Rocky Creek Winery

Rocky Creek Winery's prize winning wines

On May 3, Cherie Oke of Cowichan Valley Photos was privileged, on behalf of the Cowichan Wine & Culinary Festival, to be the guest of Rocky Creek Winery at their Press Conference. What a treat that was! First, the tastings and appropriate canapés from Amuse Bistro to accompany them. With the crisp, fruity dry Ortega –a flavourful bruschetta; with the gold medal winning Pinot Gris a luscious layered camembert and chevre from the Cowichan’s own Hilary’s Cheese. Robin’s Rose paired with a carrot dip and thin slices of artisan bread hinted of summer evenings on the patio. Then a switch to big balloon glasses for the elegantly fruity Pinot Noir paired with an equally elegant layered canapé of smoked salmon on brie with thin slivers of apple. Yum! There were, too, other savories from which we were invited to help ourselves as we prepared to sit and listen to Mark Holford’s fascinating and informative presentation on the beginnings and ongoing development of Rocky Creek Winery.

Mark and Linda Holford might well be described as the little engines that could of the winery business. From the beginning in 2004 in the basement of their Ladysmith house to their present 7 acre hillside location in Cowichan Bay where they relocated in 2007, they were innovative and inventive. “To thin or not to thin, that is the question” and, in a series of controlled experiments over the next few years, Mark is attempting to prove that the nots have it. And then there’s the ZORK, a recyclable, reusable cork that combines the air permeability of natural cork with the ease of use of the screw cap. In addition, there is a dedication to sustainability through environmentally friendly practices, their unique planting design, their trellising system, and more.

With a final flourish, our friendly, gracious and energetic hosts offered a tasting of their Wild Blackberry wine paired with organic salt and pepper chocolate and slightly spicy homemade cookies. Described by the Holfords as their “WOW factor”, Rocky Creek Winery’s Wild Blackberry wine has consistently won “best of” in competitions. I can hardly wait to serve it over ice cream or with a hearty blue cheese from Hilary’s Cheese.

Upon leaving, each of the guests was given a gift basket containing two Riedel glasses with the Rocky Creek Winery logo discreetly etched on the bottom, a bottle of either Ortega or Pinot Gris, and a reusable 4 pouch bag in which to carry them. Having been told that they also produce a verjus – making use of the grapes from those thinned vines – off I went with Mark to the tasting room so I could buy some.

Grape vines at Rocky Creek Winery, Cowichan Valley