viticulture Archives - Clos du Soleil - Artisan Winery and Estate Vineyard

Introducing The Lumière Collection ~ New Lower-Alcohol Wines from Clos du Soleil

April 8, 2025

We are delighted to announce the launch of our Lumière Collection, a fresh addition to the Clos du Soleil lineup, featuring lower-alcohol wines that deliver all the flavour, delicacy, and complexity of our more traditional portfolio of wines. This collection is carefully crafted at our Similkameen winery in BC, using Washington state grapes from the […]

This collection is carefully crafted at our Similkameen winery in BC, using Washington state grapes from the 2024 vintage. In the future, when BC grapes become available, these wines will be produced within our BC VQA portfolio, as we continue our tradition of excellence in winemaking with a focus on vintage, place, and passion.

Presenting the Lumière Collection

This exciting release includes two wines, both of which stand out with just 9% alcohol and around 80 calories per serving, offering a lighter, fresher option for wine lovers:

Sauvignon Blanc 2024
Rosé 2024 (100% Sangiovese)

Sauvignon Blanc and Sangiovese grapes were selected specifically for their bold, pronounced flavours which shine through even in a lower alcohol offering, ensuring that even with a lighter profile these wines are rich in taste and complexity. Designed to taste just like traditional full-alcohol wines, but with less alcohol and fewer calories, both are dry, with bright acidity, and incredibly food-friendly, making them perfect for pairing with your favorite meals.

Whether you’re looking for a refreshing glass to accompany dinner or want to enjoy a glass or two of wine without feeling sluggish afterward, these wines are the ideal choice.

Inspired by Tradition; Crafted for the Modern Palate

Clos du Soleil’s winemaking philosophy has always been rooted in authenticity, elegance, and a deep respect for place. The Lumière Collection was born from a desire to bring those same values to a wine category where they are often absent. More than this, it is a natural extension of our mission: to tell the story of our land through wine. The Lumière Collection lets us share that story in a new way—one that speaks to both tradition and innovation.

Small-Lot, Limited Release

With our first vintage of the Lumière Collection being an extremely limited release, if you’re curious to try these unique wines, we recommend snapping them up while you can!

We look forward to sharing these wines with you, and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out at [email protected].

Read the Press Release

Introducing Clos du Soleil Washington Series Wines

March 31, 2025

As you know, 2023 and 2024 were tough years for the BC wine industry, particularly so in the Similkameen Valley. Mother Nature and her deep freezes took their toll on our vineyards and, consequently, our ability to produce wines during those vintage years. We are a tough crowd to keep down, though, and as we relayed to you late last year, we partnered with two Washington growers to ensure that we could continue to bring you the exceptional Clos du Soleil wines you’ve become accustomed to. The results of our adaptability are now here, and we are excited to release our Washington Series wines in the coming days.

First, though, here is the story of the why and how of the production process, and what these wines mean to us – and you, as part of the greater BC wine community.

Exceptional Winemaking in Extraordinary Times

Winemaking is farming, and farming is impacted by the unpredictability of weather. With the increasing effects of climate change, evident in the deep freezes of December 2022 and January 2024, we’ve had to adapt to maintain our high standards. Sourcing grapes from Washington was one such adaptation to these extreme weather conditions we’ve embraced, allowing us to continue to maintain our high standards and ability to craft wines of exceptional quality.

Made in Canada in the Similkameen Valley, Inspired by Nature

Although the grapes are sourced from Washington, where our own team oversaw the growing and harvest of fruit grown specifically for Clos du Soleil, these wines are truly crafted in the heart of BC, staying true to Clos du Soleil’s signature style. Every step of the winemaking process – from fermentation, to aging and bottling – is done in BC by our Clos du Soleil winemaking team, ensuring that the wines integrate seamlessly into our existing lineup of BC VQA wines.

Quality First, Always

At Clos du Soleil, we are unwavering in our commitment to quality. The premium vineyards in Washington share a similar terroir with BC, meaning the character and excellence of our Washington Series wines remain true to our high standards. The Washington vineyards we chose to work with, like those of the Similkameen Valley, benefit from similar landscapes, soils, and climates, which allow us to maintain consistency and excellence in every bottle. This shared terroir – with grapes “made under the same sky” as we like to think of it – means we can stay true to both our portfolio and values, in a time when there is no set roadmap to winemaking in BC.

At the same time, we see our job at Clos du Soleil as translating terroir – the unique geography and growing conditions of the grapes we work with – directly into every bottle of wine we produce. We took this same approach with our Washington grapes, ultimately producing wines which accurately tell the story of both our winemaking philosophy and the landscape just to the south of us with its subtle differences.

It is also worth noting that these grapes travelled less distance from Washington to their final home here in the Similkameen than many BC grapes travel within the province for BC VQA wines. This is in keeping with our commitment to sustainability and quality.

Sustaining BC & Canadian Wine Culture

While we pride ourselves on the beauty and uniqueness of the wines that originate from our Similkameen vineyards, bringing in grapes from Washington was a necessary interim step to ensure the continued success of both our own winery and British Columbia’s wine industry during challenging times. By purchasing these wines, please know that you are directly supporting a BC winery, its employees, and the broader Canadian wine community.

Clos du Soleil’s Washington Series Wines!

Now, all that remains is for us to introduce the actual wines to you! We have three new wines which will be released soon (and a couple of other exciting wines later on – watch this space) – with our wine club members getting first access, followed by general release a little later.

Our Washington Series includes the following wines:

Sauvignon Blanc 2024 ~ NOW AVAILABLE!
Chardonnay 2024 ~ coming soon
Rosé 2024 ~ NOW AVAILABLE

We are delighted to be able to bring these exciting new wines to you in the coming days and are confident that they will find a place in your collection, alongside our beloved BC VQA wines.

As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us at [email protected].

Clos du Soleil Partners with Exceptional Growers in Washington

September 24, 2024

It is no secret that the last two winters have been tough on BC wineries. We at Clos du Soleil have been hard at work revitalizing our vineyards in the Similkameen which have, fortunately, proven to be very resilient! In the interim, and while they continue to recover beautifully, like many of our friends in the industry we are using this as an opportunity to “pivot, pivot, pivot”! With this in mind, we are excited to announce the following…

This year, we are releasing three exciting wines with grapes hailing from Washington State: a Sauvignon Blanc, a Chardonnay, and a Rosé. To produce these wines, which will still be proudly “Made in Canada”, we began our search for the perfect vineyards early last Spring, before the growing season really started. After travelling to WA a handful of times to find the the ideal vineyard blocks for our plans, we partnered with two exceptional growers in premium regions – one in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA and another in Yakima Valley AVA. (AVA being an American Viticultural Area, indicating a designated wine grape-growing region with distinct climate and soil characteristics.)

How will this mesh with our existing lineup and winemaking philosophies?

At Clos du Soleil we specialize in terroir-driven wines that reflect the unique origins of our grapes. As such, these new wines will represent the unique terroir conditions of their origins in Washington State. At the same time, they have been made right here in our Canadian winery in the Similkameen, BC, in the Clos du Soleil style: using minimal interventionist-winemaking techniques, and the very highest-quality viticulture, to produce crisp dry wines with bright acidity and liveliness. With this approach in mind, we have chosen vineyard sites with cooler conditions and rocky soils reminiscent of the Similkameen Valley. What’s more, our winemaking team has been intimately involved in every step of the growing, harvesting, and shipping processes of the grapes grown specifically for us in our chosen vineyard blocks.

We are incredibly excited to show you what our team can do with grapes from a new region. We know these wines will resonate with you and are excited to share them with our wine club members first, followed by a wider release as supplies last. We will release more information in the coming weeks, and if you have any questions in the interim, please do email us at [email protected].

Clos du Soleil has partnered with two exceptional growers in premium regions in Washington state. Our winemaking team is intimately involved in every step of the growing, harvesting, and shipping processes of the grapes grown specifically for us in our chosen vineyard blocks.

Clos du Soleil Assistant Winemaker Michael Consolo at work in the Clos du Soleil Sauvignon Blanc vineyard block just outside Prosser, WA.

Sangiovese, to be used in our 2024 Clos du Soleil Rosé, part way through veraison.

Clos du Soleil Sauvignon Blanc harvest in Horse Heaven Hills.

Clos du Soleil has partnered with two exceptional growers in premium regions – including one in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA.

Row marker indicating the vineyard block specifically reserved for Clos du Soleil wines.

For more information, high resolution images, and questions, please email [email protected].

Exciting New Vineyard Development for Clos du Soleil

May 27, 2024

Clos du Soleil is expanding its portfolio – and its potential to bring even more beautiful Similkameen wines to your glass – with a new certified organic vineyard development. Previously a certified organic orchard, the newly named Three Winds Vineyard is currently undergoing an exciting transformation: the land is being converted into a vineyard that […]

Clos du Soleil is expanding its portfolio – and its potential to bring even more beautiful Similkameen wines to your glass – with a new certified organic vineyard development.

Previously a certified organic orchard, the newly named Three Winds Vineyard is currently undergoing an exciting transformation: the land is being converted into a vineyard that aligns with Clos du Soleil’s commitment to producing exceptional wines through sustainable practices.

Situated on the Middle Bench of the Similkameen Valley, within the town of Keremeos and just minutes away from Clos du Soleil’s original Estate Vineyard, this 10-acre property promises to showcase terroir expression and increase the winery’s potential to increase production of their award-winning wines.

The majority of the vineyard was planted this spring (2024), with Merlot and Cabernet Franc already in the ground. These carefully chosen varietals are expected to flourish in the vineyard’s gently sloped terrain, with both its location and soils ideally situated for grape-growing excellence.

The team has, however, chosen to leave a couple of blocks unplanted, allowing them options to experiment with some new varieties that could be planted in 2025. “Given the extreme weather our industry has been facing in recent years, presumably as a result of climate change, it is more important than ever that we can be flexible and innovative in our viticultural practices,” explains Michael Clark, Winemaker and Managing Director of Clos du Soleil. “Our development of this vineyard is giving us an opportunity to do exactly that.”

“The fact that this property has been farmed organically for decades is also of real importance to us – healthy living soils, which are the outcome of organic practices and thoughtful, intentional farming, are one of the keys to terroir expression,” adds Vineyard and Operations Manager Steve Roche. “Plus, starting a new operation from scratch is always exciting, as it enables us to plan and execute our vision for the property with 100% attention to detail, which will ensure the best possible fruit being produced in the future. The soils on this new development are a beautiful deep, dark sandy, loam, with a huge fraction of riverine rocks in the subsoil, enabling super deep root penetration into the soil. By achieving deeper rooted vines, we are able to extract the more subtle nuances and minerality from the soil into our wines.”

“All of these facets combine to mean that we think this site has excellent potential for unique terroir expression,” continues Clark. “Wines that are a true expression of ‘where from’ as opposed to ‘what from.’ Expressive, uniquely Similkameen – something we seek to preserve and promote in all of our wines at Clos du Soleil.”

For more information, high resolution images, and questions, please email [email protected].

Clos du Soleil’s La Côte Vineyard Now Certified Organic

April 20, 2023

Clos du Soleil is delighted to announce that their La Côte vineyard is officially certified organic. This means that all four Clos du Soleil-owned vineyards are now 100% organic, farmed biodynamically, and Biosphere Committed. Located just down the road from the Clos du Soleil Estate Vineyard on the Upper Bench of the Similkameen Valley, Clos […]

La Côte Vineyard, purchased in 2018, is now certified organic — La Côte Vineyard, purchased in 2018 by Clos du Soleil, has now achieved official organic certification

Located just down the road from the Clos du Soleil Estate Vineyard on the Upper Bench of the Similkameen Valley, Clos du Soleil purchased La Côte Vineyard in 2018. At that time, the team immediately began converting the vineyard to organic and biodynamic practices, in line with the winery’s existing viticultural methods. The process was also key to “our philosophy of producing wines which speak strongly of terroir and place, and the care we put into both our winemaking and our stewardship of the land,” says Winemaker and Managing Director Michael Clark.

Today, that persistence and vision has paid off, and La Côte Vineyard is now certified organic, which means that all four of Clos du Soleil’s owned vineyards, totaling 30 acres of vines, are certified organic.

“Organic certification is really central to our whole approach at Clos du Soleil,” explains Clark on the pursuit of organic certification. “We put a great deal of effort into producing wines of place, wines that speak of the land on which they were grown. Organic practices are a crucial part of that process by encouraging healthy soils, and healthy vines, which make for more expressive wines. I’m so pleased that La Côte Vineyard has achieved full certification now, as this recognizes the effort we make to showcase both terroir and sustainable farming practices and, ultimately, winemaking which prioritizes minimal intervention and maximum flavour in the bottle.”

Vineyard and Operations Manager Steve Roche concurs: “We are delighted that La Côte, like our other vineyards, is now certified organic as farming this way plays an important role in showcasing our commitment to the land and making sure everything we take from it is not only replaced, but made better by our practices. Organic farming is also key to preserving the character of the soils and the terroir of this unique place in our wines. Keeping the soils alive and healthy through organic farming practices allows us to extract the most delicate characteristics from these living soils in which our vines are thriving.”

In the spring of 2022, Clos du Soleil removed a cherry orchard and planted a whole new block of Syrah vines at La Côte Vineyard

More About La Côte Vineyard

La Côte, named for the steep but even slope throughout the vineyard which gives the entire plot a southward-facing aspect, is ideally located for grape growing. This vineyard also exhibits exactly the same terroir characteristics as Clos du Soleil’s other two Upper Bench vineyards: well-draining stony soils, with water-holding capacity and some organic matter. This soil composition is important to note because it is in line with both Clark and Roche’s belief that “living soils are crucial to maintaining vine health and for producing grapes that most truly represent their place,” and the similar soils, similar location, similar slopes, and similar aspect means that the grapes grown here showcase the Similkameen superbly.

At time of purchase in 2018, La Côte already boasted mature vitis vinifera vines, over 10 years in age, giving the team the ability to produce extremely high-quality fruit from this site. Since then, and in line with Clos du Soleil’s long-time focus on Bordeaux varieties, select blocks of the vineyard have been progressively converted to more Bordeaux varieties.

Today, La Côte is home to Malbec, Chardonnay, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc, with the Malbec in particular being very exciting as it gives winemaker Clark a constant source of the grapes used to make their annual sell-out Malbec Rosé. In the spring of 2022, they also recently removed a cherry orchard and planted a whole new block of Syrah vines – good news for both the winemaking team and the many fans of Clos du Soleil’s single varietal Syrah.

Why Organic Farming is so Important to Clos du Soleil

“Every bottle of Clos du Soleil wine should reflect its place of origin: where from, not what from,” explains Clark. “Organic farming helps us achieve exactly that, all while keeping the land we live and work on at the forefront of our care and ethos of giving back to the earth. The end result of farming our vineyards, including La Côte, organically, is that we are able to thoughtfully and sustainably produce wines that are elegant and age-worthy, tasting unmistakeably of the Similkameen.”

For more information, high resolution images, and questions, please email [email protected].

Clos du Soleil’s Whispered Secret Vineyard Certified Organic

May 3, 2021

Clos du Soleil is thrilled to reveal that their recently purchased Whispered Secret Vineyard in the Similkameen Valley, BC, has been granted organic certification. When Clos du Soleil added Whispered Secret to their already stellar lineup of vineyards in 2020, they continued the process of converting the vineyard to fully organic status, with this certification […]

Clos du Soleil is thrilled to reveal that their recently purchased Whispered Secret Vineyard in the Similkameen Valley, BC, has been granted organic certification.

When Clos du Soleil added Whispered Secret to their already stellar lineup of vineyards in 2020, they continued the process of converting the vineyard to fully organic status, with this certification being the culmination of a 3 year transition process. As Winemaker and Manager Director Michael Clark explains, “Organic certification is really central to our whole approach at Clos du Soleil. We put a great deal of effort into producing wines of place, wines that speak of the land on which they were grown. Organic practices are a crucial part of that process by encouraging healthy soils, and healthy vines, which make for more expressive wines. I’m so pleased that Whispered Secret Vineyard has achieved full certification now, as it is a very special property to us, and this certification recognizes the efforts we make to showcase this terroir.”

Sauvignon Blanc vintage 2020 is shaping up beautifully — Sauvignon Blanc grapes growing in Clos du Soleil’s Whispered Secret Vineyard

Special how? “Before being presented with the opportunity to purchase this secret gem, we had already been working with grapes grown here since 2014,” says Clark. Initially buying just the Sauvignon Blanc grapes from the original owners, and eventually leasing the vineyard and farming it themselves, over time Clark and his winemaking team became more and more enamoured with this secret pocket of land. Purchasing the vineyard – and converting it to fully organic status in keeping with their ideals and practices – was a no-brainer when the chance arose.

Why organic? Vineyard and Operations Manager Steve Roche puts it this way: “We believe that organic farming is a moral obligation when one becomes a steward of land. It’s endeavouring to leave the soil as a living entity, a microcosm displaying the results of years of hard work, soils that are alive with micro fauna and flora, soils that give rise to wines that show where they come from as opposed to what they come from. Whispered Secret Vineyard is one such place. With its distinctly different soil types to our other farms and its incredibly different macro climate, it gives rise to fruit that, without doubt, shows its place of origin, creating beautifully balanced, definitively Similkameen wines. The conversion to organic farming practices in this slice of heaven, and subsequent organic certification of the fruit, is an incredible feel-good scenario for myself, as custodian of this unique piece of the valley.”

Whispered Secret Vineyard in the Similkameen Valley, Bc — Whispered Secret: a stunning piece of Similkameen wineland

With Whispered Secret being the source of some of the highest quality grapes going into Clos du Soleil’s flagship Capella white wine, as well as 100% of the grapes for their late-harvest Saturn wine, and more recently their Winemaker’s Series Pinot Gris too, this organic certification ensures the ongoing quality and high standards Clos du Soleil demands of themselves, their farming, and their winemaking.

And while the secret of this 10.3 acres of grape-growing mecca is definitely out, it doesn’t make it any less worthy of whispered wonder and awe. It is a truly stunning piece of Similkameen wineland, producing unique wines that speak of both the place they were grown, and the philosophies of the people making them.

For more information, high resolution images, and questions, please email [email protected].

Clos du Soleil Acquires Whispered Secret Vineyard

September 15, 2020

Clos du Soleil is delighted to announce the acquisition of a Whispered Secret Vineyard in Keremeos, Similkameen Valley, BC. Clos du Soleil has been working with grapes grown in the Whispered Secret Vineyard since 2014, developing a deeper relationship with this vineyard over the years. Where initially the winery purchased just the Sauvignon Blanc grapes […]

Clos du Soleil is delighted to announce the acquisition of a Whispered Secret Vineyard in Keremeos, Similkameen Valley, BC.

Clos du Soleil has been working with grapes grown in the Whispered Secret Vineyard since 2014, developing a deeper relationship with this vineyard over the years. Where initially the winery purchased just the Sauvignon Blanc grapes grown here, as the years passed the team made the decision to lease the vineyard and farm it themselves. As more time passed, Clos du Soleil became more and more enamoured with this secret pocket of land. So, when the company was afforded the opportunity to purchase the entire property in recent months, they jumped at the chance to add it to their already stellar lineup of vineyards.

“For many years now this vineyard has provided some of the highest quality grapes going into our flagship Capella white wine,” reveals Michael Clark, Managing Director and Winemaker at Clos du Soleil. “In addition, it has provided 100% of the grapes for our late-harvest Saturn wine, as well as our more recent Winemaker’s Series Pinot Gris.” In short, the permanent addition of this vineyard to Clos du Soleil’s portfolio of properties brings with it the promise of an ongoing and consistent supply of the top-class fruit required to create the classic terroir-driven wines Clos du Soleil specializes in. “We are absolutely delighted to have secured this property for the future of Clos du Soleil,” says Clark. “This vineyard consistently produces extremely high quality fruit, that goes into our highest-tier wines at Clos du Soleil.”

Situated on the south side of the Similkameen Valley, on a north-facing slope close to the Similkameen River, the Whispered Secret property is geographically close to Clos du Soleil. Being on the other side of the valley, however, it has much cooler growing conditions. This makes it ideal for the varieties planted there – Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, as well as a small block of Merlot, all planted 15 years ago – as well as the style of Clos du Soleil wines. “The nature of this site produces wines with the signature Similkameen minerality and laser-like acidity that is the hallmark of our wines,” says Clark.

Clos du Soleil's newest acquisition – Whispered Secret Vineyard – lies nestled between sheer rock faces to the south and the Similkameen river to the north. — Clos du Soleil’s newest acquisition – Whispered Secret Vineyard – lies nestled between sheer rock faces to the south and the Similkameen river to the north.

What’s more, with the the property registered for organic status several years ago, and anticipated to be awarded full certified organic status following the 2020 harvest, “I believe that the transition to organic status will only increase the quality of fruit from this vineyard.”

Vineyard & Operations Manager Steve Roche agrees that the purchase of Whispered Secret is a wonderful addition to the Clos du Soleil family. In fact, he waxes quite poetic about the vineyard: “Whispered Secret has to be the most enchanting piece of vineyard land I have ever farmed,” he reveals. “Nestled between sheer rock faces to the south and the babbling waters of the Similkameen River to the north, here we have beautiful alluvial, loamy soils, with fantastic drainage, perfect for cultivating our superlative Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris.”

With the 2020 harvest already underway and looking to be quite the vintage, this 10.3 acres of stunning Similkameen wineland is no longer a whispered secret. It will, however, continue to be one of the secrets to Clos du Soleil’s winemaking magic.

For more information, high resolution images, and questions, please email [email protected].

Biodynamics in Wine: Beyond the Myth and Magic

March 19, 2019

Wine can be a magical experience. The first summer-patio sip of an icy white when the evenings turn long and the weather balmy. The soul-warming balm of a rich red on a freezing winter’s eve. The Friday-night glass of your go-to wine after a gruelling week. There is no denying there is magic there. Why […]

To be sure, there is an air of the supernatural, a sense of mystery, that surrounds the term ‘biodynamic’, especially in relation to wine, which has many rolling their eyes. We have heard it referred to as ‘dippy’, ‘witchcraft’, ‘sorcery’. It is undoubtedly a topic that tends to divide wine lovers – and wine farmers – into two hard groups: devotees and skeptics.

Here at Clos du Soleil, we fall firmly into the former of the devotee/skeptic divide. It has nothing to do with intangible myths and mystery, however, and everything to do with the health of our vines, and the health of the grapes that go into the wine in your glass – which you ultimately find so magical. Here are our ‘why’ and ‘how’ for practicing biodynamics at Clos du Soleil.

What is Biodynamics?

Firstly, let’s start with a definition of biodynamic farming. According to the Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association, biodynamics is “a spiritual-ethical-ecological approach to agriculture, gardens, food production and nutrition.” With this in mind, biodynamic wine is made with a set of farming practices that views the farm or vineyard as one solid organism – with much of the focus on the ecological, more scientific side of things.

“At Clos du Soleil specifically, biodynamics provides us with a set of tools and conceptual frameworks, with the fundamental goal of having the healthiest vines, and the healthiest soil possible,” explains winemaker Michael Clark. “It is my firm belief that the outcome is more expressive and better balanced wines. And that is at the foundation of everything we do.”

Developed by Rudolf Steiner in the 1920’s, biodynamics provides us with a philosophy of farming generally, plus a large array of practices that can be implemented in the vineyard. For us, biodynamics is about encouraging diverse life throughout the vineyard, managing the farm as an ecosystem, and harmonizing vineyard work with the rhythms of the natural world. We start by practicing organics, which we see as crucial to human health, plant health, and soil health. By adding biodynamics on top of these organic practices, we are giving ourselves an array of tools to boost the life in our farm.

Better Soil Equals Better Wine

The concept of living soil is fundamental to this. “We use natural ‘preparations’ (i.e., sprays) that we produce ourselves, to encourage soil life, and to help develop the vine’s natural balance and immune response,” explains Clark. “Two of the best known biodynamics preps, which we use regularly at Clos du Soleil, are ‘Horn Manure’ (aka Prep 500) and ‘Horn Silica’ (aka Prep 501). Both of these are prepared by filling the hollow horns of organic cows with manure, or crushed silica, respectively, and then burying them in the vineyard for several months, before digging them up and creating vineyard sprays from the contents.” Various other herbal preparations are also used in biodynamics, with composting also playing a central role.

Biodynamics at Clos du Soleil

At Clos du Soleil, our Estate vineyard is certified organic, and we have been using biodynamics close to 10 years now. Furthermore, as we have acquired new vineyards in the last couple of years, we are converting those to organic and biodynamic practices too. Why? Because, as
Steve Roche, Clos du Soleil vineyard and operations manager, expresses, “I believe everything in nature is in a fine balance… We, as farmers and winemakers, need to work with nature and the natural flow of nature as opposed to trying to control what happens. If we disturb the balance, I believe that it will come back and haunt us in the future.”

As for whether it works or not – be it by witchery or by sound ecological farming practices? Well, the proof, as they say, is in the pudding. And by pudding we mean the wine in your glass.