SUMMERLAND, British Columbia — The word winery is perhaps a misnomer for this wild, rustic and environmentally immersive experience above Summerland, British Columbia.
Yes, there are wines produced under a “less is more” philosophy by New Zealand native Matt Dumayne. But to paraphrase a Broadway musical, chicks and ducks may scurry as you make your way over the unpaved road to Garnet Valley Ranch, a 130-hectare (320 acre) site at nearly 600 meters (2,000 feet) altitude under the portfolio of Okanagan Crush Pad.
“It is unobtrusively there,” explains co-founder Christine Coletta. “It’s not slick. We are preserving the integrity of the land, and we want people to come explore, discover and become passionate about regenerative farming.”
Case in point for Great Northwest Wine’s British Columbia Winery to Watch — the chickens and ducks have been joined by a bevy of fauna.
A recent restoration effort rejuvenated an on-site pond, now stocked with trout, bringing animals back to the property — from great horned owls to other birds of prey, to songbirds, to land creatures; bears, deer, coyotes, and the odd cougar.
A heron and osprey are regular visitors to the pond, and more than 75 species of birds have been identified as part of an inventory of wildlife. Chilean terroir consultant Pedro Parra designed 15 unique vineyard blocks, each fenced separately, allowing freedom to roam.
Since the property was purchased in 2012, the focus at Garnet Valley Ranch has been to preserve the land, ensuring that the majority of the site remains in its pristine, natural state. In addition to vineyards, there are field crops tended by LocalMotive Farms, cultivating organic vegetables that supply local chefs and fruit stands, the Okanagan Valley Oasis Lavenders cooperative and a thriving beehive.
“We try not to get too close to the bees,” notes Coletta, but guests can explore the ranch in other ways, always with a guide at the helm.
Garnet Valley Ranch farming fits agri-tourism
Of course, with its name, there is the option to gently wander on horseback, thanks to the neighboring stable at Wildhorse Mountain Ranch. Electric bikes will be available this coming season, and an e-golf cart can ferry the small groups — the limit for any booking is six — of visitors around in comfort.
A walk-about hike would be ideal for many, and the end of an excursion, no matter the method, finishes with a wine tasting at the Outlook Visitor Centre, which offers panoramic views of the South Okanagan.
This small, artisanal winery tasting area is one of very few structures at Garnet Valley Ranch, a deliberate choice in keeping with both preserving biodiversity and minimal intervention in winemaking.
The two premium wine portfolios, Free Form and Garnet Valley Ranch, begin with organic grapes. Coletta describes them both as “wholly unique.”
Concrete fermenting and aging tanks from Italian company Nico Velo, as well as clay amphorae, play a role, while various winemaking additives do not. The winery depends on healthy grapes, indigenous yeasts and occasionally, neutral French barrels.
The Free Form by Okanagan Crush Pad collection is available for tastings, and generally includes a blanc de blanc sparkler, Riesling, Cabernet Franc rosé, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The Garnet Valley Ranch portfolio focuses on cool-climate wines made from the highest-elevation vineyard in the Okanagan Valley, with a nod to sparkling wines. The on-site vineyards are primarily planted with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes.
Dumayne, in his second decade as Okanagan Crush Pad winemaker, and his team allow the grapes to tell the story of the pocket terroir that is Garnet Valley, as does a welcome new neighbour, Solvero Wines, led by winemaker Alison Moyes.
“We’re so thrilled to have another winery committed to authentic wines of place,” Coletta says.
In fact, the three entities at the Ranch have joined with Solvero and Grape Escape Guest Cottage to create the Garnet Valley Agri-Tourism Association, dedicated to expanding the responsible use of land in Garnet Valley. Coletta’s partner, Steve Lornie, is involved in this project.
“We need diversity,” Colletta says. “We need all shapes and sizes, and people will be impassioned by visiting unique places, not only a tasting room.
“We need to do what we can with the land we have for the next generation,” she adds. “And that’s not just for my kids, that’s for a younger generation of winemakers just starting out.”
Coletta spent nearly a decade as the first executive director of the BC Wine Institute and helped establish the Vintners Quality Alliance program. With the Garnet Valley Ranch project, the commitment to a sustainable future is evident: The company joined International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA), making it the first and only Canadian winery, so far, to do so. IWCA is available to any winery from any country.
Garnet Valley Ranch parent Okanagan Crush Pad has been accepted as an applicant member. Having completed a base line audit, the task now is to meet reduction requirements and become a silver- or gold-level member.
Coletta points out that Garnet Valley Ranch not only tells a tale of winemaking, but also where our food comes from.
“It’s not just a store. Come see it here,” she says.
Rumour has it the farm grows the most delicious carrots found anywhere. When in season, some may end up on the complimentary charcuterie plate that accompanies a wine tasting.
Unconventional, quiet and surrounded by hills and mountains, the property could almost be called pastoral. The experience is certainly unlike most to be found in the Okanagan, and the wines are likely to be very intriguing for fans of Okanagan wines.
A certified organic site, Garnet Valley Ranch is open by appointment only from mid-June to mid-September from Wednesday to Saturday. And in keeping with its rugged serenity, only three private tour groups are available per day at specific times.
- Garnet Valley Ranch/Okanagan Crush Pad, 16576 Fosbery Road, Summerland, British Columbia, Canada, v0h 1z6, OkanaganCrushPad.com, (250) 494-4445.
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