Originally founded and planted by a retired tugboat captain in 2007, the 40 Knots Vineyard & Estate Winery is in now the loving hands of owners Brenda Hetman-Craig and Layne Robert Craig. The couple heard the siren’s call to the island while living in Calgary and fell in love with the stunning 24-acre vineyard. Located in the Comox Valley, overlooking the Salish Sea, the property has the largest grape vineyard in the Comox Valley and one of the biggest on the island.
The microclimate of the Comox Valley allows warmer temperatures providing a unique terroir for the island grapes to thrive. The Craig’s have chosen to celebrate the whole of the BC winemaking world by creating two distinct labels. The Stall Speed labels, a nod to Layne’s former occupation as a pilot and his love of flying, are made with Okanagan grapes whereas the 40 Knots label is created using their own island estate grapes.
“We have lots happening,” Brenda explains, “We will be bottling at the end of June and we are most excited to be releasing Ziggy, our 2014 Siegerrebe which is absolutely stellar. Along with this beautiful wine we are releasing our popular Pinot Gris, Gamay Rosé, our Uncloaked Chardonnay, and Whitecaps Blend. These are all very exciting wines from the 2014 vintage as it was most valuable weather for growing grapes and our wines are all now made by the chief winemaker of Okanagan Crush Pad, Mr. Matt Dumayne,” Brenda explains.
40 Knots has tons of fun events planned for the year – and don’t forget you can book this gorgeous venue for yourself! The property can host a party of 150. May 20th will mark the launch of their new Wine Wednesday events, each one with a unique theme, they will kick off with the Soothing Jazz Night with Sinclair and Bennett providing the entertainment of vocals, blues, folk and jazz that includes a delicious southern meal of jambalaya.”
And they are romantics too—how could you not be living on an island winery?
The 40 Knots Promise Box includes: a bottle of Stall Speed Meritage, two wine glasses, and a card to write a love note on all packaged in an antiqued Cumberland Crate. The romantic part is that couples are to write each other a note or a mutual promise, and then close the crate and open it together in the future when the wine has aged to celebrate a momentous occasion. I love this!
~ Jennifer Schell