Pronouncing the name can be a bit daunting but tasting the wine shouldn’t be. It’s a unique grape that offers vibrant cherry and spice aromas, a deep crimson color and firm structure that allows it age for many years. The wine is aged in Eastern European oak for 12 months, adding aromatic complexity and weight to the mid-palate.

Vineyards
Arrowleaf Estate in Lake Country
Ritchie Vineyard in Lake Country

Tasting Notes
On the bouquet it shows abundant cherry, raspberry, dark chocolate and black pepper aromas. On the palate is medium-bodied with rich fruit, spice and vanilla flavours lingering on the finish. Pair with tomato sauce based pastas, roast lamb or smoked sausage cassoulet.

Technical Details
Residual Sugar: 2.0 g/l
Acidity: 5.9 g/l
Alcohol: 13.2%
Cases Produced: 730