Millstone Estate Winery is a family-run, 6-acre vineyard nestled in the Millstone River valley in the City of Nanaimo, BC.
Dale Shortt, a Saskatchewan farm boy, found this little chunk of farmland in 1999, finding himself back on a farm, he began to transform this gem of a property to a winery & vineyard. With the help of his daughter Kristi, they opened the winery in 2009.
The winery is a post and beam building that was built from the ground up. The wine shop is on the main floor adjacent to the production facility, and it welcomes you with a large patio area for beautiful summer days with live music on weekends. The newly-built kitchen is just off the patio, featuring a comfortable gathering place for you to enjoy views of the vineyard, and sit by the fire pit. Families will want to stay and play.
The Winemaker
A love for farm life, and a keen interest in winemaking, Kristi Shortt became even more involved in the process and now is the farmer and winemaker. With no formal education in winemaking, Kristi focuses on working with different winemakers across Canada, and now with a few Okanagan harvests under her belt, she values the making of real terroir-driven island wines, with some fun experimental fermentations on the side. Farmed, crafted and shared with joy.
The Estate Vineyard
The estate vineyard focuses on Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Ortega and Gewürztraminer. The winery has also purchased Riesling, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Syrah from growers in the Okanagan Valley.
Dale and Kristi are the winemakers and strive to produce classic and cultivated wines showcasing the local terroir and their unique winemaking efforts. Current production is around 1,500 cases annually.
Vintage 2017
“It was cold and wet right up until the end of May and early June. There was a minor problem with powdery mildew on some of the vines. Then a hot summer and we were able to harvest all the fruit by Halloween. We are expecting the vintage to be below average. We are compensating by making a white blend of Pinot Gris, Ortega and Gewertz. The Pinot Noir juice quality looks good this year. They have not picked up any fruit from the Okanagan this year because of the current high costs and short supply.”
Kristi Shortt
The Wines
Millstone Estate Ortega 2018 ($22.02)
Vancouver Island’s signature grape. The Ortega comes entirely from the estate vineyard. Delicate peach and floral notes, with a light minerality.
Millstone Estate Pinot Gris 2018 ($22.01)
50% estate-grown, 50% from Lake Country.
Toasted apricot, with a light minerality and floral notes. Great texture, with a satisfying finish. Fruity flavours and a round palate. Aged 10 months in stainless steel. Compliments creamy and rich foods including halibut, organic chicken, and game, or garlic prawns. Semi-dry, making this a perfect West Coast white.
Millstone Estate Riesling 2019 ($24.64)
The grapes were sourced from Lake Country. Bright acidity, with citrus and stone fruit aromas. Fermented in 100% stainless.
You can visit the Millstone Estate Winery website for their complete portfolio of BC wines.
Source: Millstone Estate Winery provided the Winery and Vineyard information and tasting notes.