Cover Story Triggs reaches higher


Meticulous planning and precision viticulture are basic elements of wine industry pioneer’s latest venture.


By Judie Steeves T


he newCulmina FamilyEstate Winery’s vineyardsmight be the most precisely-planted and


managed in theOkanaganValley, but they alsowill include the least-precise—a planting of bush vines reliant entirely on MotherNature to control both their watering and their shape, instead of irrigation and pruning. It’s an experiment in dryland farming,


grinsB.C.wine industry pioneerDon Triggs, a founder of industry giant Vincorwho leftwhen itwas sold to ConstellationBrands in 2006, leaving behind his name on the Jackson-Triggs line ofwines. “We’llwater just for the first two years


and then leave themand seewhat flavourswe can get fromthe grapes,” he explains. The plan is to plant 650 vines each of


Cabernet Sauvignon,Cabernet Franc and Syrah, for a total of 2,000 vines on French rootstocks. The orderwas put in two years ago for customgrafting in Europe. “It’s an expensive experiment,”


concedes Triggs, “butwe need to know for future generations; for our daughters and our grandchildren.” In the rest of the 54-acre vineyard


high up on the SouthOkanagan’s GoldenMileBench,Don Triggs, hiswife Elaine, daughter Sara andwinemaker PascalMadevon (formerly ofOsoyoos LaRose)will rely on a fully- computerized,maxi-jet, under-canopy irrigation systemthatMadevon conceivably could controlwith his iPhone fromhis birthplace in Paris, France. The systemuses solar-powered, real-


time,wireless technology and allows scheduling andmonitoring in each micro-block, of soilmoisture levels and evapotranspiration levels based on


JUDIE STEEVES


Culmina Family Estate Winery is a career culmination for Don Triggs, pictured here with winemaker Pascal Madevon.


temperature, solar radiation, relative humidity, rainfall,wind speed andwind direction readings. Such precision vineyardmanagement


appeals toMadevon’s tendency to be a perfectionist, a quality he shareswith bothDon andElaine—so the triowork well together. Aswell, he says their farmrootsmean


they all think similarly and all agree that wine quality ismade in the vineyard. “We started this projectwith the idea of making something special.” Madevon says this is his fifth career


move andwith each he tried to find a projectwhere therewas a higher expectation. “The highest is here,” he says simply,


adding, “And, these are good people.” Triggs believes that betterwine is


made by peoplewho are happy. “If people are happy they aremore


focused and ultimately thewine is better. It’s important to keep your people happy,” he adds. He even ensures that the tractors are


cleaned every daywith the idea that goodmaintenance helps to keep the workerswho use the equipment happier. Atour of the land includes a look at


theworker accommodation that has been built in to thewinery building where eight seasonal farmworkers from Mexico currently live. Six of themhave come back for the past five years.


British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Summer 2013 7


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36