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Nestled below the rocky cliffs of the historic Kettle Valley Railway overlooking the sweeping majesty of Okanagan Lake ... for over ten years, Nichol Vineyard has been creating hand-crafted specialty wines from estate-grown Okanagan grapes. All red wines are barrel-aged.
The site's 5.5 acres were originally planted in 1990 and became home to the first plantings of Syrah and St. Laurent in Canada. Syrah, originating in the Rhône Valley, had become a popular variety in Australia, California, and Washington. St. Laurent was still a rare variety and almost exclusive to Central Europe, specifically Austria and the Czech Republic.
The Syrah has since garnered numerous awards and accolades at the All Canadian Wine Competition, Northwest Wine Summit, and the Canadian Wine Awards and is frequently featured in Ontario's prestigious Classics Catalogue. St. Laurent, due to its limited quantity and great popularity, is available only by preferred mailing list. The estate also produces Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir and a Pinot Gris that is widely known for its full body and brilliant salmon colour. Plans for the winery include a Pinot Grigio and Gewurztraminer from a premier high altitude site.
Ross Hackworth knows that a winemaker merely assists the wine in expressing its natural traits and the unique characteristics of each growing season. He also believes in giving his wines an extra year to age. While most wineries in the area are set to release their 2004 reds, Nichol Vineyard will now release their 2003 vintage.
From its inception to present day, Nichol Vineyard continues the hand crafted tradition of making premium, limited vintage wines. Ross's focus is to continue as a small estate winery, striving to grow world-class wines.
Website: Nichol Vineyard & Estate Winery
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