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Photos by Tina Baird
KVW2
View from Kettle Valley Winery
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Photos by Tina Baird
Early Farming
Brothers-in-law Bob Ferguson and Tim Watts, preparing their first vineyard for planting in the mid 80s.
You never know how far you can go when you decide to make wine in your apartment. Such was exactly the case when brothers-in-law Bob Ferguson and Tim Watts, who wanted to grow grapes as a hobby, decided in 1986 to buy a small piece of land on the Naramata Bench to get started.
The owners of what is now Kettle Valley Winery thought premium grapes could be grown in the Okanagan, “far better than anything we had been able to purchase locally,” they say. “We believed Naramata was a premium growing area due to the South Western exposures and proximity to Okanagan Lake, which would moderate frost risk in the spring and fall.”
Photo by Tina Baird
Kettle Valley Winery
Bob Ferguson and Tim Watts at Kettle Valley Winery
Bob and Tim obtained the third winery licence on the Naramata Bench and by 1991 had accumulated more than 4.5 hectares of grape growing land. The first vintage was 44 cases of Pinot Noir in 1992. When they opened the doors to their tasting room, they were only the fourth winery on the Naramata Bench and only the 23rd in BC. As Bob and Tim head into their 25th harvest season Kettle Valley Winery is the oldest single-owner winery on the Naramata Bench.
Bob, a chartered accountant, and Tim, a geologist, never actually thought about being in the wine business a quarter century after they started. They were just thrilled with the prospect of growing grapes and making wines in Naramata.
“We would emphasize that winemaking is farming and that comes with all the risks associated with farming, and it is physically hard work,” emphasizes Bob.
“You have to be passionate about what you are doing and enjoy the ride,” adds Tim.
There has to be a good chemistry between partners like Bob and Tim to keep working together for twenty-five years at Kettle Valley Winery. Bob, a chartered accountant, brings a business driven focus while Tim, the geologist, brings earth science to the mix.
“We share a similar palate when it comes to wine enjoyment, so style has been easy,” says Tim. “We make wines the way we like to drink them.”
Bob wryly adds, ”Being brothers-in-law keeps us somewhat grounded by our spouses.” But he also comments, “Every year we learn something new. Tim has a tremendous understanding of earth science which helps in deciding which grapes should be planted in specific areas.”
The Birth of Great Northern Wines
“We had been looking for a few years for a place to plant Zinfandel grapes,” says Tim. In late 2008, they located a property in the Similkameen that they thought would be a great site. And by coincidence the property was adjacent to the Great Northern Railroads right-of-way running through the Similkameen Valley.
“We were drawn to the land,” explains Tim. ”The soils were gravelly, large river rocks covered by sandy silt. And the property was much hotter than our Naramata vineyards sites and we felt therefore a good candidate for our Zinfandel.”
In 2013 Kettle Valley launched their Great Northern Vineyard series of wines. Tim’s son Andrew came back to the winery after stints in New Zealand, Chile, France, and Nova Scotia, started making Great Northern Wines in 2013 and assumed responsibility for all vineyard operations in 2014.
The Great Northern Vineyard is owned by Bob’s and Tim’s spouses, Colleen Ferguson and Janet Watts.
Reflections Over the Years
Kettle Valley Winery, a founding member of the Naramata Bench Wineries Association, now produces 10,000 cases a year from 28 acres on the Naramata Bench and 14 acres in the Cawston / Keremeos area. Currently Kettle Valley has a portfolio of 25 wines.
Kettle Valley is very conscientious about environmental sustainability and has developed a water management system that reduces their net water usage in the winery to about 20% of what is used in an average residence. Kettle Valley also installed its own weather station in 2014, as another step to work the best way they can with nature.
It might be hard to believe, but Tim and Bob have two favourite Kettle Valley wines that consistently stand out for them.
“Each year it seems like different grapes shine, so year in year out it is hard to pick the same wine,” says Tim. “Two wines that stand out most years for both of us would be the Hayman Pinot Noir and the McGraw Vineyards Merlot.”
“Both wines are farmed at very low tonnage, totally under our control,” agrees Bob. “These wines show intense varietal character, soft tannins, and both have shown the ability to hold that character as they age.”
Bob and Tim both feel that over the years they have stayed true to their initial goals of being a small family-owned and operated winery, with both maintaining a hands on involvement in the winemaking. They’re very appreciative of the long standing relationships with wine consumers, restaurants, and wine shops, all of whom have been their customers and have become their friends.
Check the website kettlevalleywinery.com for seasonal tasting room hours and information on wine releases and events.