Okanagan Wine Family Expands into US

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Canada Online News | Gonzo! - Food and Drink

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PLUME WINERY - Local wine family expands into the US.

 PLUME commemorates the accomplishments of two pioneering west coast vigneron families – the Zepponi family from Napa Valley and the Stewart family from the Okanagan Valley.  The first for a Canadian wine family, the Stewarts are undertaking a significant expansion of their wine company into the United States.  Building on their long Okanagan wine history, they are broadening their reach to California with the co-founding of PLUME Winery and its focus on Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2009 vintage celebrates the first joint accomplishment of these two winery families.

Now spanning three generations, the Stewarts are one of the oldest Canadian wine families.  Their highly acclaimed Quails’ Gate winery in Kelowna, British Columbia, produces premium Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.  Under CEO Tony Stewart’s direction, the Stewart family have partnered with the Zepponi family, second-generation vignerons, with deep experience in the region.  They share a common vision of producing great wines without borders.  By blending generations of regionally specialized wine industry knowledge, the families have created an incredibly well structured wine at a great value.

“Given our success at home in Canada, we are now going to try the same approach in another exceptional winemaking region to broaden our portfolio.  Napa’s so esteemed in the marketplace and Cabernet Sauvignon is just a natural fit for the locale.  We believe it is the best appellation in North America for growing premium Cabernet,” said Tony Stewart, CEO Quails’ Gate Winery and co-founder of PLUME Winery.  “Wines are a sense of place not a commodity.  We have both had that same philosophy instilled in us since childhood.  The dirt really matters, whether it’s in the Okanagan or Napa Valley.”

Dan Zepponi grew up in the wine business starting at the young age of 5, hauling hoses in his family’s cellar at ZD Wines, a boutique winery located on Napa Valley’s Silverado Trail.  His numerous years of wine experience span the gamut of premium Napa wineries including Domaine Chandon, Beringer, and Fosters’ a collection of prestigious wine brands Etude, Chateau St. Jean, St. Clement and Stags’ Leap Winery, to name a few.  With his co-founding of PLUME, Dan is returning to the small winery roots he grew up with in the Napa Valley.

“Napa Valley is North America’s Cab country.  I was raised here in the wine business and believe that this is the grape for the region.  Terroir driven wine is the only way to thrive in the premium wine industry today,” said Dan Zepponi, co-founder PLUME Winery.  “Given the cachet and market demand for Napa Cabs, we believe there is untapped potential for the affordable luxury of a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon in Canada.  With our joint expertise in both markets and the strong Canadian dollar and economy, we have a unique opportunity to deliver good value wine into the Canadian market.”

A high quality expression of what makes Napa Valley the North American home of Cabernet Sauvignon, PLUME provides the richness and elegance of premium California winemaking at a respectful value to the consumer.  The 2009 PLUME grapes were chosen from a careful selection of vineyards across key Napa Valley sub-appellations for greater complexity and depth of layers.  The wine has been aged in premium French oak barrels and has intense dark berry and cherry notes, enhanced with hints of vanilla.  While ready to enjoy now, it can be cellared for several years to come.

At only 1,200 cases the 2009 vintage of PLUME is available primarily in Canada.  It will also be sold in the US through direct sales and to select restaurants shortly. The wine can now be found in the following locations:

·      British Columbia at government Liquor stores

·      British Columbia private stores & select restaurants

·      Alberta at finer liquor stores & select restaurants

·      Manitoba government liquor stores

·      Ontario select restaurants

See www.plumewinery.com for the full list.  The suggested retail price in Canada is $29.99.  

ABOUT PLUME

PLUME commemorates the accomplishments of the Zepponi and Stewart families – two pioneering vigneron families from the Napa and Okanagan Valleys.  PLUME’s origin is a blend of premium Napa Valley vineyards, grown and crafted in California’s premier viticulture and winemaking region. The name PLUME relays a story of both partnership and flight.  The handsome California Quail, an extremely sociable bird found across the Western US and Canada, has a small feather plume at its head.  The feather’s stylized classic nature conjures meaning of strength, grace and origin and symbolizes a special honour.  A high quality expression of what makes Napa Valley the North American home of Cabernet Sauvignon, PLUME offers the richness and elegance of premium California winemaking at a respectful value to the consumer.  www.plumewinery.com

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