Assisted by a small but dedicated staff, Stag’s Hollow Winery (SH) co-owners Linda Pruegger & Larry Gerelus and Winemaker Dwight Sick make coveted small-lot wines. Increased demand has generated more vineyards, more styles (15 different wines), production growth (8,000 cases) and the development of well-executed loyalty programmes.
Planting continues at their newly acquired 18-acre Shuttleworth Creek Vineyard. Varietals include Pinot Noir, Vidal, Tempranillo, Gamay Noir, Orange Muscat, and the rare Albariño and Dolcetto.
Connoisseurs can taste barrel samples of top-tier reds: 2011 Renaissance Merlot and 2011 Renaissance Pinot Noir. Advance “futures” can be purchased on the yet-to-be-bottled wines at a discount.
Spring Wine Festival Event: “Assemblage” (Saturday, May 4th)
Mix fun with education and try your hand at blending! Hosted by Sick, learn first hand how different components affect a wine. Participants create a blend that is judged; winners take their blend home to age.
2012 Syrah Rosé $19.99
This peppery, dry, food-friendly Rosé is a chef’s favourite (great with salmon!) Limited production,with 90% sold to restaurants. Visit early, or call and get on their ‘priority list’.
2012 Tragically Vidal $18.99
A consistent best seller with increasing yields. “It’s still a limited production, but we are double what we did four years ago – we might make it through to the end of the wine festival!” says Pruegger. Orange Muscat heightens and complements Vidal’s tropical flavours: an explosion of orange peel, mango, and citrus notes that Sick calls, “Vidal on steroids.” A fabulous summer sipper, it pairs well with cilantro dishes (especially Pruegger’s Creamy Crab Pasta).
~ Sarah Willard