Skip to content

Management change at Mt. Boucherie Winery

West Kelowna winery has a new CEO, Craig McCulloch, and winemaker, Peter Contos.
41762kelowna30Boucheriewineryteam
Mt. Boucherie Winery winemaker Jim Faulkner with new management team: Carole and Craig McCulloch

The first crush of the season is underway at Mt. Boucherie Winery in West Kelowna under the guidance of a new management team.

Taking over the reins at the winery is  CEO Craig McCulloch while Peter Contos takes the lead on wine marketing.

“The essence of Mt. Boucherie Winery remains the same, a commitment to outstanding quality and using 100 per cent grapes sourced exclusively from our own vineyards,” said McCulloch.

“I am honoured to be a brand ambassador for this prestigious winery and continue the legacy and celebrate the winery’s 15th anniversary.”

Known for their elegant whites, like Pinot Gris, the first grapes to be crushed, and the aromatic Riesling, whose last vintage garnered a gold medal at the 2016 WineAlign National Awards of Canada, as well as their full bodied reds, Mt. Boucherie Winery will produce more than 25,000 cases of wine.

The grape crush should continue until the third week of October. The harvesting of Icewine grapes will take place anytime from December to January, depending on the temperature.

Guiding the grape selection is winemaker Jim Faulkner, who has delivered five consecutive years of distinctive award winning wines for the Mt. Boucherie brand since joining the team in 2009.

“When to pick has the biggest singular effect on the quality of wine and time is taken to carefully hand-harvest the best fruit,” said Faulkner. “Our vines which are decades old are now truly expressing the terroir and reason why this region is so well known for its award winning vintages.”

Mt. Boucherie Winery tands facing its namesake, a former volcano that created unique soil conditions for grape growing. The winery boasts some of the oldest vines in the Kelowna area.

Originally planted in 1968, the vineyards in West Kelowna include Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir and Zweigelt grape varieties. Overall, 200 acres of grapes will be harvested, including those from Mt. Boucherie vineyards in Okanagan Falls, Golden Mile Bench and the Similkameen Valley.

“Our portfolio is diverse, and the range of terroir allows us to create wines to match any palate, plate and mood,” said Faulkner. The winery produces 21 reds, whites and Icewines.

The crush is taking place at the 20,000-square-foot processing facility in West Kelowna. Wine enthusiast are invited to join the crush and wine festival fun at a special release of the winery’s signature red, 2013 Summit.

This meritage blend is known for its rich, smooth and opulent taste. Aged for 30 months in French oak barrels, this new release marries 74 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon and 26 per Cabernet Franc that displays a complex bouquet with aromas of ripe dark cherry, plum, as well as oak characteristics.

Festivities take place Oct. 1 with an afternoon of wine tastings, food pairings by Krafty Kitchen and live music of Niki Martinus & Family.