We offer a quality product for a moderate price,” says Hazel Manzer, co-owner of Larch Hills Winery with partner Jack. “It’s best value for the dollar — a distinct, hand-crafted wine for an average of $15 per bottle.”
And what a value Larch Hills wines are. In existence for 16 years, this high-elevation winery, just south of Salmon Arm in the Shuswap, produces 18 different types of wine from grapes grown in the cool climate vineyard or contracted from others further south in the Okanagan Valley. “We have varieties not generally available in other parts of BC and we think this makes our wines unique.”
Popular Larch Hills wines include signature white Ortega, Siegerrebe (sold out), Madeleine Angevine and Madeleine Sylvaner, Riesling as well as reds Marechal Foch and Merlot (sold out).
Among many of Larch Hill’s award winners over the years, wines came back from the Northwest Wine Summit 2012 last spring with 11 medals – a Gold, 5 Silvers and 5 Bronze.
Siegerrebe 2010 reaped the Gold. The 2007 version, incidentally, won accolades as the Best White Varietal in the Okanagan at the 2009 Spring Wine Festival.
Never mind that it’s almost impossible to find a bottle of Larch Hills Siegerrebe anywhere right now – more of the fragrant white varietal is coming. “We don’t even have one here at the winery,” says Hazel. “One of our clients called us to say he found one last bottle at the BC Wine Museum in Kelowna.”
Sold out wines will be available in spring.
~ Dona Sturmanis