The inspiration for the name Privato comes from the Italian word meaning ‘private’, which aptly describes the winery’s idyllic park-like setting. Owned by John and Debbie Woodward, the property began in 1987, as a Christmas tree farm planted with Scotch pine and Blue Spruce. They sell their trees primarily to the local market. The Woodwards also farmed ginseng for several years, until the price dropped from $55 to $3. In fact, the building housing their small winery was originally designed for drying ginseng.
In 2010, they planted three acres of grapes. Of their 80 acres, 20 are now devoted to Christmas trees and 4 acres to vines – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling and Maréchal Foch. They also purchase some additional fruit from the Lake Country region, north of Kelowna. Privato is small lot production. In their first year, they only made about 600 cases of wine. This year, it was up to about 1400 cases and should hit 1600 next year. John and Debbie want to remain small and focus on quality. They have no desire to exceed 2500 cases per year.
MURRAY MITCHELL/THE DAILY NEWS
The Woodwards didn’t open a tasting room right away, thinking they were too far off the beaten track to get many visitors, but the establishment of the Kamloops Wine Trail and considerable critical acclaim right out of the gate, changed all that. People, especially lovers of chardonnay and pinot noir, began to seek them out and were justly rewarded for doing so.
The winery opened in August of 2014 and they now have two vintages of estate grown fruit. Privato is a part of the Kamloops Wine Trail Association. They feel the KWT has been quite successful in attracting attention to the burgeoning wine industry in the area.
The Woodwards took some of their initial inspiration from Foxtrot winery and decided to focus primarily on just two varieties, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and to market them exclusively to the restaurant trade, but soon decided to change their business plan.
John Woodward, who had many years experience as a home winemaker, before opening Privato, is the winemaker along with New Zealand-trained consultant Jacqueline Kemp.
The wines I tasted on my visit were:
- Privato Rosé $18.99 266 cases
A blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
A crisp, dry Rose with lots of cherry, raspberry and cranberry, big and round in the mouth with a nice creamy texture, New World style, balanced with good structure, a very versatile wine. Serve with salmon, chicken, turkey, pork tenderloin or baked ham.
- Privato Pinot Gris $19.99 161 cases
The grapes come from Oyama.
Clean and crisp with peach and melon flavours and a long lingering finish. Very good. It’s structure makes for a wine that will pair with a wide range of foods – poultry, pork, seafood and much more.
- Woodward Collection Chardonnay $25.99 185 cases
Excellent
I really like this wine. It is well made with just the right integration of fruit and oak. It hits all the right notes for a chardonnay – toast, vanilla, apple, citrus and hints of stone fruit. An elegant wine that shows what BC can do with this grape. If you are a fan of chardonnay, buy this wine.
- Privato Pinot Noir $25.99 245 cases
Perfumed nose of jasmine and honeysuckle with cherry and strawberry aromas. Lots of fruit flavour.
- Woodward Collection Pinot Noir $42.99
Cherry nose, raspberry, cranberry and spice aromas with leather and earthy notes on the nose and palate, fruit lingers on the finish. An elegant wine. Serve with Classic French dishes, fowl, game, or mushroom risotto.
- Woodward Collection Tesoro Pinot Noir $34.69 95 cases
‘Tesoro’ is Italian for ‘treasure’ and it is aptly named. Barrel aged for 18 months and another year in bottle. Red fruit, forest floor, earthy with pepper notes. This is an excellent BC pinot noir from the Rise Vineyard in Vernon.
- Grande Réserve Pinot Noir $42.99 200 cases
Excellent! From the Rise Vineyard in Vernon. Aged for 36 months in barrel, as per European standards for Reserve wines, followed by 6 months of bottle aging. Burgundian in style with aromas and flavours of plum, cherries, violets, earthiness and forest floor. Elegant and an example of just how good BC Pinot Noir can be. If you love Pinot Noir, don’t delay, seek it out and buy some right away. The Grande Reserve is only made in exceptional years when the quality of the fruit warrants making it.
With its complexity, bright fruit and acidity, pinot noir is undoubtedly, the most versatile red wine, pairing well with a wide range of foods from salmon, chicken, turkey, duck, rabbit, stews and roast beef.
If you visit Privato and it is busy, be patient. This is a small, intimate winery that offers some of the best wines made in BC. So take some time to relax in their bucolic park-like patio area. Cheers!
(All photos, except as noted, by Sam Hauck)
