Winemaker of the Year goes to Ann Sperling
We are super proud to announce that our Winemaker, Ann Sperling has been named Winemaker of the Year 2021 by the prestigious Cambridge Food & Wine Society and is the recipient of the coveted RIEDEL Award. In addition to our Sperling wines, Ann’s wines include Southbrook Vineyards’ Poetica and Estate series in Ontario, and those of her iconic Versado Malbec in Mendoza, Argentina. Ann’s wines are considered by international wine writers to be among the finest in their respective regions and are widely acknowledged on the world stage. Ann has consistently been one of the most enthusiastic promoters of Canada’s wine industry. She is a pioneer of organic and biodynamic wine production and has helped achieve international recognition for our country around the world.
“It’s an honour to receive this important award,” said Ann. “In our relentless pursuit of great winemaking, we have learned the high value and relevance of organic and biodynamic viticulture, and this has instilled in us a deep respect for the soil, water and ecosystems upon which great wine, and our planet, relies. I am delighted to be recognized for these efforts.”
The Society recognizes achievements made in the global wine industry and the creation of fine wines around the world. In the past, they have recognized such luminaries as Robert Mondavi, Miguel Torres, Lamberto Frescobaldi, Eduardo Chadwick, and Sandro Bottega, among others.
At the Winery
As the thermometer drops and snow blankets the valley, it’s time for quiet, calmness and dormancy in the vineyard. After their hard work through the summer and a tough harvest, our dedicated vineyard team went home to Mexico early in November. That leaves Vineyard Manager Rickard Branby to put the vines to bed. Hey… we’re a small but mighty team. The focus now shifts to the cellar, following each wine’s progress slowly towards blending and bottling. The first wine style to bottle is Pet Nat -- it actually finishes fermenting in bottle. We bottled two versions again this year: the juicy Ruby Pet Nat and the fresh Speritz Pet Nat - see the photos below. Aren’t they gorgeous sitting there in the sunshine? They’re just as tasty too!
Watch the Labyrinth...Sleep
We have enjoyed watching our Labyrinth Vineyard grow this year with you. Each monthly blog post we’ve shared the development and stages of vines and grapes, from budburst through to harvest. It’s been a journey. We can now report that its quiet in the vineyard and our work is done until pruning starts in February.
The vines continue to work distributing energetic resources like nutrients and minerals from the soil through plant tissues. While there were green leaves, photosynthesis helped built carbohydrate reserves that are stored in the woody structures of the vine - trunk and roots. The carbohydrate stores are important to protect next year’s fruiting buds during cold weather and they will fuel new growth in the spring. None of this is overly visual however the canes have changed from green and lush to lignified red and woody. Watch with us as the Labyrinth Vineyard rests for the winter in peaceful slumber.
Due to gaining popularity of our Amber Pinot Gris, and orange wines in general, we decided to make and new skin fermented wine. The Labyrinth Vidal will be introduced as “Orange Vidal”. This varietal has become Canada’s reference for orange wine, so we’re ready to throw our hat in the ring.
Holidays Special Offers
As we head into the festive season, we have two holiday wine bundles that will soon be available online, the Snacks + Starters Trio for $139 and the Dinner Party Favrouites 6 pack for $249. Watch for an email soon with more details on how to order these bundles. Both will offer free shipping!
Shipping is incredibly unpredictable right now, more so than ever to the Lower Mainland and Sunshine Coast. We unfortunately, cannot guarantee that all orders will arrive before the holidays, but we’ll work closely with our couriers and stay in touch with you. We encourage you to order as soon as possible to receive delivery in time for your gifting and festivities.
If you’re looking for recommendations on what to pair with your special dinner or for that perfect gift for the hard to shop for person on your list, please reach out via email or phone. We are more than happy to help you!
Stay tuned to our Instagram account, we will soon be releasing a local gift guide. It is more important than ever to support our local artisans, stores, creators, and businesses. We are so excited to bring you this guide with local shopping options.
Visiting the Winery
We continue to be open Thursday - Monday between 10 am and 6 pm for shopping and tastings.
Our holiday winery hours are as follows:
December 24: 10 am - 4 pm
December 25: Closed
December 26 - December 31: 10 am - 6 pm
January 1: 10 am - 5 pm
January 2: 10 am - 6 pm
January 3 - March 15 open by luck or advanced appointment made on our website.
If you’re local, we’d love to see you for a tasting soon, or when you pick up your order from our website. If you live further away, our online store is always open! And if you’re looking for that perfect gift for the wine lover in your life, our Wine Club is the answer.