Rocky Creek Winery Releases Vancouver Island Tempranillo

Linda & Mark Holford

Editors note: Direct from Press Release

August 12, 2012. Cowichan Bay, BC.  Rocky Creek Winery is always one to lead. First winery to start the first home-based basement winery in Canada to now establishing 10 acres of island grown local vineyards including our estate grown property in Cowichan Bay.  First one to release their entire production in a sustainable new closure called Zork. First to plant an entire vineyard with a new series of hybrids that are bolder red choices for the future.

Now, the first to harvest a commercial bolder red that is 100% Vancouver Island. On September 9, we will welcome José’s Tempranillo! We have a passion to be sustainable and true to the region; so our dream is to grow great reds. Releasing José’s Tempranillo in memory of José Rodrigo who had the vision to plant traditional Spanish varieties; however, passed away before the commercial harvest.

This wine has a special story because of the joining of these visions. But also, we believe to give back what is given. This story has been touched by cancer so we are now supporting The Canadian Cancer Society and will donate $10 of every bottle for the lifetime of this wine to aid in the fight against cancer.

When we first started out of our basement house in Ladysmith, we could have purchased our grapes from all over the world but chose the more challenging route. We wanted to be estate and sustainable from the very beginning. So when we moved to Cowichan Bay, our friend Susan Yates helped us in our journey here. We developed a friendship and working relationship with Sue as well. She takes our green grapes and makes a fabulous Verjus that we sell on her behalf and she in turn offered Mark a chance to harvest the Tempranillo. Mark was just thrilled at this opportunity to release something special.

The story of José developed through Susan. We never had an opportunity to meet José because he passed away before the Tempranillo grapes came to harvest. Yet in our working together with Susan, we learned that we do have the same passion about the area where we live. José’s Tempranillo is a very small production release this year; however, we hope to work with the vineyard to produce up to 50 cases a year. With our climate, tempranillio is not harvestable every year; but, we do want to feature it alone when it does ripen. This is the most expensive bottle of wine for the island. We wanted to share with everyone the dream of two winemakers, of which neither have met each other but share a same similar story.

The wine is $50 for a 500 mL bottle and can be reserved through the winery while quantities last. For further information about the winery, please call us at 250-748-5622 or see our website www.rockycreekwinery.ca