| Description of the Vineyard | History of the Vineyard |
History of the Vineyard
Grapes have been grown in the Okanagan Valley since the 1860s, when Father Charles Pandosy was credited with setting up the first vineyards at the Oblate Mission near Kelowna, approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Noble Ridge. The purpose was to make sacramental wines for his parish.The first commercial vineyards were planted in 1926 and a winery began offering products for sale shortly after. However, these initial products were based on the native Labrusca grapes and imported hybrids, such as Marechal Foch and de Chaunac. There was even an “Okanagan Riesling” that was developed to thrive in the Okanagan Valley.
However, these native and hybrid varieties could not duplicate the complex characters of “noble” vinifera grapes such as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. In 2007, a small amount of Malbec was planted to enhance the complexity of future Meritage blends.
And it is these noble grapes that grow in the Noble Ridge vineyard. The vineyard started with 3.5 acres planted in 1986 on the southern slope - a mixture of Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
The next planting was the introduction of Pinot Noir to the vineyard, a crescent shaped block on the southern slope that was planted in 2001.
In 2003, the northern slope was planted first with 2 acres of Pinot Gris and 4 acres of Chardonnay were planted in 2004 and 2005. The Chardonnay from the southern slope was removed and additional Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon vines were planted in their place.
The remaining 3 acres on the top of the ridge and the top portion of the northern slope were planted with Pinot Noir in 2006.
