Stag's Hollow Winery News

Stag's Hollow in the news

Stag's Hollow Founders Retire. Ownership Appoints New General Manager

As many of you know, Stag’s Hollow Winery was established in 1995 by founders Linda Pruegger and Larry Gerelus. In their 25+ years building the winery business, they have contributed significantly to the success and growth of the British Columbia wine industry. Since the sale of the winery in April of 2019, Linda and Larry stayed on to help guide the team through the transition and have worked closely with new owner Eric Liu.

“In the early days, one of our biggest challenges was convincing people they should buy British Columbia wines”, says Linda Pruegger. At the time, the Okanagan Valley had approximately 28 wineries whereas today that number is closer to 200. “And the highlight was the recognition by open-minded consumers that some very good wines were being produced”, says Larry Gerelus. From winning international wine awards to planting Spanish and Italian grape varieties, Linda and Larry have pushed boundaries and opened doors for many to follow.

Neighbour Leslie D’Andrea of Noble Ridge credits the two with helping her and husband Jim establish their vineyard, “We met Larry and Linda in the late 1990s when they had just started and were immediately impressed with their wine. When we bought our land in 2001, Larry and Linda kindly agreed to manage the property. We couldn’t have got started without them and will be forever indebted to them for that kindness.”

In a recent Q&A with Linda and Larry, prior to their retirement last month, they provided a bit of insight into the past and their future.

Q: What are you most proud of accomplishing from the time you first acquired the vineyard until now?

Linda: “We took a vineyard with varietals we needed to change and grew it into a beautiful and successful winery and vineyard.”

Larry: “I’ve always wanted to make the best Merlot in the Okanagan. Over the 25 years I believe we have accomplished that. I feel that the terroir at Stag’s is very special and in particular makes great and consistent Merlot. The second was sticking with Vidal. In the 3 years preceding starting the winery, when we would be closing up the trailer in November we would pick the Vidal remaining after harvest. I’d take it back to Calgary and make wine. What I discovered [by waiting until after the frost] was this intensity and fascinating flavour profile.  So the first official harvest of Vidal in 1995 was picked very late and by 2000 we had a formula for picking and fermenting it that pretty much remains to date.”

Q: What was your most memorable moment over the years?

Linda: “One of our most memorable moments was being invited to Barolo Italy to pour our ‘Italian wines’. They were extremely well received by the international audience and people were so grateful and surprised to try such beautiful wines from Canada. Most did not know we even grew grapes and produced wine.”

Larry: “The most memorable great moment was receiving a Gold Medal at the 2001 Okanagan Wine Festival for our 1999 Merlot. 1999 was a very cool vintage, but it resulted in intense and vibrant wines on our site. What made it somewhat unusual was Sinclair Phillip’s (Sooke Harbour House owner, and then-wine festival judge) visit to the wineshop only minutes before we were to close and rush off to the festival to get set up that Saturday evening. Before leaving the wineshop he ordered 25 cases of the 1999 Merlot. When we arrived and were setting up Harry McWatters was taking John Ralston Saul around to various tables. One of them was ours, where he introduced us and asked if they could taste the 1999 Merlot. We still were not aware that it had won a Gold Medal. We definitely started to add things up, and when the Medals were announced we then found out what this was all about. A great moment for Linda and me.”

Q: What were some of the biggest challenges/highlights of the early days in the industry?

Linda: “In the early days our biggest challenge was convincing the hospitality industry that BC was making good wines and that they should buy BC. It was equally challenging to get visitors to stop at Stag’s Hollow and try wines from a new winery.”

Larry: “The highlight was the recognition by open-minded consumers that some very good wines were being produced. In retrospect the number of “wine” people that would say that in the Okanagan we could not make decent reds, and that they could never be age-worthy: they were so wrong!”

Q: Of all the wines you made over the years, what wine/vintage has been your favourite, and why?

Linda: “With so many wines this is a very difficult question!  A couple come to mind right off the top. First, the 2011/2012 Hawk’s Hollow. Made from Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot these are both smooth, rich, complex wines. The other is our 2015 Teroldego, which I believe was our first vintage. I savour every bottle we open and will be very sorry when we have no more.”

Larry: “Aside from the 1999 Merlot mentioned above, I have to bring both Tempranillo and Albariño into the picture.  Both wines I loved from Spain and had to find out if they could grow here. I’m not sure I would have planted Tempranillo knowing what I know now, but I’m glad I did. Like Cabernet Sauvignon in this valley, they are not like Tempranillo from other parts of the world, but definitely still Tempranillo and some delicious wines that age so well.”

Q: What are you most looking forward to in retirement?

Linda: “I look forward to slowing down and having weekends in summer, enjoying a long leisurely coffee in the morning on my deck, and spending more time becoming fit again.”

Larry: “Enjoying our old vintages without analyzing and critiquing them - just enjoying.”

Eric Liu purchased Stag’s Hollow Winery on April 17, 2019. Eric owns Bench 1775 in Naramata as well as vineyards in Summerland and the Similkameen valley and has worked with Linda and Larry to assemble a strong leadership team in each area of the winery including the appointment of Sales and Marketing Manager Erin Korpisto to the role of General Manager.

In her role as General Manager, Erin is responsible for the operations of Stag’s Hollow Winery. “I’m thrilled to work with the team in this role,” says Erin, who first joined the winery in February 2019. “I’m honoured to have the trust and confidence of Eric and to build on what Linda and Larry started.”

Erin and the team will build on the legacy created by Linda and Larry. With winemaker Keira LeFranc and vineyard manager Vilem Blazek, the focus at Stag’s Hollow continues to be on low-intervention farming and crafting small lot wines of distinction. “We’re fortunate,” says Erin. “It’s a privilege to work with such talented people.”

The team at Stag’s Hollow wishes Linda and Larry all the best in their retirement, and looks forward to welcoming guests old and new over this next season and beyond. If you would like to follow Linda & Larry on Instagram, their handle is @stagshollowfounder. Especially knowing that many of you have formed friendships with Linda and Larry over the years, if you would like to get in touch by email, they can be reached at lpruegger@shaw.ca.

BC Lieutenant Governor Wine Awards

After a year with many of the usual wine judging and awards being cancelled, we' were excited to submit several wines to this year's British Columbia Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards Judging Competition took place in mid-September, with the awards being announced last night. The results for Stag's Hollow wines are as follows:

GOLD - 2017 Renaissance Merlot

SILVER - 2019 Blanc de Noirs

SILVER - 2017 Syrah

BRONZE - 2019 Albariño

BRONZE - 2019 Pinot Gris

BRONZE - 2018 Pinot Noir Shuttleworth Creek

Points for Pinot Noirs from Gismondi on Wine

89 points from Anthony Gismondi, gismondionwine.com

A mix of Dijon clones from Shuttleworth Creek Vineyard is the star behind this stylish pinot noir. The attack is juicy, the fruit ripe but with earthy, sour cherry, black cherry, and black tea atop spicy forest floor, trailing into a dry, dusty, smoky finish. Its delicacy comes from only 13.6 percent alcohol, which allows all the pinot complexity to shine. It is fun to drink and ready to drink. Try this with grilled salmon and fall vegetables. Drink or hold through 2022.

 

 

 

90 points from Anthony Gismondi, gismondionwine.com

The Stag's Hollow is always a slightly bigger pinot than the Shuttleworth Creek version, given its advantage of a warm west facing aspect. The nose is fresh and clean with vibrant cherry and plum that spills across the palate. Again lively and lithe, the juicy red fruit mixes with licorice and cola, before a long, mouthfilling, balanced finish. Stag's Hollow Estate Vineyard is home to the oldest pinot vines at Stag's Hollow. Now at 26 years of age, they deliver a complex mix of co-fermented Dijon clones 115 and 667. Turkey would be a fine match.

Wine Reviews from Set The Bar

A big thanks to Robert K Stephen at Set The Bar for his recent scores and reviews on three of our newly released wines. For the complete article, please click here.

2018 Pinot Noir Shuttleworth Creek Vineyard (90 points): "On the nose raspberry galore, sweet red cherry, milk chocolate and strawberry. This is what some may call classic Pinot Noir. On the palate it is smooth and low in tannins. Slim notes of raspberry and sweet red strawberry."

 

 

2018 Pinot Noir Stag's Hollow Vineyard (92 points): "Light ruby coloured with a delightful nose of black cherry, black cherry cola, raspberry, strawberry and Cherry Kool Aid. On the palate although the tannins are velvety there is a certain gruffness on the palate highly suggestive this is a very food worthy wine. Notes of blackberry, cassis and cherry jam with a warm midweight finish."

 

 

2019 Albariño (92 points): "Mid gold in colour. On the nose cantaloupe, apricot, white peach and 1960’s upside down pineapple cake. And on the palate the notes match those from the nose. It is smooth and full bodied and at the end of the day is on par with the best Spanish Albariño."

 

2020 Awards List

2020 BC Lieutenant Governor's Wine Awards
Gold - 2017 Renaissance Merlot
Silver - 2019 Blanc de Noirs
Silver - 2017 Syrah
Bronze - 2019 Albariño
Bronze - 2019 Pinot Gris
Bronze - 2018 Shuttleworth Creek Pinot Noir

2020 Cascadia International Wine Competition
Gold - 2016 Tempranillo
Silver - 2017 Renaissance Pinot Noir

2020 Wine Press Northwest Best of the Best
Double Gold - 2018 Syrah Rosé
Gold - 2016 Renaissance Merlot

New Release Reviews from John Schreiner

Thank you to John Schreiner for featuring our new spring releases in his latest post. We are thrilled to receive 92 points on the Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc and 90 points on the other four! To read more, please click here.

Stag’s Hollow Pinot Gris 2019 ($26 for 490 cases). This is the winery’s first Pinot Gris. To distinguish it from the ocean of Pinot Gris in the market, winemaker Keira LeFranc decided to make it in what the winery calls “a rich and textural, off-dry Alsatian style.” She succeeded brilliantly. The wine begins with appealing aromas of pear, white peach and citrus. The palate is indeed rich, with flavours of pear, apple and honeydew melon. The wine has a lingering finish with a hint of spice. 92.

Stag’s Hollow Sauvignon Blanc 2019 ($22 for 123 cases). This is a dry, zesty wine with aromas and flavours of lime and gooseberry mingled with savoury herbs. The wine is especially notable for the intensity of flavour and the persistent finish. 92.

Stag’s Hollow Muscat Frizzante 2019 ($22 for 305 cases). The blend is 49.7% Muscat Ottonel, 45.3% Orange Muscat and 5% Riesling. With 10% alcohol and delicate bubbles from being carbonated, this wine is light and refreshing. It begins with aromas of spice. On the palate, the flavours mingle spice with citrus and nectarine. This is such a delicious wine, and it goes down so easily, that you need to buy more than one bottle. 90.

Stag’s Hollow Rosé 2019 ($24 for 483 cases). This is 65% Syrah and 35% Zweigelt. The Zweigelt is new to this blend; the winery now has access to that varietal from a Similkameen vineyard. The wine presents in the glass with a delicate pink hue. It begins with aromas of raspberries and strawberries. Those berries are echoed on the intensely flavoured palate mingled with watermelon and a hint of pepper. The finish is dry. 90.

Stag’s Hollow Blanc de Noirs 2019 ($25 for 235 cases). Fashionably pale in the glass, this wine is 76.8% Pinot Noir, 18.2% Gamay Noir and 4.6% Zweigelt. It begins with aromas of cherry, strawberry and peach. The texture is surprising, and pleasingly. Full, with flavours of strawberry and apple. The finish is dry. 90.

Stag’s Hollow Simply Noir 2019 ($22 for 860 cases). The blend is 63% Gamay Noir, 28% Pinot Noir, 5% Zweigelt and 4% Dolcetto. Here is a very drinkable red wine with soft tannins that suggest the wine will benefit from a slight chill. It has aromas and flavours of bright red fruit including cherries. The finish is dry. 90. 

New Release Reviews from the Wine Diva - Daenna VanMulligan

We've recently received reviews on our first 2019 vintage releases -  2019 Rosé & 2019 Sauvignon Blanc - from Daenna VanMulligan. To see more of her reviews, please visit her site at WineDiva.

Tangy, dry, juicy.
Stag's Hollow celebrates 25 years in 2020!
Made from Syrah (64.8%) grown in Osoyoos, and Zweigelt from the Similkameen Valley, this pale Provencal-hued pink offers apricot and melon, red currents and orange blossom aromas. Tangy high-toned red fruit lines the palate; overall, good structure, balance and freshness.
A great wine for taco Tuesdays, or partner with grilled fish, ratatouille, grilled veggies and medium cheeses.   

 

 

 

 

 

Delightful, expressive, delicious.
Delightfully expressive, this savvy offers piquant notes of nettle and gooseberry alongside guava and peaches, green apples, honey and elderflower branch. It is tangy and buoyant, with a clean palate that shows significant peachy flavours. It has a kiss of sweetness and is definitely more fruity than verdant. Delicious and persistent; one glass, nay one bottle will not be enough.  

Recommended Pairings 
Eat your Greens, Cheese - Goat, Creamy Dishes

 

 

Food & Music Pairings for our 2019 Rosé

Our 2019 Rosé is featured in this week's Castanet Wine Review by Allison Markin, where she offers some great food pairing suggestions, as well as a song...

Pair with: Takeout Indian dishes, spicy nachos made at home, a veggie or tuna poke bowl with reasonable wasabi mixed in (or on the side). Grilled salmon or hot buffalo wings from the grill, or a spinach and strawberry salad with a light lime and pepper vinaigrette.

Music pairing: How Soon is Now, The Smiths

For the complete review on Castanet, including the tasting notes, please follow this link.

91 points for Stag's Hollow N/V Royal

From Treve Ring, gismondionwine.com

Pouring a golden yellow hue, this very sweet elixir is like drinking floral syrup, with dense and intense white blossoms, lime essence, dried apricot, golden raisin, rich quince paste, filling the full palate to a very spirited, spiced ginger finish. Super sweet (205 g/l), though thankfully there is a well handled line of acidity to counter. This is the third release of NV Royal, a blend of orange muscat and ottonel muscat that fermented naturally, arrested halfway with the addition of barrel aged grape spirits, and transferred to older French oak barrels where it remained for a minimum of 5 years, with random exposure to the hot Okanagan sun.