Mayhem Wines was created with an enthusiasm for great wines and an eye to market opportunities by family members Terry Meyer and Andrew Stone, Janice Stevens and Jak Meyer.
“From chaos and mayhem come opportunities” is our motto.
Jak Meyer and Janice Stevens are the owners Meyer Family Vineyards – see my earlier blog for details. Terry Meyer Stone and Andrew Stone have been doing a small custom crush artisan wine – Anarchist Mountain Vineyards – for the past 8 years at MFV wines.
Mayhem Wines brings the strengths and passion of these family members together and allows an opportunity for greater expression.
The fruit is from the home vineyards on McLean Creek Road, Okanagan Falls and Anarchist Mountain, Osoyoos. Grapes are also sourced from top-notch growers throughout the Okanagan Valley.
The Winemakers
Ajay Chavan is the current winemaker at Mayhem Wines. He is Australian born and was raised in New Zealand. After receiving a cricket scholarship out of secondary school, he completed the Oenology program at Lincoln University in Christchurch, NZ. Ajay did his first winemaking vintage in 2012, followed by harvests in Austria, New Zealand, Australia, and the USA. Ajay set his sights on BC to discover more about this young wine region and be closer to family in the Pacific Northwest.
After working at Checkmate in Oliver for over four years, he is excited about the new challenges and opportunities with Mayhem Wines. He loves Merlot, Riesling and fortified wines and is delighted to work with these varieties, along with others. Off the clock, you are most likely to find Ajay enjoying the Okanagan backcountry, playing tennis or snowboarding.
Simone Ardiel was the Mayhem winemaker for the 2018 vintage. She has been around the world and back honing her skills in the cellar as a winemaker and becoming familiar with vineyards and terroirs worldwide. Raised on a farm in Ontario, Simone learned from a young age the value of hard work on the job and at home, where she is an avid gardener and home brewmaster.
After graduating from the Winery and Viticulture Program at Niagara College in 2011, Simone spent nine vintages chasing wine-grape harvests around the world. She worked at premium international wineries such as Leeuwin Estates (one of my favourite Margaret River wineries) and Grosset Winery with Riesling in Australia. Amisfield in New Zealand working with Pinot Noir and most recently Domaine Fernand et Laurent Pillot in Burgundy.
Closer to home, Simone worked with Tawse Estates producing numerous varieties, Le Clos de Jordanne in Ontario and Ponzi Winery in Oregon producing Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc.
Simone brought a wealth of experience to the Mayhem portfolio. She is now the Associate Winemaker at Adamo Estates Winery in Ontario.
2018 Vintage
“There was some smoke! While the vineyards were off to a solid start throughout the early part of the season, the latter part of the season slowed growth significantly. The nearly month-long smoke that settled throughout the valley in August effectively cut out UV rays needed for ripening and contributed to cooler than average daily temperatures. Couple that with a cold and wet September, we were starting to lose sleep. Thank goodness Mother Nature showed her generous side in October. The fall arrived with redeeming warm, sunny days, helping to achieve phenolic ripeness, flavour profile and balanced acidity.”
Simone Ardiel
The Riesling that we received from a Summerland vineyard retained a beautiful natural high acidity through sampling and harvest; we look forward to the longevity of this wine. The aromatics of the whites this year really shone through in all varietals.
The reds came in with great fruit intensity, structure and ripe tannins despite the challenges of the growing season. They continue to go through natural malolactic fermentation and we look forward to their release after continued barrel ageing.
Mayhem Wines
Mayhem Pinot Blanc 2017 ($18)
pH 3.47, TA 7.8, Alcohol 12.1% 214 Cases produced.
The grapes were sourced from Kelowna. After the slow ferment maintained at a cool temperature in stainless steel tanks, the wine was further aged lees for five months.
A crisp white with a gorgeous aroma of honeydew melon and citrus with a hint of the lees when freshly opened. On the palate white peach, pear, melon, and herbal notes. Well-balanced acidity with a soft minerality. 90 Points
Mayhem Sauvignon Blanc 2017 ($18)
pH – 3.22, TA 8.5, Alcohol 12.6%, 210 cases produced
The grapes were sourced from Naramata and processed for nine months in stainless steel. Gooseberry, apple and citrus on the nose lead to a crisp, clean palate of gooseberry, green apple, key lime, ripe tropical fruit and herbal notes. Dry with bright acidity. 90 Points
Mayhem Pinot Gris 2017 ($18)
pH 3.6, TA 6.9, Alcohol 12.5%, 121 cases produced
A portion of this wine was wild ferment for one week and aged in neutral oak, adding layers of complexity; the balance was processed in stainless steel. The total volume was married in the tank before bottling.
For other great value Pinot Gris wines check out Top 10 Best Value BC Pinot Gris / Grigio.
A similar nose and palate of crisp green apple, pear, lemon blossom and honey. Finishes with bright acidity and creamy mouthfeel. 89 Points
Mayhem Merlot Cabernet Franc 2017 ($25)
pH 3.80, TA 6.15, Alcohol 13.3%, 374 Cases Produced
A portion of the Merlot was sourced from Anarchist Mountain Vineyard and harvested Oct 6th at 23 BRIX. Five days cold soak, punch downs only, pressed off the 26 of Oct. Blended with grapes from the Naramata Bench. Aged in a mixture of both new and older French Bordeaux oak barrels for 9 months.
75% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc. The cranberry aromas of Cabernet Franc highlight the deep plum and blackberry scents of Merlot. Flavours of blackcurrant, black cherries and chocolate linger on the palate. Beautifully balanced, this wine has velvety smooth tannins and a seamless finish. Drink now! 91 Points
Mayhem Cabernet Franc 2015 ($30)
pH 3.71, TA 6.5 Alcohol 12.5%, 149 Cases Produced
Grapes were sourced from the Naramata Bench. After fermentation in a stainless steel tank, the wine was barreled down into a combination of new and seasoned French oak for an 18-month before bottling.
A toasty nose of plum, blueberry and blackberry. On the palate, it is a medium body with flavours of blueberry, blackberry, toasted oak, tobacco, and a hint of cinnamon. The finish is long, mouth-filling and warm with a fine fruit character and ripe tannins. Suggest you decant/aerate before serving. This needs time, five-to-seven years, to settle in and show its true merit. 90 Points
Mayhem Wines are available for purchase in private liquor stores and online via www.mayhemwines.com. Tastings are available by appointment, please call 1-844-629-4361.
Future Plans
The Wines
There will be a spring release of new wines in the portfolio.
- 2018 Gewurztraminer
- 2018 Rosé produced from Merlot grapes from Anarchist
- 2018 Riesling
- 2018 Pinot Gris
- 2018 Pinot Blanc
- 2018 Merlot and Cabernet Franc – to be released in the fall
- 2017 Cabernet Franc – to be released in the fall
Future
We have the ability and flexibility to add to the lineup, based on consumer demands and market availability. Watch for Mayhem Wines at pop-up tastings weekly onsite at Meyer Family Vineyards and the farmer’s markets in Penticton and Osoyoos.
Sustainability
We aim to work with growers and vineyards that share the same philosophy of farming practices that give back to the land i.e. organic and sustainable. The McLean Creek Road vineyard, where our Gewurztraminer comes from, is a certified Environmental Farm Plan.
Growth
We can’t grow anymore because then they won’t allow us into the Garagiste Festival if we do!!
Final Thoughts
“Terry and JAK have been crisscrossing each other and their own wine businesses over the last decade. Both wanted to grow their own but quickly realized that they were bumping into each other with their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir production. Over a glass of wine one evening contemplating how each party’s desire for expansion could be met, the seed for launching Mayhem Wines was planted. There seemed to be a great opportunity that existed to work together to create a new brand. JAK claims this was his great idea; Terry claims it was her brainchild. The answer is we will probably never know the truth!
Caley Fraser Hospitality & Sales Co-Ordinator Mayhem Wines Inc.
2020 Releases
For the latest Mayhem Wine releases see – Mayhem Wines for Great Value Whites.
Note: The blog was revised on January 1, 2020, to show the current winemaker – Ajay Chavan.