Honey of
Cover Story
an idea
B
b
d
u
ee
ev
t
regulations sting
e
don’t stop plans to
mead
lo
e
p
ry
eco-friendly
on barren
a
W
nd
e
winery
Kelowna site.
st
By Judie Steeves
A
lthough it’s currently a
field of alien invasive
and Russian thistle, Judie Barta
weeds such as knapweed
envisions rows of grapevines,
forage for her bees and a winery
building with the latest in
environmentally-friendly
architectural features.
Meadow Vista honey wines,
Already the founder of
Barta is an ambitious
entrepreneur in a hurry, but
she’s also determined to do
things the right way, with the
best interests of the earth front
and centre.
eye on is currently neglected and
The barren land she has her
unfarmed, but it is in the
Agricultural Land Reserve and
must be used for growing crops,
not homes.
land on Green Bay Road in West
It’s an eight-acre parcel of
Kelowna, just down the road
JUDIE STEEVES
from Quails’ Gate Estate Winery,
Viticulturist Neil De Beer, left, and Adam Spychalski of Meritage Viticulture
and below the hilltop on which
Services Ltd. test soil conditions on West Kelowna site being considered for
Mission Hill Family Estate is
perched.
possible vineyard.
honey wine, called Joy, at Kalala Organic Estate Winery in
Viticulture Services Ltd., Barta is having the soil analyzed
Consulting with Adam Spychalski of Meritage West Kelowna.
in a number of spots throughout the property to
determine where it would be best to plant the grapes and
honey wines, including Cloud Horse, a dry white wine;
She also produced several other varieties of organic
which rootstocks and varietals are likely to work well on
Mabon, a spiced mead; and a late harvest, dessert-style
the site.
wine called Libra.
her meadery, since there isn’t the waiting time needed for
It’s her intention to begin with an apiary as the basis for don’t buy sugar. I use natural products,” said Barta.
“I’ve always been an environmentalist at heart and I
grape vines to begin producing fruit. wines with organic honey, since there are no meads, or
With that in mind, she decided to begin by making
maturing, she can produce wine from a different ‘crop’:
While the vines are getting established, growing and
honey wines, currently available in B.C. liquor stores.
6
honey. This year she produced the country’s first sparkling
none in the Interior.
There are three other meaderies in the province, but
British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Winter 2009-10
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