In 2017, we became the lucky stewards of Elysia Vineyard, a steep-sloped, super windy, eastern-facing site, perched on the Summerland Bench, above Okanagan Lake on bedrock and glacial deposit.
Viognier has been planted at the tippy top of this vineyard since 2006, and although it is one of our yummiest and best selling wines, these vines have been operating at about 50% efficiency for years.
This is a warm weather grape, originating from the southern regions of France. With the intense cold in our Okanagan Valley region over the last two winters, we knew these vines were going to struggle.
At the beginning of February when the snow first starts to melt, our team collects cuttings from each block to examine the health of our vines and predict yields for the coming season. A handful of plants showed promise of life, but as we moved through the rows, we were met with 95% bud loss – devastation.
After a few years of debate, we decided it was time to pull them up. This fan favourite will undoubtably be deeply missed from our portfolio.
Our Owner, Ron Kubek, says, “It’s always tough to make these calls, but it’s part of farming and the renewal process, and we will be better for it. We’re excited to start again.”
And, pardon the pun, but everything happens for a Riesling.
This spring, we will replant with Riesling, a more winter-hardy grape that will better suit this resilient block for years to come, and (fingers crossed) bequeath us delicious wines to share with you soon.
To celebrate the life of our beloved Viognier, which has graced our portfolio since the winery’s inception to it’s newest release, we’re offering the final bottles in a farewell vertical. Packs are super limited – Order here.
We hope you will savour every last sip and share with the people you love the most.
Please share your favourite memory about our beloved Lightning Rock Viognier in the comments below!
Dear Valued Members of the Wine Club,
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to each one of you for your unwavering support as members of the Lightning Rock Winery wine club. In a region blessed with numerous outstanding wine choices, we are truly honoured that you have chosen to be a part of our community.
I, along with my dedicated team, constantly strive to provide you with the best possible experience, whether it’s through your wine orders or visits to our tasting room. Your support means the world to us, and we want to express our sincere thanks for the continued connection.
The year 2023 brought its challenges, notably the severe cold in December that inflicted widespread damage across the Valley. Many wineries and vineyards faced losses ranging from 50-100%. Some even had to uproot entire vineyards due to trunk splitting caused by the cold. Subsequently, the Summerland Rock Slide and West Kelowna Fires disrupted the flow of visitors to the Okanagan.
Amid these challenges, there has been a noticeable trend of wineries closing or transitioning to grape-only operations. However, I am delighted to share some positive news. Sebastien and his team performed admirably in the vineyards and the winery. Despite the adversities, our own vineyard production was down by only 18%, a feat that many industry peers have commended as impressive given the circumstances.
To bolster our production, we incorporated fruit from several vineyards Sebastien had worked with previously, resulting in a 50% increase in overall wine production. We’ve introduced exciting new varietals, including Chenin Blanc, a Reisling, Cabernet Franc, and, of course, the familiar favourites you’ve come to associate with Lightning Rock Winery.
These times in the BC Wine industry are marked by uncertainty, with external pressures such as significant wine imports affecting prices. Your commitment to “Buying BC” is genuinely appreciated, and it fuels our determination to craft wines that you love.
As we navigate these challenges, we remain committed to offering you exceptional wines. Looking ahead, we are refining our tasting experience for the upcoming year, introducing changes we believe you will appreciate. Despite facing increased material and labour costs, we are dedicated to maintaining our current pricing structure as we understand the financial challenges in our current climate.
In conclusion, I want to express my gratitude once again. We sincerely appreciate your orders this month and perhaps even more as the holiday season approaches. Should you have any questions or require assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out. Your continued support and patronage mean the world to me as the owner, and to our Lightning Rock family.
Thank you,
Ron
P.S. If you’re in the area, consider picking up your wine shipment and joining us for Light up the Vines (insert dates here). Our team has been hard at work decorating the winery with enchanting lights, and we look forward to hosting you and your friends starting November 8.
1. Wine Club: We’re preparing a wonderful collection of wines for the September 2023 wine club pack. If you’re not in the club, you may be missing out on cool club exclusives only offered to our members, like the newly released 2021 Elysia Vineyard Syrah. There are only 50 cases made annually of this delicious limited wine. Join the club and one of these rare bottles will be all yours in this pack!
2. Vineyard:This is the busy time of year for us! Our team is leaf-pulling around the clusters of fruit to give our grapes the last bit of sun exposure they need to ripen. A very warm summer has resulted in high sugars in the grapes and an early start to harvest 2023. On August 21st we picked Gamay for sparkling wine from Trestle Beach Vineyard in Summerland. We even had some of our wine community join us for an impromptu foot-trod. Check it out!
3. Cellar: We bottled our newest vintage of 2022 Canyonview Vineyard Chardonnay. Another few months of rest in the bottles and this wine will be ready to share! After bottling, our team has been scrubbing the cellar, tanks, and deep cleaning the barrels so the crushpad is ready to receive fruit. Our Vigneron, Seb, is now making sample wines from randomly selected grapes throughout each vineyard block, to test the acid, sugar and flavour development. This will help determine the best picking date.
4. Wildfires: The central Okanagan-Similkameen is experiencing a surge of wildfires. While our winery is not directly affected, there are many throughout BC still facing the impact of ongoing wildfires and just beginning their recovery ❤️🩹
We are so grateful to the firefighters and emergency response teams protecting and caring for our community. We encourage everyone to please continue to respect Emergency Orders and travel-bans, keep the roads clear for emergency response operations and donate where you can.
5. Bubbles and Oysters:We had planned to pair 2021 Elysia Blanc de Noirs with our friends at Naramata Inn’s own Eliza Wine Bar, one of Canada’s Best Bars as voted by Canada’s 100 Best, for a bubbles and oysters night on August 25th. Due to the impact of the wildfires, the event has been postponed until September. No reservations required. Join the newsletter for updates.
6. Partnerships: If you’re in North Vancouver and looking for a coastal delight, stop into The Gull Bar and Restaurant to try our 2021 Viognier, by the glass. psstt, they offer happy hour 3-5pm.
7. Song and Snack: Our last evening this summer of cosy live music by Aaron Loewen, and food truck treasures from pitmasters at Summerland Smoke Shack will be hosted on September 29th. Order tickets here.
8. Last Drop:We are now down to the last couple cases of your favourite wines! We will not be holding library on these wines so this is the very last drop. If you love them, be sure to order a couple bottles and enjoy!
2020 Canyonview Pinot Noir
2020 Elysia Pinot Noir
2022 Pinot Noir Rose Pet-Nat
9. Tasting Room:We are open until October 10th from 11am to 4pm daily for tastings. This time of year, as harvest kicks off, it’s a fantastic time to visit. Since we are small, you can see the live action on the crushpad only a few feet away. If you are keen to dive in and help, we welcome guests to join us for 1 day each season to pick fruit. Reply to this email and we’ll add you to our Harvest Mailing List for dates and details.
10. Donations:We love to support our wine-loving communities and their initiatives. If you need a donation for a special event, charity or auction. Please reach out to us to learn more!
Let’s Connect: Take a peak into our cellar activities, follow us through the season of vineyard work and be the first to learn of exciting new releases, events and partnerships. Follow us on social media @lightningrockwinery
1. Wine Club: We made only 29 cases of a super special wine to share with club members in their June 2023 pack. This project, a combination of two sparkling winemaking styles, is 2 and half years in the making. If Traditional Method and Pet-Nat had a love child, the 2021 Trad-Nat would be it. If you want to get your hands on this micro-lot be sure to join the club before June 19th!
2. Vineyard: Budbreak began slowly, but as our vines saw their first glimpse of sun, May became a month of rapid growth. Shoots are already reaching for the first wire as we thin them, and we are starting to see the first flowers form on our baby clusters. The healthy green foliage has returned to the vista, and native flora dance in our breezy slopes at their feet. The team spent a week spreading compost along the trunks of each vines to help boost microbial life after a cold winter and revitalize the health, structure and water retention of our soils.
3. Cellar: Seb and the cellar team tasted, blended, racked, scrubbed and on May 15th and 16th welcomed the Artus bottling truck to the winery to bottle up our 2022 vintages. We revamped the wine labels to include vineyard names on the front of the bottles, which you will see next year as these new treausres are released. Stay tuned!
4. Releases: We have brand new releases this month. Check them out: 2021 Chardonnay, 2021 Viognier, 2022 Rose, and 2022 Sauvignon Blanc Pet-Nat
5. Congratulations: Our team was delighted and honoured to host the first wedding of the season mid-May for one of our dear club member Lori McDowell’s daughter and, now, son-in-law. A sweet ceremony of 115 guests gathered among the vines unravelled into a wholesome but wild winery after-party. The day was filled with love and mirth, a full and exuberant dance floor, and a cake so stunning it would make even the most steel-hearted person cry tears of real joy. Congratulations on your nuptials Meghan and Drake! We wish you every happiness in your marriage and life together and we can’t wait to pop bottles on your anniversary!
6. Partnerships: Our 2021 Viognier had a second course spotlight on a noteworthy Asian Heritage Dinner in Vancouver the last week of May. The coastal-inspired menu was brilliantly designed by Wine Director Anna Collard and talented Chef Deseree Lo of the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts. Stay tuned to @PICAchef. They will also be spearheading a cool new pop-up on Granville Island that is set to feature our 2022 Rose Pet-Nat.
7. Events: The next event coming up is the Summer Solstice Social on Wednesday, June 21st. Come join us mid-week for wine, lawn games, fire and an open-air movie on the lawn paired with bougie popcorn made by the creative minds from Cocktails and Canapes. Order tickets here: /product/Solstice-Party-Ticket
8. Ciao Bella: Ron and Tracy are overseas, exploring central Italy’s famous wine regions, expanding their palates, gathering new ideas for our winery and sharing Lightning Rock library wines with fellow connoisseurs. If you miss Tracy’s contagious laugh and Ron’s quick wit as much as we do, come by the winery for a tasting mid-June and give them a warm welcome home.
9. Tasting Room: Electric screens were installed around the tasting room patio. Their design ensures everyone can see out to the picturesque view and mother nature’s wonderf, but they will help keep the wind and sun at bay for a more enjoyable sipping experience.
10. Let’s Connect: Follow us on social media! Take a peak into our cellar activities, follow us through the season of vineyard work and be the first to learn of exciting new releases, events and partnerships. @lightningrockwinery