Wth 90-93 ratings across the board from John Schreiner in January, Serendipity Winery Owner/Winemaker Judy Kingston and Winemaker Jason Parkes have quickly made their mark since the winery opened its doors last June.
Add in a Gold Medal for the 2007 Pinot Noir, Double Gold and Gold for 2008 Serenata, Bronzes for the 2009 Viognier, 2009 Serendipity Merlot, 2009 Serendipity Cab Franc and 2009 Serendipity Syrah and it’s fair to say that the small Naramata Winery is off to a big start.
And it only promises to get better this year with the release of Serendipity’s first ever Rosé, a wine that had Judy and Jason grinning from ear to ear when they tasted it earlier this year. The exceptional fresh and fruity flavours will get a visual boost from Alice in Wonderland Tea Party design on the bottle, says Judy’s daughter and right-hand woman Katie O’Kell.
Katie is following her mom’s footsteps and heading for law school this fall but a new hire, Tanya Burton, will be soon join the team, working mainly in the vineyard and doing some winery work.
Katie said the team is excited for impending releases like Devil’s Advocate (a little play on words by former lawyer Judy), a red blend that will be priced at about $25.
“The new Sauvignon Blanc is amazing,” Katie says. No big surprise there, because last year’s production sold out in a heartbeat. “We’re continuing to make it in a New Zealand style, by popular demand,” Judy says.
Serendipity Wine Club memberships are adding more fun to the mix. With three tiers, the club has something to offer all wine enthusiasts. During the Spring Wine Festival they held their first Wine Club event, a barrel tasting and lunch. Tier 1 members get on the newsletter list and can make advance purchases of limited edition wines. Tier 2 members also get two 6-bottle shipments of selected wines a year plus other perks. Lucky Tier 3 members get three shipments a year and even more perks.
~ Lorne Eckersley