JAK Meyer, Janice Stevens-Meyer (and Chris Hemsworth)
There’s a saying in the wine industry among winemakers that ‘it takes a lot of beer to make good wine’. In JAK Meyer’s case, it took a few beers with a good friend to convince him to establish his own winery. A decade and a half later, Meyer Family Vineyards continues to produce among the very best wine coming out of BC’s Okanagan Valley.
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John Skinner
John Skinner didn’t have a background in wine when he established Painted Rock Estate Winery in BC’s Okanagan Valley. But like any good leader, he was smart enough to know what he didn’t know, and he made sure he surrounded himself with good people. He found a stunning property, hired one of the world’s top wine consultants, and not only is his winery thriving, Canada’s reputation as a wine-producing country is also reaping the benefits.
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The little winery that could.
Little Engine Wines takes its name from the renowned children’s story about working hard to achieve something despite the odds being against you. Proprietors Steven and Nicole French not only felt it was something they could relate to in establishing their winery, but that all of us can relate to on a personal level. The logo depicts a ladder and a moon—the moon representing a dream and the ladder signifying overcoming whatever it takes to reach it. The French’s personal motto “Dreams don’t come true, they are made true”, is proudly stamped on their corks as a further reminder to follow your own path.
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Chile’s climate provides ideal conditions for Carménère.
There are certain wine regions in the world that are known for a particular grape variety. For example, the Napa Valley is synonymous with Cabernet Sauvignon, Burgundy for Pinot Noir and Argentina for Malbec. Then there are the regions that have so many different unique micro-climates they can produce a much greater variety of high-quality wines. Sonoma is one that comes to mind with its 17 different AVAs and 259 different soil types. On a recent trip to Chile, we discovered that although it’s a place often associated with Carménère, it’s finally gaining notoriety for its quality with respect to a diverse range of varieties. For the last 3 decades, Viña Montes has been at the forefront of this transformation helping to reposition the country’s reputation worldwide both with quality and diversity.
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One of the many amazing vineyard views in Stellenbosch.
Terroir is one of those words we often hear spoken in the wine world. Most of us have a vague sense of what it might mean, though many of us would be challenged to actually provide a proper definition for it. Terroir is very important to the quality of a wine, so it is worth exploring further. In this article we will put forward our definition of terroir and describe why it is so important to the world of wine.
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