The 2008 Vintage
For the Cowichan Valley grape grower, 2008 was a very difficult year. The spring was very cool to the point of not existing. So: no spring; no bud break. We did not warm up enough to get bud break until the last week of May and even early June. This took three to four weeks out of our growing season and meant that tenting the Merlot and Pinot was hugely important for 2008.

After June, the weather was very good with long hot spells through June and July. This allowed good flowering and berry set. We then sat and worried all through August and September, hoping that we were getting enough heat units to make up for the late spring. The tented varieties did well, coming in at 22.8 brix with good acidity and ripe fruit flavours. The Pinot Gris and Gewürztraminer were late. We picked them late in October with sugars as low as 19 but the flavours were good. We were helped by an Indian summer and even picked some Marechal Foch at 27 brix.

All in all, 2008 was a difficult year, but Averill Creek harvested 46 tons of fruit, with quality ranging from very good to manageable. We are expecting the reds to be great, with good concentration of color and flavour. The Prevost will be a big black blockbuster of a wine. The Pinot will be a great Averill Creek Pinot, but the quality is not there yet to be able to produce a reserve wine. The white wines will be lean but flavourful.

Awards and Achievements
The 2008 season a great year for Averill Creek wines. The Pinot Gris was awarded a gold medal at the All Canadian Wine Championship for the second year in a row, 2005 and 2006.

The Pinot Noir was awarded a silver medal at Wine Access Canada tastings in Kelowna.  It then received a second silver medal at Liberty Wines, A Taste of British Columbia.  The 2007 Pinot Grigio also received an honourable mention at the Liberty Wines, A Taste of British Columbia.

I feel that for such a new winery from a new oenological area to achieve these awards is a huge feather in Averill Creek’s cap. We are moving in the right direction for our wines which reflects the wonderful terroir of Mount Prevost and the Cowichan Valley.

Events at Averill Creek
The social calendar of events is already filling up for the spring.

• Averill Creek started the years events with a table at the Vancouver Playhouse Wine Festival from March 23-29. It was a great weekend and the Averill Creek Pinot Noir and Prevost were both very well received.
• We are excited to be part of the first Wine Islands tasting at The Inn at Laurel Point in Victoria on Easter Monday, April 13. Twenty wineries and cideries will be pouring. This event is a must-attend if you want to find out what is happening in the wine business on The Island. Tickets are $20 and available at local wine stores. For more information you can also go to www.wineislands.ca
• Cafe Brio is holding an Averill Creek Vineyard Winemaker’s Dinner on Tuesday April 28. We will be featuring a full range of wines matched with Cafe Brio’s great menu. For reservations, please contact the restaurant at 250 383 0099 or 1 866 270 5461. To view the menu go to www.cafebrio.com/winemakers.htm
• On  April 30th another Averill Creek Vineyard Winemaker’s Dinner will be held at Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Resort and Conference Centre in Parksville BC. Details to be announced soon on the Averill Creek web site.
  
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Spring Opening
Averill Creek will be opening for tastings and tours starting on April 25. We will be hosting our annual Spring Open House on that day, to release our new wines. The Open House will feature fresh seafood and Evening Cove Oysters from Nanaimo. The patio will be open and tours of the winery will be offered.

This season we will have eight wines available: 2006 and 2007 Pinot Gris; 2008 Pinot Grigio; 2007 Somenos Rose; 2008 Gewurztraminer; 2006 and 2007 Pinot Noir; and 2006 Merlot. We are also proud to announce the release of two new wines: the 2007 Prevost, a proprietary blend of Marechal Foch, Marechal Foch/Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot; and our new Blackberry dessert wine, called Cowichan Black. This year we will be open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm for tastings.

We will offer a complimentary selection of four wines each day to taste. Complete tastings can be arranged, and you are welcome to make an appointment for a tour. The patio will be open, so bring your picnics and enjoy a glass of wine.

Winemaker News
2009 looks to be another exciting year for Averill Creek. Our vineyard is now fully developed and will be mature enough to give us at least 80 tons of high-quality fruit. We are happy to welcome Daniel Dragert as our new winemaker. Daniel graduated from Lincoln wine school in New Zealand and, after a few vintages down under, became the assistant winemaker at Red Rooster for 2007. As our winemaker, he will also be advising the vineyard manager on aspects of viticulture. Cowichan Valley, because it is a new grape growing area, has to develop its own “best viticulture practices.” We are learning all the time and experimenting all the time. The curve, at this time, seems to be exponential.

From the New Winemaker
I am proud to be the new winemaker here at Averill Creek Vineyard.  For me, it represents an exciting and challenging step in my journey into wine making.  
It was about 2004  when I absolutely fell in love with wine.  In 2006 I found myself at Lincoln University in Christchurch, New Zealand, completing their graduate program in viticulture and oenology.  More valuable experience in New Zealand followed, before I returned to the BC industry. I worked in the Okanagan for the 2007-2008 season, but I was born and raised on the Saanich Peninsula, and am happy to have this opportunity to return home and explore the vast potential of the Vancouver Island wine industry.

The 2008 vintage at Averill Creek was challenging but inspiring.  Great wines are made in the vineyard and the true potential of the site is beginning to shine through.  We achieved quality fruit despite a very difficult growing season.  The hard work paid off, and the wines are developing nicely.  The Gewurztraminer, Pinot Grigio, and Rose wines are set to be bottled at the end of the month.  All are tasting great, and will taste even better upon release.
I look forward to the future here at Averill Creek, and I hope there will be many more vintages to come!
    --Daniel Dragert

Complete Case Club
Averill Creek is introducing a new program this year, the Complete Case Club. Members who join—for a fee of $25—will have the opportunity to buy case lots at a 7% discount.  They will also be informed of new releases and have the chance to buy limited release wines and older vintages.