Karl MYWINEPAL [Unique Grape Varieties Making Unique Wines on Vancouver Island]

Most of you are probably familiar with tasting BC wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Chardonnay, or Pinot Gris grapes.  But, there are other lesser-known grape varieties grown in BC that also make enjoyable wines. 

40 Knots Vineyard and Estate Winery has made an orange wine using Schönberger and Siegerrebe grapes.  As I pulled these wines from my cellar, the vintages that I am tasting are sold out and you would be purchasing the latest vintages. 

40 Knots Vineyard and Estate Winery practices sustainable viticulture, focusing on low-impact farming techniques, including organic and biodynamic principles.  It is quite commendable considering the cool climate where these wineries are located.

The Grape Varieties

Schönberger is a white grape variety that is a cross between Pinot Noir and Pirovano 1 (itself a cross of Chasselas Rose and Muscat d’Hamburg). This grape is prized for its intensely perfumed profile, offering layers of lychee, rose petal, and ripe pear, often with a touch of honeyed sweetness. Lastly, Siegerrebe, a crossing of Gewürztraminer and Madeleine Angevine, offers sweet spices, grapefruit, and floral notes, delivering a wine that is highly aromatic yet delicate on the palate. These hybrids showcase the diversity of BC’s wine landscape, offering exciting alternatives to traditional European varieties.

My Wine Tasting Notes

40 Knots Vineyard and Estate Winery L’Orange 2019 (BC $42 but is Sold Out. 2022 vintage)

From the winery, “Schonberger <MyWinePal: and Siegerrebe> whole berry, no crush, gentle punch downs in Amphora, terracotta from Florence, Italy. On skins for 3 months. No malolactic ferment. No additions and S02 levels below 20mg/l. No acid added, natural PH. Native fermentation, no yeast added. No fining, no filter, minimal effective sulphites.”

Appearance: A clear, deep, tawny orange colour.
Nose: Very inviting, medium-intensity aromas or candied oranges, sweet spices, and a touch of floral. Lychee aromas are now a quite prominent addition after decanting.
Palate: Dry, medium-plus body with a lean, smooth mouthfeel.  Oranges, black currants and black currant leaf flavours, along with a touch of floral and some bitterness toward the finish.  Medium acidity and tannins. The wine is more round after decanting and you get a touch of lychee flavour.
Finish: A medium-plus to long length, finishing dry with firm tannins.  Oranges and black currant flavours plus a touch of floral and bitterness. No change to the finish after decanting.

A wine that holds its aromas and flavours after decanting and over many years in the bottle.

Rating:  [4.5 stars]  The 40 Knots Vineyard and Estate Winery L’Orange 2019 showcases a deep tawny orange hue with inviting aromas of candied oranges, sweet spices, and floral notes, with lychee emerging after decanting. On the palate, it is dry and medium-plus bodied with a lean yet smooth mouthfeel, offering flavours of oranges, black currants, and a touch of bitterness, becoming rounder with air. A medium-plus to long finish highlights firm tannins, oranges, and floral notes, remaining unchanged after decanting.

Past Tasting of These Wines

Here are my tasting notes from three years ago.  Let’s see if there are any changes to the aromas and flavours after three more years in the bottle.

40 Knots Vineyard and Estate Winery L’Orange 2019 –  This wine has a deep clear copper colour.  Rich sweet nose with oranges and sweet spices.  Dry, medium plus body with a thicker mouthfeel to start but lightens up on the mid-palate.  Tannins kick in the mid-palate.  Oranges, apple skin and sweet spices on the palate.  Dry tannic finish. Medium length.  A complex wine. Geek-worthy.  [4.5 stars]

Comparison of the 40 Knots Vineyard and Estate Winery L’Orange 2019 Notes

Both tasting notes for the 40 Knots Vineyard and Estate Winery L’Orange 2019 highlight its deep orange-hued appearance and inviting aromas of oranges and sweet spices. Both also agree on the wine’s dry style, medium-plus body, and noticeable tannins on the finish.

Differences appear in the descriptions of mouthfeel and flavours. My newer note describes a lean yet smooth texture that becomes rounder with air, while the 2022 note mentions a thicker mouthfeel that lightens on the mid-palate. The flavour profile in the recent note includes black currants and a touch of bitterness, while the older note highlights apple skin. Additionally, the 2022 review describes a dry, tannic medium-length finish, whereas the newer review extends the finish to medium-plus to long, emphasizing citrus and floral elements.

Find the entire story here

Layne Craig of 40 Knots winery reflects on the last 10 years

Layne Robert Craig, Owner

an interview with Carl

Layne is celebrating his 11th year in the industry, Layne has two loves: his wife, Brenda, and his mistress—the grapes. Layne listens to his mistress with devotion, taking her orders directly and ensuring every whim is met. You’ll often find him interrupting cellar time for impromptu tours. His mission? Keep the workload light, because when you trust the grapes, they make the perfect wine on their own. Layne’s here to ensure everything runs smoothly (and get a taste test along the way). Media Inquiries: brenda@40knotswinery.com | /

What’s the ONE THING most unique, authentic, & memorable about your brand?

At 40 Knots, we stay true to our roots—literally and figuratively. Our name reflects the fierce coastal winds and the stall speed of my plane (my favorite flying moment, while my wife Brenda is screaming in the front passenger seat!). We honor traditional farming and winemaking, crafting wines as serious and beautiful as our label suggests. But behind the scenes? We’re a knotty, adventurous crew who play as hard as we work. Whether we’re tending the vines, losing spectacularly in softball, or “quality testing” the bubbles a bit too much, we bring joy and laughter to everything we do. Each sip of our wine is a bold celebration of nature, craftsmanship, and the cheeky spirit of our fun-loving team.

Describe how and what you’d do with your winemaking career or winery business if you were not constrained. Sky’s the limit!

If there were no limits, we’d go all in and plant a ridiculous amount of Pinot Noir, letting it rule the vineyard like the diva it is. Every single berry would get the royal treatment, fermenting and aging only in amphora because, let’s face it, nothing else captures the essence quite like it. Picture a massive underground glass cellar, 14 feet deep and a mile long, where guests can spy on the glacier till soil and roots that look like something from a sci-fi film. We’d age wines for 20 years or more, just to make our future selves proud. With endless staff on hand, we’d spend our days hanging out with our incredible customers, drinking and laughing together until the sun sets (and maybe a little after that, too). The sky’s not just the limit—we’re aiming for the stars, baby.

What is the One Wine most emblematic of your brand and/or winemaking style? Tell us its story.

Without question, it’s our Pinot Noir—a wine that every winemaker measures themselves against. I’ve always thought of Pinot as a woman: delicate, demanding, and a healer, offering more medicinal properties than any other red grape. But once she becomes wine, she takes on a masculine side—full of structure, sophistication, and mystery, like a suave 007. At 40 Knots, we respect the Pinot. You don’t fight her in the vineyard or cellar—Pinot is the boss. She’s allowed to be what she’s destined to be: an oceanside Pinot, a true reflection of our natural winemaking style. Stay tuned for this wine review, coming soon!

What’s the one thing people would be surprised to learn about your brand?

The one thing that surprises people about 40 Knots Vineyard is that yes, we do have a vineyard, and yes, our grapes thrive! Despite being in Canada, we’re far from the igloos many envision. Instead, we have sandy beaches, rainforest-like hiking trails, and a microclimate where Pinot Noir flourishes. It’s not the cold, snowy tundra you might expect—it’s a stunning coastal haven that’s perfect for growing beautiful fruit.

about Carl

I don’t have any superpowers when it comes to wine, but I do have access, a mild obsession, an interest in visiting wine regions, and a love for storytelling. Wine people have some great stories to tell.

For 15 years as a publicist in the wine business, I have pitched, cajoled, and collaborated with the Wine Media. It has taken me to this place: wanting to share the compelling stories of winemakers by providing writers with a source of useful story ideas.

I have written wine industry articles for Wine Business Monthly, Wine Industry Network, Vineyard & Winery Management Magazine, The Grapevine Magazine, and Oregon Wine Press, and have had a Wine Writer Interview Series on Wine Industry Advisor for over 5 years.

I also write freelance wine and travel articles for Winetraveler, Food Wine Travel Magazine (IFWTWA  (International Food Wine Travel Writers Association), Wander With Wonder, and The Vintner Project.

Author Pages: https://linktr.ee/carlgiavanti

 

40 Knots Achieves Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle Certification and BC Green Business Certification

At 40 Knots Winery, sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. We are incredibly proud to announce that we have earned new certifications in sustainability to add to our Platinum Certification in Green Step and the BC Tourism Sustainability Award for 2024.

 

These accomplishments would not have been possible without the ongoing support of our dedicated employees, trusted suppliers, and loyal customers. Your belief in our mission has driven us to continually strive for excellence in sustainability, and we are deeply grateful for your role in helping us reach this milestone.

The Biosphere Sustainable Lifestyle Certification is a prestigious global recognition awarded to businesses that lead in sustainable practices across environmental, social, and economic pillars. Developed by the Responsible Tourism Institute (RTI) and aligned with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this certification reflects a comprehensive approach to sustainability.

At 40 Knots, we proudly take action in reducing our carbon footprint, supporting local communities, and promoting ethical and eco-friendly practices. Through this certification, we are actively contributing to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, ensuring that we create positive impacts for future generations.

40 Knots achieves Green Status Certification with BC Green Business

BC Green Business at a level of "Green" is their highest level of recognition.  As a BCGB member, we undergo annual evaluations to track our sustainability progress and make continuous improvements towards our green goals. Through the program, we work alongside over 200 like-minded businesses across British Columbia who are who are creating real change for our  planet and community.

Platinum Certification with GreenStep Sustainable Tourism:  40 Knots has undergone consistent certification for 8 years with Green Step - completing a comprehensive assessment (every two years since 2015), to achieve Sustainable Tourism PLATINUM Certification, one of only three businesses in CANADA to achieve this recognition. The process includes a one-on-one review of our business practices with a Sustainable Business Advisor to see how we’re doing against criteria aligned with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.

A Call for All Businesses to Take Action

In this critical time for the health of both our planet and people, it is more important than ever for businesses to step up and embrace sustainable practices. This certification reminds us that every organization, regardless of size or industry, has a responsibility to protect the environment and support the communities in which we live and work. We encourage all businesses to take similar steps because the future of our world depends on it.

A Call for All to Take Action

Waste Reduction Week Oct 21-27: Tips to Shrink Your Footprint

We all know the mantra: reuse, repurpose, recycle. But let's add refuse and reduce to the mix for an even bigger impact on cutting waste and speeding up our move toward a circular economy. Ready to jump in? Here are five easy ways to get started:

Rethink Your Recycling:
Sorting your recycling and taking it to a professional recycling center could make a huge difference. Did you know that too many blue bins end up in landfills because they’re “contaminated”? Only 9% of plastics in Canada are actually recycled. Be part of the solution, not the statistic!

Repair, Don’t Replace:
Got something broken? Instead of tossing it, try fixing it. Reach out to the manufacturer for parts or hop onto YouTube for DIY repair tutorials. It's amazing what a little elbow grease can do to extend the life of your stuff!

Donate, Consign, or Swap Clothes:
That shirt you never wear? Someone else might love it. Donate to thrift shops, consign, or use Buy and Sell groups to give your clothes a second life. And while you're at it, consider thrifting yourself—it’s easy on your wallet and the planet.

Get Smart with Groceries:
Food’s expensive, so make it last. Invest in good storage solutions, and learn what can be frozen or dehydrated. Plan portions carefully and get creative with scraps—veggie peels and meat bones make killer broths. Leftovers? Turn them into soups, stews, or even dog treats! And don’t forget to save seeds from your produce to plant for next season.

Share the Big Stuff:
Why buy when you can borrow? Share big-ticket items like lawnmowers or camping gear with neighbors or family. Carpooling can also cut down on costs and emissions. Think community over consumption.

And finally, refuse waste before it happens! Opt for bulk purchases and bring your own containers whenever possible to cut down on excessive packaging. Every small step adds up—so let’s keep moving toward less waste and a greener future!

Special Thanks to Our Partners

This achievement also owes much to the invaluable guidance and support from the brilliant and dedicated teams at BC Green Business, Synergy Foundation, and Green Step. Their expertise and smart solutions have been key to helping us strengthen our commitment to sustainability, and we are deeply thankful for your partnership.

Thank you once again to everyone who has been part of this journey. Together, we are raising a glass to sustainability, the health of our planet, and the well-being of our communities!