Donald Triggs, Culmina’s owner is an ex-CEO for Vincorp International, once the ninth largest wine producer in the world. He is half of the name in Jackson-Triggs winery.
Consultant Alain Sutre selected the grapes to be planted at Culmina based on the soil analysis. Sutre has played a vital role in the success of other prestigious wineries such as Osoyoos-Larose, Burrowing Owl, and Painted Rock wineries.
Culmina’s Bordeaux trained winemaker, Pascal Madevon has had plenty of experience producing premium reds in the Okanagan, working at Osoyoos-Larose.
What’s in a Name: Culmina is Latin for top or peak. The word culmination is derived from culmina. Culmina Winery is a culmination of Donald Trigg’s extraordinary career in the wine busness..
Location: Culmina is on the Golden Mile of the Okanagan, south of Oliver, on Wild Rose St., west of Highway 97. Website: culmina.ca
Anything Special in Addition to the Wines? The view from the sundeck of Osoyoos Lake and the vineyards is spectacular.
The tasting room is more than just a place to sample wines. It has a strong educational component where visitors sit down at a table and you learn how the soils, the location, the climate, the selection of grapes, and the expertise are all crucial to the quality of the wine. You walk away with more than just a few sips of wine.
And Now, the Main Attraction: The 2015 Unicus ($27) produced from Gruner Veltliner, one of Austria’s premium whites. It is partly fermented in concrete and that adds roundness to the wines.
The GV is much like a Riesling in that it has a good dose of acidity producing a tantalizing crispness that will pair well with goat cheese, sushi, and seafood. I loved the guava and citrus, with hints of herbs like a Sauvignon Blanc and the richness of a Chardonnay.
It’s great to see B.C. experimenting with new varieties, especially when the results are so a delicious.
Unfortunately, it is only available at the winery, but that’s a great excuse for a wine trip.
The Culmina 2015 Decora ($21) is a dry and elegant Riesling. There’s typical Riesling acidity which makes the wine fresh and bright, comes with lemon and white flower aromas and peach, nectarine, and lime flavours. Coquilles St.-Jacques, southern fried chicken, or citrus-glazed pork belly would make the Decora sing!
The 2015 Saignée ($22) dry rose is produced from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and a little Malbec. With a short time on the skins steeping in the juice to get the colour, it’s like a Provencal rose. Rich and intense with strawberries, raspberries, and herbs de Provence. Enjoy with Greek barbecued chicken and tsatsiki, Peking Duck, or pork terrine charcuteries.
The 2012 Hypothesis ($38) is Culmina’s iconic red, a Bordeaux style blend with a majority of Merlot and the rest being Cabernet Sauvignon and Cab Franc. Expect a wine with complexity, elegance, and finesse.
There is good structure from the CS and delicious plum and blackberry bouquet and flavours, along with toasty oak. It is a wine to be cellared and enjoyed for years to come. Pair it with duck breast, Dijon mustard and rosemary lamb, or Gruyere cheese.
Final Thoughts: Culmina is a legacy for the Triggs family, welding a lifetime of winemaking experience with state of the art technology to create premium Okanagan wines
Eric Hanson is retired Richmond teacher and wine educator
