Drone view of Lakeboat Winery
Image Credit: Lakeboat Winery
July 22, 2024 - 8:28 AM
Tara Mathison, owner of Lakeboat Winery in Kaleden, BC, loves her vineyard. She and her team follow the regenerative approach and hand weed the property of five acres, ensuring herbicides do not come near their prized grapes. Land stewardship is just one of the ways that Lakeboat Winery is honouring the extraordinary Skaha area and the village of Kaleden.
A Boutique Winery With Small Town Charm
It was the unique charm and friendly townsfolk that drew Tara to the village of Kaleden, nestled along the shores of Skaha Lake. Even though it is a prime area for vineyards, before Lakeboat Winery sailed in and set up shop, few people outside of local winemakers knew what a viticultural gem this little area is. Tara is tirelessly working to change that, showcasing a few carefully selected grape varieties and crafting boutique wines that capture the soul of Kaleden.
Lakeboat Winery Mireille, Winemaker (left) and Tara, Owner (right)
Image Credit: Lakeboat Winery
Discovering the Skaha Region
"Many people don't even know about this gorgeous place" Tara tells us. Further, many Okanagan wine lovers have yet to discover Kaleden wines. "I'm so proud of Kaleden. We have been growing premium vinifera wine grapes here for 49 years - and we want to put Kaleden on the map for the quality of our grapes." Lakeboat Winery is well on the way to that, with several of their wines winning top awards.
Showering the vineyard with care and attention yields great grapes, but getting to the wine stage requires another level of dedication. That is where Lakeboat Winery's winemaker steps in. Mireille Sauvé, the guru behind the vinification, has perfected her trade throughout the Pacific Northwest's region. She worked her way up the ladder of wine knowledge to the very prestigious trade of Sommelier and then eventually into winemaking itself. The result of all that training? Some very impressive wines.
Lakeboat Winery Wins Top Awards
Some of the awards that Lakeboat has netted include "Best of Show" and Gold Medal honours (for their 2021 Chardonnay), "Winery of the Year" (Top BC Wine Awards), and Gold medals for both their Pinot Noir and Merlot. These accolades are a testament to the dedication and passion that goes into every bottle of Lakeboat wine.
While they follow time-honoured methods of vineyard stewardship and winemaking, their wines are also taking advantage of new trends. Proof of this is the new wine-in-a-can that Lakeboat Winery is selling in 2024. The SS Wanderer honours one of the ferries that travelled up and down Okanagan Lake and the name perfectly complements the refreshing, crisp, aromatic white wine. The SS Wanderer makes the perfect post-paddle refresher, and the packaging in a can means it is adventure-ready.
Lakeboat Winery wines and the captain
Image Credit: Lakeboat Winery
New For 2024: Captains Club
Sampling the fabulous wines that Lakeboat has on offer has now been made even easier with their new wine club — The Captains Club. This club is marvelously suited to Okanagan wine enthusiasts. Membership includes advance access to special events, a discount on purchases and free tastings. You can let Lakeboat’s Sommelier/Winemaker Mireille Sauvé pick your wines for you or custom-curate your selection.
The Lakeboat Winery website does an excellent job of showing its dedication to community stewardship. The winery's community-minded approach is helmed by The Wine Umbrella series of wines. Proceeds from these bottles benefit the Les Dames d'Escoffier's Scholarship Fund, a program aimed at helping women pursue such fields as culinary, hospitality and agriculture.
To find out more about Lakeboat Winery’s fantastic wines or events, drop by for a tasting. The tasting room is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Easter to October, and the winery has the perfect picnic area under shady cherry trees. The much-loved Frog City Café is adjacent to Lakeboat Winery, providing the ideal spot to pick up a summer picnic.
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