Jul 6, 2023

On the Vine: Terralux Estate Winery is coming to West Kelowna Back to video The winery is being developed by the Minglian Holdings Ltd., a Chinese-sponsored residential developer with condominiums in the Lower Mainland, Kelowna and Seattle. Sunrise presented by Vancouver Sun Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion delivered straight to your inbox at 7 a.m., Monday to Friday. Email Address Sign Up By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails or any newsletter. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise presented by Vancouver Sun will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again Article content Owner’s representative Jordan Su is quick to point out that the group has a serious stake in the wine industry. It owns Equilux Estate Winery in Shandong province, which Decanter calls the top winemaking region in China, as well as 120 acres of vineyard land in B.C., including the established vineyard of Hugging Tree Winery in the Similkameen Valley. (The group purchased the property in 2019 and reopened it as S’milka Vista Vineyards.) The group has also considered a winery project in Oregon. An artist’s rendering of Terralux Estate Winery. Photo by Supplied by Terralux Estate Wine /PNG Minglian surrounded itself with wine industry talent to ensure Terralux launched with impressive wines. The first three vintages were made by Marcus Ansems MW, the veteran Australian-born winemaker who opened Daydreamer Wines on the Naramata Bench in 2014. The cellar has since been handed off to Kevin Rossion, a Belgium-born viticulturist who has a vineyard in Kaleden and makes wine for his label, Plot Wines. He credits his interest in wine to travelling around Europe with his grandfather, an opera singer and keen oenophile. Rossion began making wine in the Okanagan in 2010, a year after emigrating from Europe. Article content Article content Terralux, said to be a $30-million showpiece on Ourtoland Road, will be equipped with leading-edge winemaking tools. It will get grapes from the estate vineyard, from the recently planted Okanagan Falls vineyard, from the Similkameen and from select growers. A pop-up store may fill in until the tasting room opens in 2024. Terralux Estate Winery is being developed by Minglian Holdings Ltd., which has a serious stake in the B.C. wine industry. Photo by Chris Stenberg /PNG Three to try Terralux Reserve Voignier 2019 This superb wine was made with Similkameen fruit. It has stone fruit aromas and flavours and is rich in texture but bright on the finish. 92/100. ($35) Terralux Meritage 2019 Made with Similkameen fruit, this is a blend of 60-per-cent Cabernet Franc, 24-per-cent Merlot, 12-per-cent Cabernet Sauvignon and four-per-cent Malbec. The wine was aged 11 months in French oak. It begins with brambleberry and spice aromas. The berry fruit mingles on the palate with bright cherry flavours. 91/100. ($35) Advertisement 4 Article content Terralux Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 Made primarily with Similkameen fruit, this is a powerful wine, beginning with aromas of cassis, mint and cherry. It delivers intense flavours of blackberry, dark cherry and dark chocolate. The finish is persistent. 93/100. ($59) Gaining attention Low-alcohol or no-alcohol beverages are on a roll. The Poplar Grove Winery in Penticton joined the trend this spring by releasing an eight-per-cent Rosé Nouveau at $26 a bottle; I gave it a score of 90 points. Dark pink, the wine is a blend of Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir. The wine is dry, refreshing and just 85 calories in a five-ounce glass.