Daydreamer Wines
Rachel and Marcus have both been “Daydreaming” about their own little wine company for forever and a day. They wanted to create a unique and memorable winery where a focus on fine wine is the ultimate goal. Grapes grown without systemic fungicides, herbicides and pesticides, small batch processing, with a sustainable approach is the mandate. They make limited production wines from the best sites in the Okanagan Valley with a special focus on the wines of the Naramata Bench. Okanagan Valley is unique because the North to South orientation offers a range of climates suitable for many of the best vitis vinifera varieties such as Syrah, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling Pinot Gris and Viognier.
| Address | 1305 Smethurst Road, Naramata, British Columbia |
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| Wine Maker | Marcus Ansems Winemaking Philosophy | More than occasionally I think about the serendipitous fact that I was born into a family where my uncle was one of the most influential cool climate Australian winemakers, at one of the highest regarded wineries in the country. I am one of those lucky people who knew what they wanted to do at a young age and had the opportunity to pursue my dreams. I did my first vintage with uncle Trev at Mt Langi Ghiran Vineyards over 25 years ago now but the lessons I learnt there have travelled with me for the rest of my career. After finishing my oenology degree at Adelaide University I have been fortunate to travel and work widely as an international winemaker (Europe, Africa, North America, Australia) and even though I learnt many different techniques and technologies, many of those early ideas still ring true. Here is a distillation of this philosophy: 1. Find a great vineyard where the fruit speaks to you. 2. If the grapes are organic-then all the better. 3. Harvest the grapes when they are balanced-acidity is as important as sugar. 4. Treat the grapes gently, hand pick and use basket presses if possible. 5. Work the ferments by hand-it is good for you and the wine. 6. Use new oak sparingly- as it will mask the fruit. 7. Gravity and time are your friend. Wines will filter themselves given enough of both. 8. Use sulfur sparingly- avoid adding anything to the wine that you don’t absolutely need. 9. There is no secret to making good wine, it’s all just about attention to detail. 10. Make wines that you want to drink – not just wines that will win medals. Our Commitment Vegan Friendly All of our wines are made without animal products or byproducts. No systemic chemicals in Vineyard. Our grapes are grown without systemic pesticides, herbicides or fungicides. We don't want our children around the potentially harmful sprays used in conventional farming, so you won't find any of it in our wines. Sustainable Farming/Winemaking We are committed to practices that keep vineyards healthy and productive over the long haul, minimizing negative environmental impacts, along with winery methods that conserve resources and reduce waste and pollution. |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Region | Okanagan Valley |
From this Producer
This wine is a co-fermentation of Syrah and Viognier. It has aromas of violets, peppercorns, prosciutto and blackberries. It spent 10 months in predominately older French barriques allowing the spicy, high toned and savoury qualities to shine.
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This is the first year we have made a stand alone Cabernet Franc but I think it was worth the wait! This wine is deep and dark in colour and shows aromas of licorice, sage brush, flint, dark chocolate and black currants. The palate is rich and mouthfilling with soft tannins and a wonderful balance between high toned black fruit and Cabernet Franc earthiness.
Unbelievably expressive right out of the gates, with intense, vibrant fruit led by ripe cherry and sappy blackberry that's layered with enticing savoury notes of mint, thyme, graphite, and a distinct gravelly minerality. But the natural balance and elegance of the 2022 vintage means this is a wine for the long haul. We encourage you to keep a second bottle for 5-7 years.
This Pinot Noir comes from a single vineyard in the Okanagan Valley. We pick these grapes by hand and then ferment in small batches using the vineyard's natural yeasts. The wine is quite dark in colour (for Pinot Noir) with aromas of black cherries, plums, espresso and earthy complexity. The palate is medium bodied with a black fruit core and a long fine grained finish. This is the perfect wine for Duck Confit or Wild Mushroom Risotto.