New ‘spare time career’


WFN chief is developing a unique winery and muchmore on his Westbank property. By Judie Steeves


I


t is in part a fulfillment of his grandmother La La’s forecast that the young ‘Bobby’ would one day be “waaaay up there, “ recalls Westbank First Nation Chief Robert Louie, as he embarks on a new career as owner- operator of a winery, distillery, micro- brewery and bottled mineral water company—in his spare time.


First on the market are products from his Indigenous World Winery, with the 2012 vintages now on sale and already winning awards, much to his personal satisfaction.


Louie and his grandmother were very close and he remembers picking fruit in nearby orchards and working on the farm planting, weeding and harvesting vegetables with her when he was a youngster.


Although he became a lawyer before his current term as WFN chief, Louie feels his investment of more than $10 million in these new ventures is the perfect fit with his early years working with the earth, growing food. Already nearly three acres of vineyard have been planted on his land adjacent to the winery, in three varieties of Muscat grapes from California for blending.


However, the eight wines already fermented and bottled under the watchful eye of winemaker Jason Parkes used grapes purchased from growers throughout the Okanagan Valley. “Jason has relationships with farmers in Keremeos, Osoyoos, Oliver and up the valley. We’re looking for top-quality fruit. I met the farmers first and developed a relationship with each. I intend to pay extra attention and look after my growers, “ he comments.


The Simo (see-moo), a 2012 small lot red blend, has already brought home a silver medal from the New York 2015 World Wine and Spirits Competition, Honors from the 2015 InterVin International Wine Awards in Toronto, and was named among the top 25 finalists at Whistler’s annual Cornucopia


awards this fall.


It was named for Louie’s native Syilx name, which means ‘connected to the land’ so its success resonates with him. The 2014 Gewurztraminer picked up a silver medal at the InterVin awards, while the 2014 Pinot Gris won a bronze. They were the first wines ready from the new winery and the only ones entered in competition, but he has high hopes also for the Hee-Hee-Tel-Kin, (the native name refers to a large stag deer) another red blend named after his youngest son Trenton, who is currently working in vineyards and is interested in learning how to make wine. There is also a 2014 Red Fox Rose, 2012 Pinot Noir, 2013 Merlot and 2014 Chardonnay available online, in some restaurants and in a few boutique wine stores. However, Louie expects the wines will soon be available in the LDB stores. He has asked Parkes to focus on ‘old world’ flavours, since that’s a personal preference, and he feels it will set Indigenous World wines apart. “We want to be unique. We can’t compete with the Mission Hill or Quails’ Gate Wineries, “ comments Louie. “This will be the only wholly-owned aboriginal winery in North America, “ he believes. Nk’mp Cellars in Osoyoos is a joint venture between the Osoyoos Indian Band and Constellation Brands,


JUDIE STEEVES


Westbank First Nation Chief Robert Louie with rendering of Indigenous World tasting facility now under construction.


one of the largest alcoholic beverage- makers in the world, although its vineyards are all on band land. This spring, the tasting room that is currently under construction near the corner of Highway 97 and Boucherie Road, on the Tsinstikeptum Indian Reserve #10, will open to the public. Louie envisions these ventures on his 80-acre property attracting tourists either leaving or coming to Kelowna, sited as it is just prior to the bridge into that city, in the centre of the Okanagan Valley.


Where many native ‘locatees’ on reserve lands lease their property for commercial or residential purposes on a 99-year lease basis, Louie says he wants to put his own mark on his land, instead of allowing others to do that. The simple, spare design of the new tasting room building, perched on the edge of a bench overlooking Okanagan Lake, includes 1,700 square feet of indoor space, complemented by double that in outdoor patios, with floor to ceiling windows drawing attention to the expansive lake views.


It will include a bistro-style restaurant and have space on the lower floor, still with the incredible lake view, to accommodate a couple of hundred wedding guests, for instance. Another option is also under


British Columbia FRUIT GROWER • Winter 2015-16 17


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