Our Vineyards

"Our wines stand out because of the seasoned farmers who are dedicated to producing the best grapes possible from their special vineyard sites. We work closely with each grower and have chosen to partner with them because of their mad skills and their particular terroir. We celebrate this relationship and feel it is a real strength of our business. Their work is acknowledged on the many single vineyard designated wines that we produce."    ~Virginia & John Weber

 

Scroll down to learn about our vineyards. 

 

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OROFINO VINEYARD

The Orofino vineyard was first planted in 1989 making these vines some of the oldest in the valley. It still has some original blocks including Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Riesling and Muscat. Replacement blocks include some Merlot (1999), Pinot Noir (2002 and 2008), and Petit Verdot (2010). 2 acres of Gamay were added on our new 3 acre property adjacent to the existing vineyard. Vines are grown in sandy loam with no rocks found for at least 2 feet. After that it is all river rock and gravel. The bench is prime agricultural land and has a proven track record for growing premium grapes.

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PASSION PIT VINEYARD

This vineyard was purchased by us in the fall of 2018. 1.9 acres of the 10.45 acre Passion Pit was planted to Cabernet Sauvignon for us in 2007. The rest was an orchard and was converted to grapes in the spring of 2019. We are super excited to be able to add to the existing plantings and consider this site to be a future cornerstone of Orofino wines for years to come. It just may be the hottest site in the Similkameen Valley with perfect slope to catch the sun and backed by steep granite cliffs that capture and retain the summer heat. The soils in this site vary dramatically from the Hendsbee and Orofino vineyards that are just a stone’s throw away. Passion Pit is full of angular granite rocks and shallow soils.  A former commercial gravel pit is right beside the vineyard.What’s with the name? The remote gravel pit was named “The Passion Pit” by locals who used it as a spot for late night romantic rendezvous. Ask any local about the Passion Pit and you will likely get a shy smile or see a twinkle in their eye.

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CELENTANO VINEYARD

This picturesque vineyard a five minute walk from Orofino includes 4.5 acres of Riesling that was planted in the late 90’s. It sits on a slope with perfect aspect overlooking the whole valley. Soil is very rocky with fist-sized granite rocks scattered throughout the block. Orofino started making wine from this vineyard in 2007.

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HENDSBEE VINEYARD

Top Cawston orchardists Lee and Cheryl Hendsbee started to convert their mixed orchard to grape production in 2006. Grape varieties were chosen to maximize the site’s potential and meet Orofino’s production needs. The vineyard is right beside Orofino and it shares the same soil profile. Two to four feet of rich sandy loam sits on top of fist-size river rock and then gravel for 100 feet or more. In its infancy, the vineyard has produced exceptional, multi-award winning wines for Orofino. All of the work in the vineyard is done by the Orofino vineyard team.

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POZZA VINEYARD

Added to our family of vineyards in 2016 this is a unique and isolated site at high elevation in the cool Olalla Gap tucked around the mountain off of Highway 3A. Just 7km away from Orofino but completely different growing conditions. Less direct sunlight hours, especially in the autumn results in a cool site perfect for a dry and savoury Rosé. The site also features serious slope to shed the Olalla winds and frost and river rock soils mixed with shale and sandy loam. Unbelievable beauty and truly unique growing conditions are the hallmark of this vineyard site.

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MUTCH VINEYARD

The Mutch Vineyard is located right below us on the valley floor just a 5 minute walk from the winery. It was planted in 2010. We lease and farm the whole property. The Mutch Vineyard has rich and deep soils on top of river rock and gravel. Being on the valley floor means a higher water table and in some years we dry farm this whole site.

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RIVERBANK VINEYARD

Riverbank Vineyard, our newest partner, sits along the northern bank of the beautifully rugged Similkameen River, on the western outskirts of the Village of Keremeos, nestled among orchards, ranches and farms.

The 3.7-acre site, farmed by owners Jessica and Bart Johnson, is home to Merlot, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris vines ranging in age from a relatively young 10 years to a mature nearly 25 years.

Unique among vineyards in the Similkameen Valley, it is one of the few that lie west of the village and is the only one located right on the riverbank, where it sits atop the fluvial deposits left by ancient glaciers and riverbeds. The soil is a mix of deep sandy loam, silt, and gravel, sprinkled with smooth river stones and covered by a rich layer of organic matter – a complexity reflected in both the taste and aroma of the wines produced from the grapes grown in it.

The vineyard receives as much sun and heat as anywhere in the Southern Okanagan Valley, yet is cooler at night, due to the regulating effects of the river. The result is a balanced ripening, producing grapes that are high in sugar, fresh and aromatic.