Photo: The Makepeace family (left to right) Walter, Cristine, Brad and Jennifer
The Similkameen
Valley ’s winery
population has grown by one, with the opening last month of Hugging Tree
Winery.
A family-owned and operated winery, Hugging Tree is located
on the east side of Highway 3. The tasting room is modest but comfortable. The
family members who take turns behind the tasting bar create a friendly
atmosphere.
One need not limit the conversation to wine. Cristine
Makepeace, one of the proprietors, is an enthusiastic organic gardener. She
also makes excellent peach jam from the farm’s peaches and sells the jams in
the wine shop.
Here is the text of the Hugging Tree profile from the recent
edition of John Schreiner’s Okanagan Wine
Tour Guide.
Walter and Cristine Makepeace moved 13 times
during their careers with the RCMP. In 2005, just before Walter retired from
the force, they settled down in the south Similkameen Valley ,
buying a highway-side organic apple and peach orchard near Cawston where they
could finally put down roots for themselves and for their three children. Nine
years later, the property has blossomed into a family-operated estate winery
that includes daughter Jennifer and sons Brad and Wes.
Walter, who was born
in Vancouver in 1953, joined the RCMP in 1975. His wife Cristine, whom he had
met in high school in Surrey , joined the force
soon after. At the time of their retirement, Walter was the staff sergeant in
charge of the South Okanagan and Cristine, who joined the RCMP in 1990 (and who
had previously run the Keremeos detachment), retired in 2013 as a sergeant
posted at the Vancouver headquarters.
Their interest in wine
burgeoned after they were posted to Oliver in 1993. Walter says “the bug” was
put in his ear by Randy Toor, one of the owners of Desert Hills Estate Winery
and then an auxiliary RCMP constable. “He was just getting into grape growing
and he said, ‘Walt, you should buy a vineyard’,” Walter remembers. A volunteer
spot at a winery during a wine festival motivated him even further. “I worked
the till one of the days,” Walter says. “There was a line-up. Everybody was
standing there with credit cards and money in their hands and they all had
smiles on their faces. I said, ‘I have got to become a part of this’.”
Their search for a
vineyard ended when George Hanson, the owner of Seven Stones Winery, directed
them to a 24-hectare (60-acre) property located almost across the highway from
Seven Stones. Half of the property was orchard; the other half was raw land. (A
pair of entangled willow trees on the lawn inspired the winery’s name.) Walter
planted grapes on the second half in 2007 and 2008 and now has an eight-hectare
(20-acre) vineyard, all of it in Bordeaux
reds except for a modest block of Viognier. Syrah planted unsuccessfully on
another four hectares (10 acres) was removed, making room for a white varietal
in future, as well as for a winery cellar.
Walter contracted
Serendipity Winery to make the wines in 2011 (50 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon)
and in 2012 (1,400 cases). Both Walter and Brad, his son, have taken
viticulture and winemaking courses at Okanagan College .
Brad is the emerging winemaker, a career choice flowing from the family’s roots
decision. Brad was a professional snowboarder, rock musician and bartender in
Whistler until he decided to move to the farm. “I wanted to support my dad’s
dreams,” Brad says. “And when I spent time here, I got addicted to the
lifestyle and the valley and the beauty.”
Hugging Tree Winery
1002 Highway 3
T 250.499.2201
To expand on that, Hugging Tree’s consulting wine maker is
Richard Kanazawa who, until recently, was the winemaker at Serendipity. Richard
has his own label, Kanazawa Wines, now based on a Naramata vineyard.
Because Hugging Tree will not have a press of its own until
next season, the 2014 crush will be done by Richard and Brad at Synchromesh
Wines in Okanagan Falls.
Here are notes on the current releases.
Hugging Tree Viognier
2013 ($17 for about 275 cases). A delicious wine, it has aromas of tropical
fruits that jump from the glass. On the palate, there are flavours of lychee,
green apple and apricot. Bright acidity gives this wine a tangy, refreshing
finish. 90.
Hugging Tree Rosé
2013 ($18 for about 330 cases). This made with Merlot and Cabernet
Sauvignon juice. The wine has aromas of strawberry and candy apple, leading to
strawberry flavours and a crisp, dry finish. 90.
Hugging Tree
Moonchild Merlot 2012 ($21 for about 500 cases). The name is an obscure
astrological reference with special meaning to the Makepeace family. The rest
of us need only enjoy the wine which begins with a touch of vanilla, oak and
black currant on the nose. On the palate, there are flavours of black currants
and blueberries. The ripe tannins give the wine a generous texture. 89.
Hugging Tree Telltale
2012 ($25 for about 600 cases). This is 48% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon
and 19% Cabernet Franc. This is a well-made Meritage from a strong vintage. It
begins with aromas of blackberry and cassis. On the generous palate, there are
flavours of black current, blackberry, raspberry, with a touch of vanilla and
chocolate. With a firm (but not hard) texture, this wine is three to four years
away from peaking. 90-92.
Hugging Tree Vista
2012 ($35 for 75 cases). This is
65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Syrah. It is a wine with considerable intensity.
It begins with aromas of pomegranate and black cherry mingled with the meaty
notes of rare steak. On the palate, there are flavours of pomegranate, black
cherry and black currant. The texture is firm and the wine should be cellared
for a few years. 90 - 91.
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