Canadian Business Awards 2024 | 19 One of the five original wineries located on the Naramata Bench in the Okanagan region of British Columbia, Poplar Grove Winery is famed for its exceptional red wines, particularly its flagship, The Legacy, first produced in 2003, as well as its delicious Cabernet Franc, Merlot-focused offerings, and fantastic Pinot Gris. Across the board, there is an overarching drive to produce wines of outstanding quality, reflecting the thoughtful methods and dedication that goes into every bottle. The property is also home to a restaurant, aptly named “The Restaurant at Poplar Grove”, which is nestled on Munson Mountain and boasts high-quality, locally sourced food perfectly paired with the right wine for the occasion. Lara stresses that, “Poplar Grove Winery is dedicated to preserving the land, minimising our ecological footprint, and contributing to the well-being of our community.” This extends further to contributing towards the local community, and Lara adds, “we are dedicated to building meaningful relationships, supporting local initiatives, and being a positive force in the social and economic fabric of our region.” The authentic nature of the company thus radiates across every element of its operations, and from the vineyard through to the Poplar Grove Winery has been operating with distinction since its founding back in 1993. When Tony and Barb Holler purchased the winery back in 2007, they did so with a long-term vision for its growth and an unbridled commitment to crafting a respected, growing wine estate in this beautiful area of British Columbia. More than 140 acres of estate vineyards are handled with the uppermost care by the couple’s four sons, Chris, Andrew, Matthew, and Eric, with their combined devotion to crafting distinctive, genuine, and characterreflective wines immediately apparent. Lara Pethybridge tells us more about this beautifully situated winery and its exemplary produce. Most Picturesque Winery 2024 - British Columbia tasting room, the team strive to provide the best experiences that are sure to showcase their passion and commitment to the craft. Bolstered by the family philosophy that, “great wine brings us together”, this family-owned winery is built on the motto, “Estate Grown. Locally Farmed. Family Owned.” This united front has allowed the business to thrive even in the changing industry landscape, which has been severely impacted in recent years by both shifts in consumer trends and issues related to climate change. As a reaction to younger people drinking less wine and seeking more reduced alcohol options, the company’s first low alcohol Rosé was introduced a little over three years ago, and has proved a big hit in the market, highlighting the winery’s adaptability. Sustainable changes have been implemented across the operation, with solar power being used in both production and the tasting room, electric vehicle chargers located on-site, and electric vehicles being used, cars for day-to-day activities and electric forklifts for production. Shifting towards such methods is in an incredibly personal goal for the team, with the impacts of climate change having wreaked havoc on the local wine industry over the past couple of years, particularly in December 2022 and January 2023. Lara explains, “temperatures reached -30 C° in some areas of the Okanagan, not only damaging vines but killing many acres of established vineyards across the valley.” The results bordered on devastating for Poplar Grove, with the 2023 harvest about 50% lower than initially anticipated. Lara elaborates, “in Osoyoos, our vineyards suffered more loss with essentially no crop from our blocks of Viognier and Syrah vineyards and only a 50% crop from our Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Chardonnay.” Such extreme shifts in the climate have become increasingly commonplace over the past five years, and other wineries in the region faced greater losses, suffering significant plant death. It is estimated that up to 30% of these vineyards could need to be replanted, a harrowing statistic that has only been exacerbated by the forest fires of last year. In spite of such difficulties, Poplar Grove Winery keeps moving forward, and 2023 brought with it triumphs on an international stage, with several of its wines winning gold at events across the UK, Germany, New York, LA, and San Francisco. For Lara, “this is not only beneficial to our winery but also helps promote our region, the Naramata Bench, on an international level.” This well-deserved international success serves to underpin the commitment of the team to continuously learn and adapt to the industry’s ever-changing requirements, something that can be witnessed from its restaurant through to a bottle of its finest flagship, The Legacy. Contact: Lara Pethybridge Company: Poplar Grove Winery Web Address: https://www.poplargrove.ca
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