The Hogler Family in Richmond has the magic touch! They’re a fourth generation farm family whose Richmond Country Farms Market, Country Meadows Golf Course and Grille Restaurant are known for delivering excellent quality at old fashioned prices.
And now the Hogler clan has added another jewel to the crown. They’ve branched out even more and hopped on the wine wagon with their Country Vines Winery. Situated on the east side of Country Farm where Lucas Hogler, son of owner Harry Hogler, is the vineyard manager and winemaker.
They are the only winery in Richmond that makes estate wines produced from grapes grown on their Richmond vineyards off Steveston Highway, just east of Highway 99.
I recently sat down with Country Vines knowledgeable and passionate Wine Consultant, Eric Urquhart and tasted the estate wines. Urquhart told me the vineyards behind the farmer’s market are 50 percent Pinot Gris and 50 percent Schonberger. This year will be the fourth vintage using their estate grapes.
My favourite is the 2016 Country Vines Pinot Gris ($16.99). “The Pinot Gris came in perfectly ripe, almost a red grape, yielding a very ripe rich version with a peachy rose colour, really ripe apricot honey and a little red fruit wandering through there,” says Urquhart, smacking his lips! He adds, “Because of the way we made it, it actually has weight. This is not thin Pinot Gris. Great stuff!” This Eric agrees with that Eric.
Urquhart recommends, “The Pinot Gris will go with any number of seafood dishes, the lovely spot prawns available here are wonderful. It goes really well with soft cheeses like Brie and Camembert. You can have it with a little boccocini mozzarella salad with some tropical fruit, mangoes, and a nice little citrus vinaigrette.”
There is another 100% varietal Pinot Gris, the 2015 Back Forty ($15.99). Back Forty” is an old farming term referring to the forty acres at the back of a property, in this case where the vineyard is. “There is a small lot production of pure Pinot Gris put into second-use lightly toasted barrels. It provided a little bit of butterscotch and a little weight in the background and it tastes like a very nice Pinot Grigio, not big flavours but really pleasant with a nice finish.”
The other estate whites are blends which include Schonberger. “The production we get here is so intensely floral and tropical that it probably would be too intense for people, but it makes an amazing wine to blend with, especially in the 2016 Back Forty White and the Sipping Pretty ($17.99). The 2016 version of Sipping Pretty has 40 percent Schonberger and then we blend in our stainless Chardonnay, and some Riesling and some Gewurztraminer and a bit of Viognier. It’s an awful tasty Heinz 57,” Urquhart boasts.
At the close of my interview, Urquhart gave one more reason to visit. “We have a patio which people are starting to find. And we sell wines by the glass or we will sell you a bottle of wine and you can share with friends and you can bring your own picnic.”
Country Vines wines are only available at the winery and at the Country Meadows Restaurant.
Eric Hanson is a retired Richmond teacher and big fan of BC wine.
