The GOODS from Lake Breeze

Naramata, BC | Garron Elmes, President and Winemaker at Lake Breeze Vineyards, is pleased with the number of awards received this year for Lake Breeze wines, including the recently announced BC Wine Awards where the winery received GOLD for the Seven Poplars Merlot; SILVER for 2012 Rosé; and five BRONZE for the 2012 Viognier, 2010 Seven Poplars Pinot Noir, 2011 Meritage, 2012 Pinot Blanc, and the NV Muscat.

Garron comments, “I am especially pleased this year with the recognition of our new wines, the 2012 Windfall won GOLD at the 2013 Northwest Wine Summit and the NV Muscat which just won BRONZE in its first competition. The Fortified Muscat was the successful result of an idea and an experiment which started 5 years ago; our 2012 Windfall which we introduced this year has been a great success and we will be continuing to include this wine in our portfolio; and the 2011 Meritage reached our goal of five varietals in this vintage’s blend.”

Lake Breeze is in the middle of harvest. Garron comments, “After a challenging start to the 2013 harvest, due to some terrible weather, it is turning out to be one of the best vintages that I have seen. An early start has allowed us to take our time and pick each variety at optimal ripeness. I am extremely excited about the quality of the wines this year.”

Check out the new Lake Breeze Tempest Wine Club at http://www.lakebreeze.ca/the_tempest_club/.

Details

930 Sammet Road, Naramata, BC, V0H 1N0.
Telephone: 250-496-5659
Web: www.lakebreeze.ca | Facebook | Twitter

Gallery

KEY PEOPLE

General Manager: Launa Maundrell
Wine Maker: Garron Elmes
Chef: Mark Ashton
Wineshop Manager: Ginette Schirrmeister

About Lake Breeze Vineyards

Lake Breeze Vineyards is located in Naramata, British Columbia, 12 kilometres north of Penticton on Naramata Road in the south central Okanagan Valley. It was built in 1996 and named Lake Breeze for the winds that blow across the bluffs year round. The first vines on the property were planted in 1985, making them some of the oldest on the Naramata Bench. The mature vines, coupled with a predominantly westerly aspect ensure plenty of sun exposure and ideal ripening conditions.

Lake Breeze was the first winery to plant and make wine from Pinotage, a native South African variety created from a crossing of Pinot Noir and Cinsaut. Although production is extremely limited, this remains a wine of which we are extremely proud. The current owners purchased the property in 2001 and since then have grown the operation from less than 3,000 cases a year to over 10,000.

At Lake Breeze we believe that our wines should be an experience encompassing the property, the people, the vines, the dog, as well as the wines themselves. We try to create a connection to the place that can be experienced each time you open one of our wines – no matter where you might be.

RECENT AWARDS

Best Red Wine of The Year at the All Canadian Wine Awards with its 2008 Tempest. Lake Breeze also won Gold for its 2011 Semillon; two Silver awards for its 2011 Seven Poplar Sauvignon Blanc and 2009 Seven Poplars Pinot Noir; and two Bronzes for its 2011 Pinot Gris and 2011 Pinot Blanc.

At the Northwest Wine Summit, Lake Breeze was honoured to receive the Gold Award for its 2011 Seven Poplars Sauvignon Blanc. The winery was also thrilled to accept three Best of Varietal Awards at the Okanagan Spring Wine Festival for its 2011 Pinot Blanc, Semillon and Gewürztraminer. As well they were finalists at the Festival in the Pinot Noir, Sparkling and Sauvignon Blanc categories.

The Globe, Sept 6, 2012, Kasey Wilson – Lake Breeze Seven Poplars Pinot Noir 2009, BC VQA Okanagan Valley $25, Despite what many say, some of the best Canadian wines are underpriced. Take winemaker Garron Elmes’ soft, fragrant Pinot Noir, which over-delivers with an appealing dryness (as opposed to sweetness in most inexpensive pinots) and a lush texture. This is a mouthful of beguiling red fruit, sourced from older vines on the Lake Breeze vineyards in Naramata and a young planting in Summerland.