Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island
Averill Creek Vineyard, located in the heart of the Cowichan Valley wine region. New World. Cool Climate. Uncompromising terroir-driven wines from Vancouver Island. A 30-acre vineyard rests on the sun-drenched south slope of Mt. Prevost in the Cowichan Valley. Premium quality, single vineyard wines, hand-crafted in small lots to showcase the distinctive terroir & signature style that is Averill Creek and our cool-climate Vancouver Island appellation.
~VERMOUTH~
The base for this vermouth is a blacberry fruit wine, which has been ageing for up to 7 years in a solera system. Some of the barrels have up to 30L of ullage, resulting in a base that is quite oxidative, but not oxidized. Brent wanted a very unique, Pacific Northwest inspired iteration of vermouth, this framework shaped his selection of botanicals.
The main botanical is Old Growth Red Cedar, plus teas from the Westholme Tea Farm in the Cowichan Valley (the only tea farm in Canada!) For example, using their earl grey tea instead of orange rind. The flavours were then rounded out with some more classical vermouth botanicals, such as star anise, cardamom, and pink peppercorn.
Vermouth 500ml | SKU #388507 |$23.50
~2022 JOUE WHITE FIELD BLEND~
This wine is structured, textured, and lightly saline, with abundant freshness and tension. A clean, aromatic nose exudes white flower potpourri and fresh rain.
Nothing has been added to this wine. No yeast, no enzymes, no nutrients and no S02 at any point.
The palate transitions seamlessly from verve & vibrancy to a softer, round mid-palate before culminating in a talcy, textural density and firm acidity.
The grapes comprising the 2022 Joue White were picked, processed and vinified separately but treated exactly the same. Picked into half ton bins that were foot stomped, left over night and then whole bunch pressed the next day into older French barriques. Fermented till dry and left on primary lees until just before blending and bottling.
joue White 750ml | SKU #176680 |$19.91
~2022 JOUE FIELD BLEND RED~
The fruit came into the winery almost exploding with freshness. To harness that we fermented it all whole bunch and in stainless steel vats.
Nothing has been added to this wine. No yeast, no enzymes, no nutrients and no S02.
After two and a half weeks we pressed the wine off and aged in stainless steel tanks. The resulting wine had intense perfume and incredible fruit intensity but lacked a bit of structure. To compensate for this used a technique from Veneto in Italy to naturally build some structure back into the wine.
The 2019 Somenos Pinot had plenty of structure, so much so that when pressing we cut the press cycle short at 1 bar. When we dumped the press the marc (skins and stems from ferment) still had plenty of material and goodness left in it. Not wanting to waste this, we added this back into the Joue and left it overnight and pressed it the next day. So, essentially, a Vancouver Island version of ripasso. Not only did this build structure and texture in the wine, but it gave another level of complexity and depth to the perfume and fruit profile.
Joue Red 750ml | SKU #227954 |$19.91
~2022 JOUE ROSE~
Not for the faint of heart: a powerful, intense blend, full of bright fruit flavour, balanced with a dried-flower savouriness. This not-so-little number will entice you towards another bite of food, another sip of wine, on repeat.
Pinot Noir and Foch were pressed-off, and de-stemmed whole-berry Gewurz and Pinot Gris were added on top of the red juice. A red ferment in essence, but with a cap of white berries. It was punched down once daily, then pressed-off, blended and left in tank on primary lees until bottling. No yeast, nutrients, enzymes, or sulphites added – unfiltered and unfined.
Joue Rosé 750ml | SKU #102451 |$19.91
~CHARME DE L’ILE~
A delightful Island sparkling wine produced in the classic Charmat Method. Citrus and floral aromas entice you towards a celebratory sip of this crisp-yet-creamy sparkling, which is bursting with texture and fruit-filled acidity.
Charm de L’ile 750ml | SKU #548263 | $19.50
~2022 CHARDONNAY~
A creamy island Chardonnay. Old oak elevage and concrete egg fermented.
Chardonnay | 750ml | SKU #410627 | $24.01
~2022 ESTATE PINOT GRIS~
100% Estate-grown, using permacultural, regenerative, and dry farming, on glacially deposited stone and gravel, and sandy-loam soils. Fruit selected from sites bordering the treeline, which receive more shade, for added crispness in the fruit.
Foot-stomped and wild fermented partially in concrete egg, and partially in older French oak for 11 months for added texture. No nutrients or enzymes are added. Un-fined and unfiltered.
Estate Pinot Gris 750ml | +418619 | $22.99
~2022 WESTHOLME PINOT GRIS~
Brimming with energy, texture and intensity. Lees ageing builds mid-palate density and salinity that counterbalances the fresh fruit and tactile acidity. The freshness and tightness is carried across the palate with a persistent, generous finish.
Grown on the esteemed Saison Vineyard in the neighbouring Westholme region.
Westholme Pinot Gris 750ml | SKU #254736 | $19.91
~2022 PINOT NOIR~
Floral, savoury and spiced aromatics precede a complex fruit profile. Precise, textured acidity aligns with fine tannins and an essential freshness.
Clone 115 was de-stemmed while clones 667 and 777 were 100% whole-bunch fermented. Fermented separately and blended after élevage. Aged in French oak barriques (7% new, 29% 1yr, 64% >3yrs). No yeast, enzymes or nutrients added. Bottled unfiltered, un-fined. Small Sulphur addition just before bottling.
Pinot Noir 750ml | SKU #786657 | $20.91
~2017 PREVOST~
COWICHAN CLARET | Medium bodied and smooth featuring bold black fruit flavours laced with hints of espresso, dark chocolate and spicy pepper.
Prevost 750ml | SKU #868695 |$15.01 | Available
~2021 SOMENOS PINOT NOIR~
Pretty and perfumed, the red and dark fruit in this wine maintain freshness, while spice and savoury character offer dimension and complexity. These elements are supported with persistent acidity and ripe, seamless tannins.