When Bill Montgomery set out to develop his property into a winery back in 2004, he had no idea how incredible the journey would be.
Now, with a full-time winemaker, vineyard manager and marketing director on board, 40 Knots is setting out to expand their production and move ahead in the industry.
For the past six years, Montgomery and his team at 40 Knots Estate winery have been growing and producing some fine local wines.
This summer, they launched the opening of their tasting room to visitors from all over the world. Just last month they released two new wines, their 2011 rosé and their first white blend Whitecaps, which is a delightfully fruity blend of Pinot Gris and Schoenberger.
Just off Anderton in Comox, the winery is set upon 24 lush acres of land, 20 of which are currently planted with Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Gamay, Schoenberger, Siegerrebe, and Auxerrios.
Up until this year, all of 40 Knots wines have been completely estate grown and that comes as a pleasant surprise to most Valley residents. Even though it can present some challenges, winemaker Natasha Ponich believes that wine can truly possess a sense of place and that we are not just growing grapes here, but that we are capable of growing great wines.
2011 was their first foray into buying grapes from local growers and the result has been stunning. In October, they released their first white blend, 2011 Whitecaps, a delicious juicy combination of Pinot Gris and Schoenberger, and at the end of this month, they will release their first sparkling wine Spindrift Brut, which has been two years in the making.
In August, 40 Knots Estate Winery opened their tasting room to the public and the response that was incredible.
“It was great to see neighbours and friends bumping into one another and sharing some wine,” says marketing director Marnie Martin.
This December, they are opening their retail wine shop with a focus on specialized wine-related gifts and the idea was to create a place for friends and family to gather over the holidays, shop, and to taste some incredible wine, all in one afternoon.
“There is so much we want to do here at 40 Knots,” says Marnie. “This is just one step in our evolution and this spring and summer are sure to bring many more surprises.”
The tasting room and wine shop will be open every Saturday and Sunday in December from noon to 5 p.m. To book an event overlooking the vines, call Marnie at 250-941-8810. Visit the website at www.40KnotsWinery.com.
— 40 Knots Winery
