About Township 7
Expressive of the terroir in which they are grown, the majority of our wines are crafted from sustainably cultivated grapes from our estate and family growers in the dry and sunny Okanagan Valley.
The Okanagan – Nestled between the Coast Mountains to the west and the Monashee Mountains to the east, the Valley is approximately 400km east of Vancouver, in south central British Columbia. A natural extension of the Pacific Northwest wine appellation, the region covers one full degree of latitude. From the 49th parallel on the Canada/US border, vineyards extend north for roughly 200km. A unique geographic feature of the Okanagan Valley is that the southern area is part of the Sonoran Desert, which ranges from Oliver to its point of origin in Mexico’s Baja Peninsula. A chain of lakes runs the length of the Valley, helping moderate temperatures year round. Warmer and more arid than Napa in the summer, the region has nearly two hours more daylight and higher temperatures than the California appellation in July and August. The Okanagan lies in a rain shadow, with only 8-12 inches (203 – 305 ml), the Valley receives only one quarter of the annual precipitation of Bordeaux and Burgundy. The New York Times described the area as, “a prime winemaking region, thanks to well-drained glacial till, the temperature-modifying effects of the very deep, 84-mile-long Okanagan Lake that runs through the heart of the valley, and a surfeit of sunshine.”
Naramata Terroir
Our sustainably farmed Naramata estate vineyard grows primarily aromatic whites such as Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer for our aromatic 7 Blanc blend. We also have a small field blend of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec on our southwestern facing slopes that we employ for spicy flavour intensity in our Meritage. We keep yields low (2 to 3 tons per acre) and harvest when completely ripe. The jewel of the Okanagan, the Naramata Bench is a place of great beauty and personality. Township 7 is situated first on the Bench amongst twenty-two boutique wineries that have staked their claim to this prime agricultural land. Our picturesque rolling hillsides overlooking Okanagan Lake, is a remarkable setting that’s perhaps the most scenic wine region in all of North America.
With its moderate temperatures, abundant sunshine and cooling breezes, the Naramata Bench has proven ideal for growing aromatic wines. The rolling hills and variable soil types result in growing sites with unique microclimates that can be matched to the right varieties by experienced growers. The eastern side of Lake Okanagan basks in warm sunny days resulting in a super long growing season. The moderating effects of the Lake and gentle slopes minimize the incidence of frost and enable fruit-harvest at optimum maturity.
Black Sage Road / Oliver Terroir
The rugged desert like climate of the famous Black Sage terroir in the South Okanagan provides picture perfect growing conditions for our big reds and longer ripening whites.
Since our founding over a decade ago we’ve worked with long-time family farmers in the area such as McWatters, Blue Terrace, and Cerquiera on all aspects of viticulture to source our Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay, Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc.
The majority of the Okanagan’s vinifera grapes are grown in the sandy, sundrenched soils here. With minimal rainfall and average summer temperatures of 30°C, the region grows grapes in a warmer climate though food friendly European style that we prefer for our wines.
South Langley / Fraser Valley Terroir
A young grape growing region in BC, the Fraser Valley at 49 degrees is the same latitude as Champagne, France. The temperate climate of this coastal area is ideal for growing grapes with low brix and high acidity.
Varietals we grow on our Langley estate: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay for our Seven Stars Sparkling and Merlot for our dry Rosé.
We employ dry-farming in our South Langley vineyard’s fertile soils, which grow well in a unique microclimate within Metro Vancouver that is only 2 miles from the Canada-US border and is warmer and drier than the rest of the Lower Mainland.
