Lucky Third Red Strike for Road 13 Vineyards
Road 13 Vineyards is pleased to announce receipt of the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in British Columbia Wines for the third consecutive year. The winning wine, the 2006 5th Element Red (CSPC 45922, $35.99), is available at the winery, VQA Stores, private wine stores, select fine dining restaurants across BC and in Alberta. Road 13 Vineyards has previously received this award for their 2006 Black Arts Syrah and 2005 Black Arts Pinot Noir, making this the third red wine in as many years to be recognized.
The 2006 5th Element is a blend of 38% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Franc, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Malbec and 6% Petit Verdot. The Merlot grapes came from the Golden Mile side of the valley while the rest of the blend originated from the Black Sage Bench. All of these were farmed meticulously and harvested in excellent condition. All lots were kept separate at the crush pad to keep blending options open later on. The fermentations were generally typical with no extended macerations or unusual winemaking techniques – just good honest practices and attention to detail. The barrels used were almost exclusively new through three year-old thin stave medium and tight grain Chateau Ferre and blending was conducted in June 2008 with bottling done the following month.
The news of Road 13’s latest Lieutenant Governor’s award reached winemaker Michael Bartier in the cellar while he was completing the final bottling run for the 2007 reds. Excited about this honour and challenged to continue creating high quality, critically acclaimed wines, Bartier muses on the winery’s most recent vintage, “I am really happy with the way the 2008 reds are shaping up. What I find even more exciting is how the well the 2005 and 2006 reds are drinking now and their cellaring potential over the next decade.” He continues, “I believe the capabilities of South Okanagan Valley reds for aging are just now coming to the forefront and this is great news.”
Originally known as Golden Mile Cellars, Road 13 Vineyards took its new name in recognition of the winery’s specific place within the larger premium growing region of the Golden Mile. Road 13 identifies the winery with its purpose – to express the utterly unique sense of place that is reflected in every aspect of Road 13’s winemaking process.
The winery is located six kilometres south of Oliver, BC, at Highway 97 and Road 13. Owners Pam and Mick Luckhurst purchased the winery in 2003 and moved from Vancouver Island to the Okanagan Valley seeking a simpler life. Winemaker Michael Bartier produces 15,000 cases of wine annually in three distinct tiers: Honest John’s, Road 13 white and red varietal wines, and a premium series called Jackpot. Says Bartier: “We’re on a mission. It starts with our terroir, focusing on the land, the site and the soil profile. Our viticulture practices then guide the wines to express their natural growth and characters,” he continues. “The mission’s goal is then in sight – to provide the winery with the absolute best quality we can convince the vineyard to give us.”
The Luckhursts own and farm 34 acres of vines: the Castle and Home vineyards, adjacent to the winery, and the Rock Pile Vineyard on Black Sage Road. The winery is open April through October, otherwise by appointment. Exclusive barrel room wine tastings are also available by appointment for groups up to ten. For more information or to join the Road 13 Cellar Club, contact the winery at 250.498.8330 or visit www.road13vineyards.com.
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ROAD 13 VINEYARDS
13140 316A Ave
Road 13 RR1 S-28A C10
Oliver BC V0H 1T0
P: 250.498.8330 F: 250.498.8331
winery@road13vineyards.com
Road 13 Vineyards
