We lost another award-winning winemaker in April. Chris Jentsch was a third-generation fruit-grower with roots in the area that go back to the 1920s. He started out growing apples and cherries, and then transferred over to growing grapes.
Chris and his winery, C.C. Jentsch Cellars, won several awards for their wines over the years. The winery, located in Oliver between Roads 14 and 15 on Highway 97, is well known in the area and a must-stop location for many wine lovers.
Anyone who spoke to Chris could hear the passion in his voice when it came to farming, winemaking, his community and his family. Last year, C.C. Jentsch Cellars donated the proceeds from the sales of 100 cases of their double gold medal-winning Viognier, a total of $20,000, to the Highway to Healing Support Society.
Our condolences go out to Chris’s wife, daughters, grandchildren and friends. Rest well, sir.