The GOODS from Meyer Family Vineyards

Okanagan Falls | Meyer Family Vineyards started out the year with a bang as one of only 8 BC wineries pouring their wines at an exclusive tasting event held in the UK at London’s Canada House. As a result of the exposure from the event and the amazing efforts of UK agent Ellis of Richmond the winery shipped their first pallet of 44 cases to Britain in May and a second pallet in December, which is to say that you can now find MFV wines in some of London’s best restaurants and liquor stores. In November, MFV sent their second pallet of wine to Japan for sales through wine distributor G.K Irenka. Shortly thereafter, and together with only three other Canadian wineries, they launched sales in the US on www.winebcusa.com. But it wasn’t just a great year abroad. Find out what MFV accomplished at home after the jump…

In September, Meyer Family Vineyards hosted 150 guests at the 1st Annual BC Pinot Noir Celebration & Salmon Bake with guest speakers/panelists Rhys Pender, DJ Kearney, John Schreiner, and Kurtis Kolt. The event was a huge success. Also in September, MFV Tribute Series Chardonnay was featured in Steven Spurrier’s highly esteemed column “Spurrier’s World” in Decanter Magazine and they were featured in the 7th of Wine. MFV won 5 awards at the 2013 National Wine Awards of Canada including a Platinum, a Gold, two Silvers and a Bronze and placed #10 Winery in Canada. Their 2011 McLean Creek Road Chardonnay also placed #1 Chardonnay in Canada following the 2010 Tribute Series Chardonnay being the #1 Chardonnay in Canada last year. They’ve also had two Pinot Noirs in the Top 10 at the Nationals for two years in a row.

Along with some incredible reviews from esteemed WineAlign judges, MFV’s 2011 Micro Cuvée Chardonnay landed on Anthony Gismondi, DJ Kearney, Rhys Pender & Treve Ring’s list of favourite 20 wines available in BC, only one other Canadian wine made it on to this list. MFV also had three wines featured in Icon Wines Top 25 of 2013 with their 2011 Micro Cuvée Chard placing #10 and earning 93 points. The Micro Cuvée also just landed on Anthony Gismondi & Stuart Tobe’s Top 100 of 2013 list.

2014 will be another busy year for the team at Meyer Family Vineyards. Look for them at the Wine Maker’s Dinner at Forage in Vancouver next week, at the World of Pinot in Santa Barbara, CA and the Vancouver Wine Festival in February/March.

Details

4287 McLean Creek Rd | Okanagan Falls, BC | V0H 1R1
Telephone: 250 497 8553
Web: www.mfvwines.com | Facebook | Twitter

Gallery

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photos by Henry Georgi

The People

Owners: JAK Meyer and Janice Stevens
Winemaker and viticulturist: Chris Carson
Assistant winemaker and viticulturist: Geoff Jejna
Tasting room manager: Sharon Misselbrook

About Meyer Family Vineyards

Meyer Family Vineyards, the little winery with the big reputation, now has two vineyards in the beautiful wine regions of the Okanagan Valley of BC; Old Main Road Vineyard, located on the Naramata Bench and McLean Creek Vineyard, the newest vineyard and winery on McLean Creek Road in Okanagan Falls. Nestled amongst beautiful orchards, rolling hills, crystal clear lakes, and unique micro climate, the Okanagan Valley is now home to well over 100 vineyards and is the ideal terroir for growing grapes. The same latitude as Champagne in France, the Okanagan is well suited for the Burgundy style wines that Meyer Family Vineyards is known for.

The Meyer Family

JAK (John Arthur Kenneth) and his wife Janice Stevens, wanted a place to put down roots and raise their two young daughters. They had lived in Alberta, Vancouver, the Turks and Caicos but after almost a year in Vernon they found themselves attracted to the lifestyle, the beauty, and the opportunities of the Okanagan. After years of sampling the best wines in the world, both appreciating and collecting wine, a vineyard seemed like a good fit. Three years of searching for the perfect site, led them finally to a small acreage in Naramata. With the help of a team of leading experts in Canada, they began to craft their single vineyard wines of excellence; Micro Cuvée Chardonnay and Tribute Chardonnay.

Then in 2008 they added the Okanagan Falls property which included a modest 2400 sq ft winery and another 16 acres of vines. Everything was in place for producing premium single vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir as well as a second tier label which includes Gewurztraminer, Rose and mid tier Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The new tasting room was completed in October of 2010 and plans are in place for a special events area which will be used for hosting concerts, catered dinners or just as perfect place for guests to relax, kick back and enjoy the surroundings.

Reviews & Accolades

“the best dry white wines I have ever tasted from Canada”.
Steven Spurrier, Decanter Magazine

“It’s the Pinot you bring home to Mom… the one you’ll turn to for dependable quality and Pinotranquility”
Liam Carrier, IconWines.com

“A beauty that takes Okanagan Chardonnay to a new level of elegance and complexity”
4 and a half stars, Vines Magazine

“On the palate, the fruit is lush – citrus, ripe apple, a touch of butterscotch – without any of the heaviness one sometimes finds on oaked Chardonnay. This wine is bright and fresh and also shows a laser-like purity. 92/100”
John Schreiner on Meyer 2010 Old Main Vineyard Chardonnay – Tribute Series