With production now up to 4,000 cases—and each bottle of exceptional quality—Serendipity Winery is truly hitting its stride nine years after owner Judy Kingston planted the first vines. And with her team— “second in command ” daughter Katie O’Kell, vineyard manager Craig MacKenzie and winemaker Richard Kanasawa —Judy is looking forward to even more success in the coming years.
This month, Judy and Katie head eastward for “The Biggest Show on Earth”, the Calgary Stampede, where for the second consecutive year Judy will be the Stampede’s Winemaker in Residence.
“It was amazing, such an honour,” Judy says of last year’s experience. Now, with a year of experience under her large-buckled belt, she is excited to be saddling up again. With Judy and Katie will be two specially labeled wines with distinct Western themes—a cowboy sprawled beneath the synonymous Serendipity apple tree, rope looping to the back of the bottle, where it connects with a horse.
Visitors to the Naramata Bench winery can expect a number of new releases this season, including Serendipity’s 2013 vintage of their coveted Sauvignon Blanc, which is already flying out the cellar doors. And not to be missed is the fabulous food and patio friendly dry Rosé. This year’s vintage has started amazingly, with two Best of Varietal awards for the 2010 Syrah and Serenata, a Silver for the 2012 Rosé, and a prestigious Gold for their 2012 Viognier at the All Canadian Wine Championships.
Katie says the winery will come alive on Saturday, August 16 for Movie Night, when Dead Poets Society will be screened in the outdoors. Wine and pizza pairs will be featured and the gates will open at 8 p.m., with the movie starting when darkness sets in. Tickets are available at the winery – ask about the limited availability of VIP seating!
~ Lorne Eckersley