As the 2024 harvest season wraps up, we at Township 7 are eager to share the exciting progress we’ve made this year. Like all agricultural ventures, winemaking is deeply connected to the whims of nature, and despite our best-laid plans, sometimes adjustments are needed. In 2024, our vineyards produced lower yields than expected, but rather than letting this deter us, we saw it as an opportunity for growth and exploration.
Faced with the challenge, our winemaking team set out on a journey to find premium fruit from vineyards that reflect our core values of sustainability, quality, and ethical business practices. After months of careful investigation, we are excited to share we found what we were looking for in Rocky Pond Winery, located in the stunning Lake Chelan and Rocky Reach AVA’s (American Viticulture Areas) in Washington State.
At first glance, these areas are reminiscent of the Okanagan Valley, with its rolling hills, proximity to water, abundant sunshine, and rich soils. During our visit to Rocky Pond, we knew we had found the perfect fit. Not only did their viticulture practices align with our commitment to sustainable farming, but their shared values made for the ideal collaboration.
This exciting collaboration allowed us to bring in some exceptional varietals, which we are proud to announce will form the foundation of a new, limited edition Interlude Series. For the first time in our history, we will be showcasing grapes from outside British Columbia, offering our customers a fresh perspective on wines made with fruit from premium vineyards in Lake Chelan.
This new collection will include Viognier, Chardonnay, and Pinot Gris from the Clos CheValle vineyard in Lake Chelan, and Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from Double D vineyard in Rocky Reach AVA. Each was hand-selected and brought in as whole grapes to ensure we could maintain complete control over the winemaking process. A special highlight is our ability to co-ferment Syrah and Viognier, something we rarely have been able to do in the past due to varying ripening times of our Okanagan Vineyards.
In addition to this exciting venture, we’re pleased to share that our Langley harvest took place on October 7th. We gathered an impressive 2.8 tonnes of Chardonnay and 1.8 tonnes of Pinot Noir from our South Langley vineyards, ensuring another stunning vintage for our award-winning seven stars sparkling wine portfolio. This marks another chapter in our ongoing passion for crafting top-tier sparkling wines.
This year may have brought its challenges, but through innovation, collaboration, and a commitment to excellence, we are proud to offer our community something truly special. Stay tuned for the official release of our Interlude Series, a rare opportunity to experience the creativity and craftsmanship that defines Township 7, all while savoring the distinct characteristics of these extraordinary wines.