Media Coverage

Calgary vintners follow dream to wine country of their own

[March 17th, 2006] Wine-lovers Jim and Leslie D'Andrea established Noble Ridge Vineyard & Winery after a visit to French wine country. Many of us have probably dreamed of owning a winery as a business -- it sounds romantic, interesting and so rewarding.  Many of us have probably dreamed of owning a winery as a business -- it sounds romantic, interesting and so rewarding.

Jim and Leslie D'Andrea appreciate good wine, and did just that. After taking their French immersion-schooled three children on a three-month sabbatical to France, they discovered a new understanding of wines and what it takes to achieve fine taste and quality.

On their return, the Bennett Jones lawyer shared his experiences with a number of friends who helped him decide to investigate the possibility of investing in their own winery. The D'Andreas first looked at Ontario, where they have family, but after falling in love with the B.C. Interior and finding a farm for sale, they took the plunge and purchased 10 hectares in 2001.

The result is Noble Ridge Vineyard & Winery, inspired by the name of the Noble grape varieties being grown and the east-west ridge in the northern tip of a pocket desert in south Okanagan Valley.

The farmer had planted 1.2 hectares with Merlot and Cabernet for 20 years, and sold his crop to local wineries. This year, the D'Andreas will have six hectares planted with Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay, as well as the Merlot and Cabernet.

Leslie spent a lot of her time visiting other vineyards and learning all she could about the business. Besides a lot of reading, she has taken an International Wine Education Course by distance learning and a full six-week course in viticulture. They have both attained the second level of the Master Sommelier course.

But ownership also means a lot of work and finding a good vine manager and staff. Judi Skinner has been manager since July 2002 and has capably handled the growing, inventory and shipping, as well as the problem of a well running dry, in her stride.

Jim says there is no magic at Noble Ridge -- science is blended with art. Grapes are grown double density, allowing for greater yields. Water is conserved with the use of drip irrigation, each vine is inspected at least five times per year and no machinery is used during harvesting.

The quality they have achieved won three awards at last fall's Okanagan Wine Festival.

When Jim and Leslie launched their new venture, they stayed in a tent trailer on the property. The first building erected was a cabana, designed by Suzanne Devonshire Baker, where they now live but which will eventually become a guest house. Under construction is a 1,000-square-foot wine shop and patio with a large grassy area where visitors will be encouraged to bring their own picnics or buy cheese, fruit and pates while sampling the wines. Overlooking Vaseaux Lake, it will open May 1.

Meanwhile, Devonshire Baker is designing the winery -- today the wine is made by a local vintner -- that will use the latest technology and geo-thermal heating and cooling, and then she will begin work on a house that will eventually become a retirement home for the D'Andreas.

Unfortunately, the wines are not available in Calgary as yet. They are sold in B.C.'s VQA stores and a number of fine restaurants in British Columbia -- the closest in Lake O'Hara Lodge -- as well as online.

The other bad news for fine wine lovers is the 2003 Pinot Noir and 2004 Pinot Gris are sold out, but that must be good news for a rather enthusiastic and dedicated pair of Calgary vintners.