ABOUT US
River Stone Estate Winery is a small, family owned and operated winery located in the South Okanagan. We are located on a small knoll in the middle of the valley, just south of the well recognized McIntyre Bluff and just north of Oliver, BC, the Wine Capital of Canada.
The winery site is surrounded by our hand tended vineyard. When we moved to the Okanagan Valley we chose this site for its superb grape-growing qualities and planted the vineyard with a Bordeaux style blend in mind, which we have called Corner Stone. As our winery name, River Stone, and vineyard name, River Rock Vineyards suggest, our wines come from the deep rock and gravel soils laid down following the last glacial recession. We grow four red Bordeaux varietals; Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Malbec as well as two white varietals; Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer. Long sunlit summer days followed by fall`s warm days and cool nights have consistently produced premium quality fruit.
TED KANE
Ted is a perfectionist and a dreamer who is very good with his hands. Ted is the owner, vineyard manager, viticulturalist, winemaker, builder and dad of the establishment. He is continually acquiring knowledge and building on his roots from the University of Alberta and the Northern Institute of Technology. Prior to starting the vineyard, Ted was a Respiratory Therapist for 12 years, but has always been interested in and obsessed with winemaking and grape-growing. Ted’s dreams and attention to detail are evident in every aspect of the winery, from the vineyard layout, to the house construction, to the flavors in the wine.
LORRAINE KANE
Lorraine is the co-owner, but like many wives on family farms, has a town job. Lorraine is a rural family doctor in the nearby community of Osoyoos. Fortunately for Ted, she was raised on a farm and understands much of the weather and financial concerns that are common to the industry. When not in the clinic or hospital, she can be found in the gardens that surround the house and winery. Her other interest is sampling wines and developing her palate, but operates mainly on the principle that a good wine is one that you like.
JACQUELINE KEMP
Jacq, as she is more widely known, is our senior winemaking consultant. Jacq aquired her winemaking degree after switching from an honors degree in animal nutrition. After graduating from Lincoln University she followed the "crush" (of grapes) around the world, working in West Australia, Burgundy, Canada and New Zealand. Just prior to coming to us, she worked most recently in the Central Otaga region of New Zealand with a winery called Akarua where she was highly regarded for her Pinots. Jacq now resides on the Naramata bench with her husband, Chris, winemaker for Meyer Family Vineyards, and their 2 year old son, Jerry, grape tester and winemaker in training. Jacq is also the senior winemaking consultant for Tantalus Winery in Kelowna and thank you to Warwick and Jane who run the show there for introducing Jacq to us.
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