Quails Gate Information Sheet Quails Gate is a Kelowna-based, family business owned and operated by the Stewart Family CEO/PROPRIETOR: Tony Stewart ESTATE PRESIDENT: John Sandor WINEMAKER: Nikki Callaway WINERY CHEF: Roger Sleiman TRADE CONTACT: Peter Wille, Director of Sales Contact: 250.769.4451 ext. 265 pwille@quailsgate.com UK DISTRIBUTOR: Cellier cellier.co.uk/brand/quails-gate MEDIA CONTACT: Lindsay Kelm, Communications & Marketing Manager Contact: 250.769.4451 ext. 268 lkelm@quailsgate.com DATE ESTABLISHED: The Stewarts, pioneering horticulturists in the Okanagan valley since 1908, established the vineyards in 1956 and opened the winery in 1989. WINERY CAPACITY: 60,000 cases = 540,000 liters Average Tonnage Crushed = 950 Estate Production = 75% VINEYARD: Our vineyard is situated on the favourable south facing slope above Okanagan Lake and below the extinct volcano Mount Boucherie. The vineyards are planted in a mixture of volcanic rock and clay (glacial/ glaciolacustrine). Although difficult to farm, Quails Gate believes that this terroir contributes to wines that are rich, concentrated and interesting in character. HIGHLIGHTS: Our 125 acre lakefront property is located on the historic home site of Okanagan pioneers the Allison Family (1870s). The vineyard consists of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Old Vines Maréchal Foch, Riesling, Chasselas, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Merlot, Optima, Cabernet Sauvignon and Gamay plantings. Quails Gate is an industry leader in viticulture and places an emphasis on the development of exceptional wines through extensive research of new experimental varietal clones, canopy management techniques with high-density plantings and crop control which is used to significantly reduce yields and concentrate fruit flavours. Production focus is ultra premium BC VQA and internationally recognizable wines with a focus towards Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
Quails Gate Company Profile Quails Gate is nestled in the beautiful Okanagan Valley in the southern interior of British Columbia. Our 125 acre lakefront property is located on the historic home site of Okanagan pioneers the Allison Family (1870 s). The vineyard is owned and operated by the Stewart family and employs more than 80 permanent employees and approximately 80 seasonal/casual employees. Of all its wines, Quails Gate is perhaps best known for the superior quality of its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. They, along with many of the winery s other products, have garnered a host of national and international awards and accolades. We recently welcomed Nikki Callaway as head winemaker during the summer of 2013. She, alongside a winery crew of two assistant winemakers and two cellar hands, remains focused on minimal intervention in winemaking and letting all the various beautiful components of our terroir fully express in each vintage. The vineyard team, managed by Jozsef Breti, deliver multiple touches per vine in a growing season ensuring that each grape cluster has opportunity for optimal development. Our vineyard is situated on the favourable south facing slope above Lake Okanagan and below the extinct volcano Mount Boucherie. Although difficult to farm, Quails Gate believes that this terroir contributes to wines that are rich, concentrated and interesting in character. Old Vines Restaurant was designed to offer its guests an ultimate experience of wine and food in a spectacular vineyard setting. Heralded as one of the leading destination restaurants in British Columbia, Old Vines Restaurant was privileged to be listed in the Top 100 restaurants in Canada by Open Table. The extensive list was collected from more than 275,000 restaurant reviews across Canada from verified diners. Winery Chef Roger Sleiman, now in his 8 th season at the winery, and his culinary team are steadfast in their pursuit of fresh simplicity. Our menu is inspired by regional Okanagan and West Coast ingredients prepared in the classical tradition. By partnering with local growers and artisinal producers, we are able to create food that reflects our region and compliments Quails Gate s wines for an unsurpassed wine & food pairing. Not only do we strive to utilize the best local ingredients, but also to promote sustainable agriculture through the Vancouver Aquarium Ocean Wise program and other sustainable growing initiatives. Opened in June 2007, our panoramic Wine Shop is home to our tasting bar and gift boutique. Our Wine Shop features a stunning view of Okanagan Lake and the Quails Gate Vineyards and offers a premium selection of our award winning wines, wine accessories and other unique gift items. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff provide guests with information about our products and also conduct tours and tastings to give visitors a hands-on understanding of our vineyard and winery operations. Increasingly rare in our valley, Quails Gate remains a family owned and operated winery. The Stewart family is very involved in the winery and up to 3 generations of the Stewart family can be seen on the property at any given time. Their passion for exploration and discovery still guide our mission as a company to become champions and innovators of the local industry. A visit to our winery is an exploration of the senses and a experience to be savoured. Our mission as a winery is to provide each guest with the opportunity to experience and learn about our passion- great food & wine. It is one of the reasons that our local neighbours include a visit to our winery as a must-see of the valley and our reputation for hosting is renown. Whether you are learning about viticulture in our daily tours of the property or having a lunch with good friends, we strive to make each visit memorable. We welcome you to our winery and hope to see you back soon.
Biographical Profiles Tony Stewart CEO & Proprietor Tony returned to the family business in 1992. As CEO of Quails Gate Estate Winery, he directs much of his energy in creating an environment that will enable Quails Gate to succeed as one of the world s best wine houses. Tony is passionate about ensuring that Quails Gate visitors receive exceptional product and service. He and his team are confident and excited about leading the way in winery culinary tourism. In addition, Tony devotes much of this time to local, industry, provincial and national associations. Nikki Callaway - Winemaker Nikki started her career as a cellar hand working in Bordeaux and southern France, learning the European traditions and history of wine making. She completed a Diplôme National D Oenologue at Université Bordeaux II in 2007 before heading to South Africa to work with Waterford Estate winery. Nikki returned to Canada in 2009 to become an Assistant Winemaker at a large scale operation in the Okanagan. Her vision to work with a premium boutique style winery was actualized when she joined the Quails Gate team. The intimate nature, small batch processing and focus on quality at Quails Gate are a perfect fit to her style and passion as a winemaker. Roger Sleiman - Culinary Director Quail s Gate welcomed Roger as Winery Chef in 2006, when the lure of the beautiful Okanagan Lake and family lifestyle drew him to the valley. Since that time Chef Sleiman has re-focused the culinary program at Old Vines restaurant with his basic cooking principles of fresh simplicity. Chef Sleiman s philosophy and commitment to ensure the consistent supply of only the best regional ingredients has never wavered. Chef Sleiman has been a stalwart of the winery s vision for outstanding guest experiences and regularly showcases the best of the valley with that objective in mind.
V iticultural P rogram at Q uails G ate Our belief is that great wine starts in the vineyard. As a second generation winery Quails Gate prides itself in having been grape growers for over 50 years. Over this time we have been able to research the best selection of vines for the valley and the best techniques to use. This unique position has allowed our winery the luxury of having some of the most mature vinifera plantings in Canada along with the most extensive selection of mature Dijon Pinot Noir clones. Because of our long history the viticulture program is always of utmost importance. We are continuously making improvements to our vineyards and winery facility. Today we farm approximately 200 acres of which 160 acres are controlled by Quails Gate. Managing 85-90% of our vineyards enables us to ensure high quality viticulture practices are employed. The vineyard team is very meticulous about their practices to ensure that the vines are given the best chance to succeed. All of our grapes are hand harvested to ensure that 100% of the grape s integrity is maintained. Machine harvest, though quicker, can damage the grapes and diminish their quality.
Sustainabilit y Quails Gate prides itself on being a leader in sustainability and environmental stewardship. With a tradition of low impact viticulture practices our philosophy has been to do more with less. We employ a holistic ecosystem management approach to grape-growing to preserve the diversity of our natural surroundings without compromising on the quality of fruit. Our commitment to sustainability can be measured by our use of remote vineyard monitoring stations which allow us to; target chemical applications utilize drip irrigation to conserve water operate fewer vehicles in the vineyard We are also using organic fertilizers and nutrients, supplemented by our composting program. Our commitment to sustainability applies to all of Quails Gate and has led to a reduction of overall waste by over 50%; certification of Old Vines Restaurant as Green Table and a partner in the Vancouver Aquarium s Ocean Wise Program; use of Eco-glass bottles in our winery, which are light-weight and contain high recycled content. Sustainable practices in the winery include water conservation, equipment upgrades, use of BIOPURE filter pads, and recycling initiatives of both man-made and natural by products during the wine making process. In other parts of our operation, we focus on waste reduction and waste diversion with composting, reduced printing, and use of recycled office materials. As a part of our commitment to the environment Quails Gate has partnered with Nature Conservancy of Canada in the development and protection of important ecological sites throughout the Okanagan Valley. We have also participated on the advisory panel and as a pilot participant in the BC Sustainable Winegrowing program as of 2011.
Estate Accommodations Our winery accommodations are located on the lake just below our vineyards. These homes are where we raised our family and now are offering them for you to create memories with your loved ones. Walk through the vineyard up to the restaurant, or enjoy a private catered meal by our culinary team. The Okanagan is an all year vacation destination with ski hills, golfing, hiking trails, and of course, Lake Okanagan. So sit back, relax and enjoy your time with us! The Lake House Nestled at the bottom of the famous Quails Gate vineyards in West Kelowna you have access to the very best in wining, dining and all aspects of a vacation getaway at your doorstep. This luxurious lake shore home features a chef s dream kitchen, dining and entertaining areas, 4 bedrooms plus a loft. This incredible lake front property features large spacious gardens, multiple patios overlooking Lake Okanagan, a hot tub, BBQ, a fully mechanized boat lift and a 140 dock at your service. Our concierge service allows you to book a variety of activities year round to enjoy, such as biking, kayaking, golfing, wine tours, skiing, snowboarding and many more great things to do in the Okanagan. The Nest The Nest is a beach front cottage, which sleeps up to 7 people. This newly renovated cottage has 3 bedrooms and an open loft area, an open concept kitchen and living room looking out across the large deck and private beach. Located in a secluded spot beside a wildlife sanctuary you can sit back and become friends with our wildlife neighbours, a bird lovers paradise. For more information or to book please go to quailsgate.com/your-visit/
Quails Gate Vineyards Owned & Operated by Quails Gate Boucherie Mt Vineyards - Lower Boucherie Bench Approximately 1,450 degree days Closer proximity to Lake Okanagan results in a slightly cooler temperature than the Upper Boucherie Bench. The soils here are rich in diluted mineral deposits, silt, sand and clay. The composition here is much finer than the upper bench, so the vines don t have to work as hard to get the water and minerals required. The gently sloped vineyards provide excellent drainage and the East to West plantings allow for ideal sun exposure. Plantings here include: Chasselas, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah. Quails Gate Vineyards - Upper Boucherie Bench Approximately 1,500 degree days Across Boucherie Road, you will find the Upper Boucherie Bench which sees slightly warmer temperatures than the Lower Bench. The soils are loaded with mineral deposits, as well as glacial till, volcanic rock and large boulders. The complexity of the soil forces the vines roots to dig deep to get nutrients, which creates great complexity and depth in the fruit. The slope of the vineyards here also provides excellent drainage with East to West plantings allowing for ideal sun exposure. Plantings here include: Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Gewürztraminer and Maréchal Foch.
Quails Gate Vineyard Owned & Operated by Quails Gate Old Vines Vineyard (Osoyoos) Approximately 1,500 degree days Osoyoos is considered to be a Desert climate with only 300 mm of precipitation annually and average temperatures 3 to 5 C higher than Kelowna. Deep, rich sandy soils dominate the vineyards, where the oldest vines are 34 years old. The soil composition combined with hotter temperatures makes Osoyoos perfect for late ripening red varietals. A longer, hotter growing season allows the grapes to reach their peak ripeness and thrive whereas diurnal temperature fluctuation of cool nights helps to retain acidity. Planted varieties include: Chenin Blanc, Maréchal Foch, and Syrah.
Quails Gate Managed Vineyards Owned & Operated by Quails Gate Sunnyside Approximately 1,400 degree days This vineyard is located above the shores of Lake Okanagan only about 500 metres from Quails Gate. The soils here are very different than those found in the Estate vineyards, they are fine and rich in diluted mineral deposits in a mixture of silt, sand and clay. Planted varietals include: Chasselas, Chenin Blanc, Ehrenfelser, Gewürztraminer, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir and Riesling. Blue Fox Approximately 1,400 degree days Planted in 2012, this vineyard is located 1.5 kilometres down the road from Quails Gate. This is a level site with well-drained silty and sandy soils. Farther from Okanagan Lake, this is an ideal location for white varieties that will prosper in cooler temperatures in the fall. Planted varieties include: Chardonnay and Chasselas. Patricia and Mart yna Approximately 1,200 degree days Located on the east side of Okanagan Lake in South East Kelowna, these two vineyards are less than 750m apart, and only 8 kilometres directly across the water from Quails Gate. The temperatures here are slightly cooler than the west side. Taking advantage of westerly exposure this location is ideal for early ripening, cool climate white varietals. The soils here are comprised of sandy loam and gravel. Planted varieties include: Gewürztraminer and Riesling.