Moraine Estate Winery has grown exponentially since its inception in 2012. In this short period of time, the wines have received great acclaim and awards including a recent double win in Vancouver Magazine’s 2015 Wine Awards with their 2013 Riesling winning for Best Light White Wine and Pinot Noir in the Best Medium Red Wine category. Their luscious Viognier also just won a Silver medal in Finger Lakes competition in New York. What a way to start the year!
The high quality of wines being produced at Moraine are a combination of the unique terroir achieved in their sloping vineyards facing Okanagan Lake on the Naramata Bench. The soil conditions work in concert with the sunshine hours and reflection off the lake, the rest of the glory and accolades are for winemaker Jacq Kemp, whose glowing history of winemaking in New Zealand has been translated into a new legacy of great BC wines.
Proprietors Oleg and Svetlana Aristarkhov moved their family to wine country from Alberta and are enjoying their new life immensely. They are a family business, and the vineyards were lovingly named for their two daughters, Anastasia and Sophia and together they produce a beautiful range of varietals as well as the very popular and affordable Cliffhanger White and Cliffhanger Red blends as well as an icewine. Because of their ties to Alberta, Oleg enjoys being able to promote his new wines at events in Calgary when he can.
Moraine Pink Mountain Rosé
This pink beauty makes for the perfect choice to sip outside under the sun. A Malbec and Merlot blend, the nose will captivate you with its summer notes of fresh picked raspberries, strawberry jam with a twist of rhubarb. Very versatile for food pairings, it is an ideal match for barbecues in the backyard or picnics in the vineyard.
Photo: Winemaker Jacq Kemp leads a tasting in the vineyard.
~ Jennifer Schell