Blue Grouse Estate Winery - Pinot Noir 2023
The Blue Grouse Estate Winery has a long and varied history in Vancouver Island’s Cowichan Valley. The land was purchased in 1988 by Dr. Hans Kiltz and his wife Evangeline after a couple of previous attempts failed to raised the necessary funds to bring to fruition some commercial and experimental projects. Dr. Kiltz selected some of the varietals already growing on the property for sale to home winemakers.
During the early 1990s, Dr. Kiltz expanded the vineyards and imported vines from Germany and France, among the last to be allowed into Canada before stringent restrictions were put in place. The Kiltzes expanded the business, including building a winery.
The property changed hands in 2012 when the Brunner family acquired it. Besides revitalizing the business, the Brunners planted a new vineyard in 2017 with a focus on Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, effectively doubling the area under cultivation, which was followed by the planting of 20 additional acres where in addition to Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, the Brunners planted Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, and Gamay Noir.
The property was sold in 2022 to the Jackson family, who are now taking the estate along the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay path that the Brunner family set in motion due to the unique conditions present in the Cowichan Valley, which with its warm dry summers and mild wet winters is Canada’s only maritime influenced Mediterranean grape growing region. The Valley records sufficient GDD (growing degree days) during the Spring and Summer to provide good conditions for many vitis vinifera grape varieties, particularly those that bud late and ripen early. The Valley is in the rain shadow of the Insular Mountain Range that forms the backbone of Vancouver Island. The vineyards are surrounded by forests, have a Southern exposure, are influenced by a glacial fluvial deposit running it’s length, and are nurtured by clean air and clean well water. This exceptional site is farmed organically, with a minimum of fertilization and irrigation.
The Blue Grouse vineyard sites feature three distinct soil types: Fairbridge (silt loam to silty clay loam with elements of marine deposits); Hillbank (found on the north-east perimeter of the property with little impact on grape growing, is similar to Fairbridge, but with better drainage characteristics); and Qualicum (very gravelly sand, very gravelly loamy sand and very gravelly sandy loam all with excellent drainage).
Blue Grouse is committed to sustainable practices, starting with careful water management (run-off as well as their well water), extensive use of cover crops, composting all yard and vineyard waste, and established a nature preserve to support the local flora and wildlife.
Original: $27.55
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$9.64Product Information
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Description
The Blue Grouse Estate Winery has a long and varied history in Vancouver Island’s Cowichan Valley. The land was purchased in 1988 by Dr. Hans Kiltz and his wife Evangeline after a couple of previous attempts failed to raised the necessary funds to bring to fruition some commercial and experimental projects. Dr. Kiltz selected some of the varietals already growing on the property for sale to home winemakers.
During the early 1990s, Dr. Kiltz expanded the vineyards and imported vines from Germany and France, among the last to be allowed into Canada before stringent restrictions were put in place. The Kiltzes expanded the business, including building a winery.
The property changed hands in 2012 when the Brunner family acquired it. Besides revitalizing the business, the Brunners planted a new vineyard in 2017 with a focus on Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, effectively doubling the area under cultivation, which was followed by the planting of 20 additional acres where in addition to Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris, the Brunners planted Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, and Gamay Noir.
The property was sold in 2022 to the Jackson family, who are now taking the estate along the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay path that the Brunner family set in motion due to the unique conditions present in the Cowichan Valley, which with its warm dry summers and mild wet winters is Canada’s only maritime influenced Mediterranean grape growing region. The Valley records sufficient GDD (growing degree days) during the Spring and Summer to provide good conditions for many vitis vinifera grape varieties, particularly those that bud late and ripen early. The Valley is in the rain shadow of the Insular Mountain Range that forms the backbone of Vancouver Island. The vineyards are surrounded by forests, have a Southern exposure, are influenced by a glacial fluvial deposit running it’s length, and are nurtured by clean air and clean well water. This exceptional site is farmed organically, with a minimum of fertilization and irrigation.
The Blue Grouse vineyard sites feature three distinct soil types: Fairbridge (silt loam to silty clay loam with elements of marine deposits); Hillbank (found on the north-east perimeter of the property with little impact on grape growing, is similar to Fairbridge, but with better drainage characteristics); and Qualicum (very gravelly sand, very gravelly loamy sand and very gravelly sandy loam all with excellent drainage).
Blue Grouse is committed to sustainable practices, starting with careful water management (run-off as well as their well water), extensive use of cover crops, composting all yard and vineyard waste, and established a nature preserve to support the local flora and wildlife.
