Wine Wednesday: Sunnybrae Vineyards & Winery Redneck Red
Sunnybrae Redneck Red - $18.00
This is a fun, highly quaffable off-dry Marechal Foch and is all about keeping things simple. As they say, it pairs well with plaid, blue jeans, a barbeque and a couple of good buddies.
Note: Redneck Red also comes in wine gummie form made by local candy company, Cellar Candy!
This family owned and operated winery in the Shuswap is as down to earth as you can get. Located in the town of Tappen, the winery and vineyard is set against the regal Bastion Mountain, and looking ahead, you will gaze upon the beaches of Shuswap Lake, with Mount Ida in the distance. This is one of the most northern grape growing regions in North America and the Sunnybrae vineyard offers its own unique microclimate giving special character to their wines.
It is a beautiful and welcoming sight for thirsty locals and visitors who return year after year to stock up on their summer sustenance. Owners are mother-daughter team Nancy Turner (mom) and Kristie Smolne, and they work hard to keep this family legacy going here and they are all about customer service. The cozy tasting room has a deck for visitors to park and relax with a glass of one of their award-winning wines and stay to hear a history lesson of the Turner family’s rich farming background.
The winery produces nine different labels including their popular Happy Camper blend that also comes in a box.
“With a provincial campground just down the road, it eventually struck us that these are the customers that we should be paying tribute to,” Kirstie says.
They also have a wonderful versions of Kerner, Ortega and Siegerrebe, cool climate white varieties that the Shuswap area is becoming famous for. Prices are affordable here too and because they are lakeside, houseboats can pop over to load up their fridge as well. Winemaker James Clark is from Scotland and has been with the winery since 2012.
This is definitely a road trip you need to book. There are other wineries in the area making this iN WINE Weekend Adventure material. Cheers!
For more information, visit their website here.
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