Just as they had hoped, the mineral-rich, sloping, gravelly site of their vineyard is already having a noticeable impact on their wine, River Stone Estate Winery co-owners Ted and Lorraine Kane agree.
“Our wines have a sense of place that comes from this dusty, chalky, earthy, mineral soil,” Ted says. On a March Saturday after a two-day bottling marathon (that morphed into a team-building event by their sales rep from Lifford Wine and Spirits) Ted and Lorraine were all smiles—1500 cases of wine safely in the bottle and a new season on the horizon.
In the wine shop this month customers will find new vintages of Gewürztraminer and Sauvignon Blanc with only 60 cases each from what Ted describes as a great harvest. “I’m really happy with the wines, and I have been experimenting with different yeasts that help bring out the flavours produced by our vines.” Expect a more tropical, off-dry Splash, with notes of passion fruit and lychee, and a deep-coloured Malbec Rosé that has a hint of residual sugar to balance the tannins.
After a successful jump into the local farmers market scene last year, River Stone will continue to have a personal presence at markets throughout the area, which Ted and Lorraine see as a great opportunity to introduce their wines to a new audience. Fans of the Oliver winery will be eagerly anticipating the release later in the year of reds like Cabernet Franc and Stones Throw, a premium Bordeaux blend that includes Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon. As the winery’s reputation continues to grow, Ted promises to continue to focus on high quality and great value, a magical combination for wine lovers.
~ Lorne Eckersley