2013 has been a fabulous year for us,” says Judy Kingston, owner of Naramata’s Serendipity Winery.
Fabulous? How about being named BC’s Winery of the Year at the prestigious New York International Wine Competition in June? Or, before the end of July, having hauled in 22 medals from wine competitions—one for each wine entered? Or finally having sufficient production to get the multi-award-winning Devil’s Advocate red blend into BC Liquor Stores? Or adding highly regarded Richard Kanazawa as consulting winemaker on what is shaping up to be an all-star team?
Kanazawa brings years of experience to Serendipity, and he shares Judy’s vision of creating Old World-style wines from the maturing vineyard that surrounds the winery. He joins Craig MacKenzie, who now oversees farm operations, and June Stewart, who manages the wine shop, freeing up Judy’s daughter, Katie O’Kell, to look after paperwork and focus on her UC Davis winemaking studies.
“I’m pretty much always behind the wheel now,” Judy laughs. “If I’m not out on the road doing sales and promotion I’m on the tractor!”
Serendipity had its first exposure at the Calgary Stampede in July, with Judy staying and pouring her wines during the entire 10-day event that left her raving about the city’s sense of community. There, thanks to the help of Town Hall, Vancouver-based business consultants, she was featured on the CTV News and in the Calgary Herald.
“I felt so welcome there, and I am thrilled that we have already been invited back for 2014.”
The rest of 2013 promises to only get better, with September seeing the release of four 2010 reds—Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot-Cabernet Franc-Syrah, Pinot Noir and the always popular Serenata, a Bordeaux blend.
“All of these amazing things are happening to us,” says Katie. “Everything is really coming together.”
“We feel like we have really arrived,” Judy echoes.
~ Lorne Eckersley