It‘s not often Lt.-Gov. Steven Point gets to shout “Last bucket!” to a cherry picking crew Š especially after announcing a prestigious wine industry award.
Such was the case Thursday as Point was invited into a Naramata orchard while presenting a Lieutenant Governor‘s Award for Excellence in B.C. Wines to winemaker Rob Van Westen of Van Westen Vineyards.
The winery was recognized for its 2008 Vino Grigio. However, in addition to their wine, the Van Westen family has been one of Naramata‘s largest cherry growers for years.
That fact wasn‘t lost on Rob Van Westen.
Van Westen said while the award is a great honour, he suggested a similar award for sustainable agriculture might be a great thing for the struggling B.C. fruit industry as well.
“It would give the mom and pop (growers) incentives to grow good quality fruit and take the risk on farming,” he said. “Farming is a risky business. We know that from last year in cherries (when prices plunged due to an influx of low-priced fruit from Washington state).”
The Lieutenant Governors wine awards were introduced by Iona Campagnolo during her tenure in Government House which ended in 2007. Ten awards are presented annually. This year there were 281 submissions from 71 B.C. wineries.
Point said he‘s very proud to continue the awards in support of B.C. wines, but the picturesque cherry orchard didn‘t go unnoticed.
“It‘s real pleasure to come out and meet the families and the vintners,” he said. “This is one of our 100 days at the office. It‘s a little bit of heaven.”
Point also visited Foxtrot Vineyards in Naramata on Thursday, which won an award for its 2007 Pinot Noir, as well as Painted Rock Estate Winery overlooking Skaha Lake.
Co-owner Torsten Allander said he also was delighted by the award. Foxtrot opened in 2004 on a five-acre site on Gammon Road and also purchases grapes from a number of Naramata Bench growers.
Allander noted Foxtrot Vineyards has no public tasting room, but sells its total production of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines directly to high end restaurants throughout Western Canada.
The Lieuntenant Governor continues his tour today with visits to Poplar Grove Winery in Penticton, along with Inniskillin Okanagan Vineyards and Desert Hills Estate Winery in Oliver.
