The team of Matthew SherLOCK and Ross HackWORTH are Lock & Worth Winery in Naramata. The two also work together at Ross’ other winery Nichol Vineyards but for this venture, the goal is to make ‘honest, single vineyard wines of time and place – priced for everyday consumption’. Sourcing some of their grapes from Gitta’s vineyard, their repertoire includes: a Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon blend, Semillon, Cabernet Franc Rosé, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Gitta Pedersen is also a farmer and proudly tends the vines in her vineyard coaxing them into perfection
The wines are all single vineyard production and winemaking style is natural, ‘hands-off’– whole cluster pressed, unfined and unfiltered and using natural ferments with no added yeasts. As Matthew says regarding the possibility of sediment in the bottle –“it’s OK!”
The quality of winemaking matches that of their partner, Gitta Pedersen and her cheese-making ethic. World-class cheeses created by this innovative artisan and her team, ‘the cheese gals’, are paired perfectly with Lock & Worth wines available in the cheese & wine shop at Poplar Grove Cheese. Gitta says, “We are looking forward to reopening the shop for the Okanagan Spring Wine Festival, when we will release our first of the year, long awaited batch of “Harvest Moon” Cheese for the Festival. Our visitors will be able to enjoy a picnic overlooking Okanagan Lake savouring Lock & Worth wines with PG Cheeses and delicious sourdough bread from Barefoot Breads.”
Also, we are offering cheese making classes on site, please contact the Louise Pearson, PG Cheesery for details and dates. (www.poplargrovecheese.ca)
~ Jennifer Schell