Photo courtesy of Road 13 Vineyards.
Every growing season is full of mysteries to solve and weather to watch and for this reason, the good people at Road 13 rely on the trusty Farmer’s Almanac to be their guide.
With 320 years of farming wisdom and folklore, this book of ancient knowing is full of the kinds of mighty and mystic forecasts we need to get the job done right.
The Farmer’s Almanac is predicting a wet spring and honestly, we’ll drink to that! This Spring Road 13 has got some new releases and old favourites we think you’re going to love. We recently caught up with Road 13 Winemaker, Barclay Robinson to get the goods on the growing season.
Q. What is farm life like in the Spring at Road 13?
Well, for starters, it’s beautiful. All the pruning is done and we are starting to see the first signs of another growing season including bud break and buttercups. I love this time of year because we get to watch the vineyard transform from gnarly dead-looking vines into a lush sea of green. And let’s not forget the smell! As the Earth and the soil heats up, you can really smell the vineyard coming alive. It's fresh and it’s beautiful.
Q. What kind of impact does organic farming have and why?
We’ve been officially certified as organic farmers now for one full calendar year. You can definitely see and taste the difference that organic farming makes. There's a lot more complexity in farming this way but the fruit produced is better in every way.
The reality is, there are some aspects of nature that can’t be explained. A good farmer knows that success is 80% hard work and 20% sheer luck and I love the fact that we can't scientifically know it all. Some things (like micronutrients and moons) have immeasurable impacts we have to learn to trust.
Q. Why does the moon matter and how does it impact the growing?
They say you can’t fight City Hall but I would argue that gravity is equally as stubborn. Learning to lean into the moon cycle and its connection to gravitational pull can have a serious impact on the success of your farming effort. I mean, 320 years of Almanac wisdom can’t be wrong! There is no question that the coming and going of the moon (the waxing and waning) is worth keeping an eye on and planting around.
Photo courtesy of Road 13 Vineyards.
2020 Chip off the Old Block
Winemaker’s Pick
A crisp acidity and subtle salinity are just a few of the things that make this wine a family favourite.
"The 2020 Chip off the Old Block has had some time in the bottle now and is now starting to develop some of those really nice melon and tropical notes. It’s true that not all whites get better with age but Chenin Blanc is one of those wines that gets better with time."
—Barclay Robinson, Road 13 Winemaker
2019 Jackpot Chardonnay
Cellar Favourite
A rich and complex symphony of gold and yellow fruit.
“This Jackpot Chardonnay is a showcase of the rich mineral aspects of the Golden Mile Bench. Barrel fermented and barrel-aged, this wine delivers all kinds of ripe, full-bodied goodness.”
—Barclay Robinson, Road 13 Winemaker
2020 Seventy-Four K
New Release!
This is a new vintage of an old favourite, perfect for pairing and sharing.
“This is a wine that consistently over-delivers! The fruit is sourced locally from both the Similkameen and Okanagan Valleys, making it a great representation of the diverse selection of grape varietals grown in our vineyards.”
—Barclay Robinson, Road 13 Winemaker
Photo courtesy of Road 13 Vinyards.
