By appreciating nature’s ways, Lotusland Vineyards produces wines with character
Was there any doubt? When the son of recycling forerunners and the daughter of Mennonite farmers decided to start Lotusland Vineyards in Fraser Valley, “there wasn’t a choice” to be organic.
Restoring fallow ground and even gravel pits into crop producing land presented a formidable challenge for David and Liz Avery. But over the past nine years, the pioneering couple learned how to feed the soil to produce the highest quality fruit with the least amount of inputs.
“Mother Nature has a habit of keeping in perfect checks and balances,” David says. “We used to need eight to 10 people to tend 8 ½ acres, now we only need four to six people for 14 vineyards. We don’t do 80 percent of the steps anymore so the vineyards look a little more unruly but grow wonderful, wonderful fruit.”
In keeping with their appreciation for the land’s natural variety, Lotusland wines forgo commercial yeasts or acidifying. “If the wine turns out a little crisper, that’s the vintage we got that year,” David says. Lotusland patrons enjoy the unique character and limited release of each year’s wine. “Many of our clients have come out to visit and appreciate our philosophy,” David says.
Some wine aficionados can’t make it out to the British Columbia vineyard for a tour (barrel sampling included!) or to browse the Lotusland Wine Boutique. Fortunately, they can still sip this premium wine and see Lotusland photos on the bottles featured at restaurants and retail outlets throughout Alberta and British Columbia.
“More and more restaurants are switching over to an organic and local bent,” David says. This trend means that without a doubt Lotusland will find more partners to share the fruit of their labors throughout Canada.
Contact:
(604) 857-4188
www.lotuslandvineyards.com
Lotusland Vineyards
28450 King Road
Abbotsford, British Columbia, V4X 1B1
Tags: abbotsford, british columbia, fraser valley, natural, organic, tourism, tours, vineyard, wine
