by Tania Tomaszewska –
Historically, the wine world has been a male-dominated bastion. But more and more women are jumping barriers to lead in this realm – as sommeliers, winemakers, owners or in other ways to bring wine adventure and education to consumers.
When I learned that Seaside’s focus this issue is “Women to Watch,” a number of local “wine women” who are on my radar came to mind. But I’ll stick to just two of them here: Julie Powell of Alderlea Vineyards (below) and Mira Tusz of Kutatás Wines (at right). I’ve spent time with Julie and Mira this past year and admire what they (and their partners) are doing in our “Wine Islands” region. Together with other local producers, Julie and Mira are part of a new wave of Coastal vintners farming sustainably and embracing stewardship and celebration of our terroir: let’s be us and make wines which express the place from which we come.
You can find Alderlea and Kutatás wines in select restaurants and wine shops on the Island and Mainland. I’ve enjoyed their drops in some cool City venues, but for me, nothing beats the experience of going to taste wine in the place it’s made and having a chat with its makers.
Alderlea Vineyards ‒ Cowichan Valley
Just across the Salish Sea and near Maple Bay, Alderlea is producing its own unique and elegant terroir-driven maritime wines. Proprietors and winemakers Julie Powell and Zac Brown acquired Alderlea in 2017 and have committed to sustainable farming practices on their seven acres (which are some of the oldest vineyards in the Cowichan Valley).
In Mount Prevost’s rainshadow and south-facing, Alderlea has a hot micro-climate and benefits from the nearby moderating Quamichan Lake and ocean. Your drive here takes you through beautiful farmland and through Alderlea’s gates to the warm, welcoming and intimate tasting experience with Julie and Zac.
After 20 years as a Human Resources expert in Canada and abroad, Julie has shifted gears to follow the dream of owning a winery and being a garagiste (a producer of “garage wine.”) Her award-winning Valerie (an ortega-viognier white blend named after her late mum) is kicking goals. Stay tuned for her next vintage. Other recent Alderlea stand-outs for me are their sauvignon blanc, bacchus and merlot (yes, Van Isle merlot).
www.alderlea.ca. 1571 Stamps Road, Duncan
Kutatás Wines ‒ Salt Spring Island
Hungarian for research, inquisition, exploration or quest, Kutatás (Koo-Tah-Tash) is a new player on the scene but has quickly made waves. The mission of proprietors and winemakers Mira Tusz and Daniel Draggart is to make interesting, complex and textural wines from grapes harvested in the North Saanich and Salt Spring Island vineyards which they hand tend. They’re succeeding.
Mira’s wine journey began in Vancouver Island vineyards and continued with viticulture studies through Washington State University. After vintages in the Okanagan Valley and Waipara Valley, New Zealand, the opportunity to lease a Saanich vineyard came up in 2015 and triggered the inception of Kutatás Wines. Kutatás then acquired a nine-acre vineyard and winery on Salt Spring Island in 2018 (just outside of Ganges). It has a lovely tasting room overlooking an idyllic pocket of Gulf Island vines. I could plant myself there all day after a visit to their barrel room.
Kutatás makes bubbles, whites, rosé and pinot noir. I love their ortega, blanc de noir (a white pinot noir) and Clone 114 pinot noir (currently one of my favourite B.C. pinot noirs and made from Pat Bay berries – who would have thought?).
www.kutataswines.com. 164 Norton Road, Salt Spring Island
Have any questions or comments? Drop Tania a line at tania@ttwineexplorer.com. See www.ttwineexplorer or Instagram @ttwineexplorer for more.
