Page 67 - Grapevine May-June 2019

International News

the saignee process. During early fer-
mentation, the Pinot juice is removed,
and the Merlot and Cabernet under-
go a cold soak to enhance their color
before pressing.

Gold medals have been awarded to
Dirty Laundry’s Merlot and Au Naturel
Gewürztraminer at the National Wine
Awards in 2018. Their Reisling won gold
at the San Francisco Wine Competition
2017, and their Syrah also brought
home gold at the Pacific Rim Wine
Competition 2017. Va va voom.

Woo Woo: Where Wine Is Fun

Dirty Laundry winemaker, Mason
Spink, grew up in Victoria, B.C., and
completed his honors degree in
Oenology and Viticulture at Brock
University in St. Catherines, Ontario.
After returning to B.C after college, he
worked with See You Later Ranch as
assistant winemaker but was quickly
promoted to winemaker for seven vin-
tages. Spink joined the team at Dirty
Laundry Vineyard in 2013, where he’s
thrilled to be producing small lot fer-
mentations where each parcel is han-
dled with care to ensure its finest attributes are GM: Dirty Laundry’s Woo Woo Gewürztraminer
expressed in each wine. The Grapevine Magazine has made quite the name for itself. Can you tell us
was invited to speak with him about what it’s like a little more about it?
to make wine in the Okanagan Valley.
MS: Our Gewürztraminer grapes are Dirty
Grapevine Magazine: What would you like visitors Laundry’s oldest ones and were propagated by the
to know about Dirty Laundry Vineyard? original vineyard owner Edgar Scherzinger in 1978.
Prior to that, there was a cherry orchard here.
Mason Spink: Wine
should be something that’s It’s common to see Vinifera at the top and vine
enjoyed. You tend to lose grafting on American rootstock, but all of our
the fun with too much Gewürztraminers have their original root systems.
sophistication. We want There have been cases of the root pest phylloxera
our guests to enjoy them- in the valley, but luckily it doesn’t seem to affect us
selves, feel completely here. We have five different Gewürztraminers, each
free to ask questions and with their own levels of sweetness. Our Grande
drink some excellent wine Dame Gewürztraminer is made from the oldest
at the same time. vines on site, and our bestseller still remains Woo
Woo, which is a middle of the road sweetness,

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