Lunessence is a new jewel on Summerland’s wine trail. An elegant tasting room sits majestically within the vineyard with spectacular views over Okanagan Lake. There is a beautiful story behind this vineyard, and the relationship that the new owners have created with Mother Nature, on every level.
“Integrated plant protection is the key in all viticulture practices at Lunessence. It combines organic procedures with economical and cultural responsibility.”
Lunessence is also implementing biodynamic viticulture into their vineyard practices. Winemaker Michal Mosny explains: “ Biodynamic viticulture that works from two poles – the energy and the earth. Understanding them makes our responsible farming truly work. Our vineyard calendar is about RHYTHMS – lunar -moon rhythms and earth rhythms. These are rhythms that sustain all life on earth. What we are trying to do, is to bring life back into the soil, so that the fruit produced from this living soil has increased life force, enhancing the quality and character of the wine.” Hence the winery’s poetic name – lune for the biodynamic moon phases and essence for the purity of the vineyard.
This special vineyard is focused on creating a harmony between its vines and soil, gently listening to the rhythms of the plants and the earth to aid in optimum growth. They are taking this care to the next level, by using music as another nurturing tool. Classical and opera music are actually being piped into the vineyard and the cellar. Lunessence has done plenty of research regarding the positive effects of the therapy of using music with plants and they have made this a priority during growth cycles as well has when the wines are in cellar resting. “Our winemaking and cellar ageing are accompanied by operas composed by Giuseppe Verdi, W.A. Mozart, Gioacchino Rossini, Ruggero Leoncavallo, Pietro Mascagni and others. Each wine requires different technique, music and feeling. This attention helps us to produce fine wines with deep character.” This is a beautiful thing.
The relationship with the earth is priority at Lunessence. “By knowing our soil, climate and winemaking, we focus on the potential in every bottle. Wines made traditionally attract their natural varietal character, they tend to be fruitier with gentle honey, cream and walnut tones. Simply put, they contain all the flavours you smell in the vineyard. They have bigger structure and bouquet with deeper complexity and taste.”
The new owner of the property is an environmental specialist that studies and advocates the protection of wetlands. He chose this particular vineyard not only because of its beautiful setting, but because it has two thriving wetlands on the property. This unique landscape allows one portion of the vineyard to be naturally irrigated without any interference from man. Scientifically, this entire property will be of interest to many conservationists as well for wine lovers and those interested in the progressive agriculture of biodynamic farming.
Michal explains, “Lunessence is starting to implement lunar calendar into all our work in the vineyard, cellar. It is a long process and it cannot be done in one year. The goal is to find well-balanced wines through well-balanced energy in us, in the winery and vineyard. Simply to understand and respect each aspect of the life and nature cycle. Not just taking, but also giving back.”
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Lunessence on the music of the vineyard:
Classical music is the thread that connects our vineyard, winemaking and our winery philosophy as a whole and we don’t take it lightly. We believe it helps us to find a balance between nature, humanity and the energy around us.
With speakers installed in our vineyard, all our estate-grown grapes listen to classical music as they grow. As we know, the life of grapes isn’t easy. By playing sensuous classical music, the wines are exposed to positive emotion and this makes their growth smoother and happier.
Our winemaking and cellar ageing are accompanied by operas composed by Giuseppe Verdi, W. A. Mozart, Gioacchino Rossini, Ruggero Leoncavallo, Pietro Mascagni and others. Each wine requires different technique, music and feeling. This attention helps us to produce fine wines with deep character.