Wine touring doesn’t get any better than this. We were toodling along Highway 97 on a sunny afternoon and turned off at the sign directing us to the winery with the intriguing crazy name. Make that Kraze (Legz) Winery. In minutes we found ourselves transported into another era as we entered into a 1920s themed tasting room and sampled wines with names reflecting the 1920s jargon (The Bee’s Knees), physical locations (Speakeasy) and dance crazes like (The Charleston). The enthusiasm of owners Sue and Gerry Thygesen, who told the Kraze Legz story to a steady stream of visitors, was reflected in the quality of their wine. Our eyebrows raised when we learned the whole shebang is a family affair, from vineyards to winery right to the design of the fanciful bottles’ labels. We were hooked–these folks know their onions!
Here are some of the estate grown, award winning wines you can expect to sample on your next visit:
The Charleston -an unoaked Chardonnay, the Speakeasy – a Rosé, the Lindy Hop–a white blend, the Cakewalk–a 100% Merlot, a red blend named All That Jazz, their reserve Bordeaux blend the Black Bottom Stomp, a Merlot Icewine playfully called Shhh… And a five medal winner, The Bee’s Knees 2012 Pinot Blanc–crisp and complex with intense notes of Granny Smith apple, ripe pear, honeydew melon and lemon zest. Enjoy on its own or pair perfectly with oysters, seafood or pasta with cream sauces.
The 2014 BC Winery Cat Calendar was a huge hit and sold out in just over 3 months. For the 2015 version, Sue is still accepting cat photos through to the end of March. Remember, you don’t need to have a winery to enter your favorite cat, so send those kitty pictures in to info@krazelegz.com.
~ Lorne Eckersley