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Four Shadows Vineyard & Winery is located on the busy Upper Bench Road on the Naramata Bench. The tasting room will reopen the weekend of May 1.

The owners of the Four Shadows Vineyard & Winery, Wilbert and Joka Borren both grew up in Holland. They moved to Alberta in the nineties and in 2011 they purchased a 17 acres vineyard property and moved their young family to Penticton. The winery tasting room opened in the spring of 2019.

2020 Harvest

Along with most everything in 2020, the growing season kept us on our toes. With a warm spring, very cool and wet early summer (June/July), followed by intense heat and sunshine, then capped off by an early snowfall, we kept close tabs on our crops’ response to the growing season’s varied weather patterns.

On our 17 acre estate, situated at the southern end of the Naramata Bench, we are privileged to enjoy the advantage of growing every bunch of grapes used to produce our wines. This allows us to stay well acquainted with their progression throughout the entire growing season. While flowering was nearly two weeks behind average, the crops progressed very nicely through July, August and September.

Yields were slightly below last year, but the quality throughout our vineyard was consistently great. Harvest began around the usual date, on September 27th. We harvested Chardonnay over two days, and then had a very brief interval in picking while Pinot Blanc and Riesling reached the Brix we desired. The Riesling located in the top block is extremely well-rooted, which allows the vines to draw deeply from the earth. We are very excited to see how beautifully this year’s Riesling crop will reflect the terroir of our estate and the season.

This year’s Zweigelt crop was absolutely exceptional, we were very excited to harvest such beautiful fruit over a few beautiful sunny days. Harvest wrapped up on October 19th, when we picked the last of our Merlot.

We kept crews small this season, and appreciate that we were able to conduct our harvest in a safe manner. The first of our reds have completed fermentation and already are showing great promise in the barrels as they begin the ageing process.

Overall, 2020 was a great season and we look forward to releasing some of our 2020 whites (including a new style for us) this upcoming spring.

Wilbert Borren

The Wines

Four Shadows Riesling Classic 2020 ($22.99)

500 cases produced. 9.3% Alcohol, pH 2.9 TA 8.0 g/L, RS 35 g/L.

A lovely pale straw colour. Aromas of white peach and stone fruit. Ripe apricots jump from the glass along with mango, green apple, pear, honeycomb and lime zest.

The wine has a vibrant crisp mouthfeel with a stony backbone. The perfect off-dry style Riesling at only 9.3% alcohol with the acidity and sweetness in perfect balance.

This is the flagship wine at Four Shadows. 92 Points.

The wine paired perfectly with pan-fried steelhead trout.

Four Shadows Dry Riesling 2020 ($23.99)

344 cases produced. 11.5% Alcohol, pH 2.9 TA 8.0 g/L, RS 5.6 g/L.

One of the first Rieslings of the 2020 vintage and this one is FABULOUS.

A lovely pale straw colour. On the nose, there are aromas of jasmine, tropical fruit and green apple.

The palate has flavours of lime zest, green apple, honeydew melon, green kiwi, pineapple with a touch of minerality leading to a crisp, lingering finish. 93 Points

Even better than the great 2019 vintage.

Paired perfectly with pan fried sole and Tuscan baked vegetables.

Four Shadows Sparkling Riesling 2020 ($24.99)

100 cases produced. 11.7% Alcohol, pH 2.9 TA 8.0 g/L, RS 8.6 g/L.

Tropical fruit aromas. Flavours of pineapple, kiwi, mango and green apple. The high acidity and residual sugar balance perfectly with plenty of lively bubbles. The perfect sparkler for the patio or with seafood. 90 Points.

Four Shadows Chardonnay 2019 ($22.99)

113 cases produced.  40% aged in 2nd-year oak for 4 months, the remainder in stainless steel, blended just before bottling. Fermented dry. Partial malolactic fermentation. 

14.1 % Alcohol. A full-bodied, slightly oaked wine releases aromas of honey, butterscotch, pear, and caramel. On the palate, you will find flavours of white peach and nectarine, vanilla, ripe pear, mandarin orange and a wonderful buttery mouthfeel. This is another beautifully balanced wine from Four Shadows. 91 Points.

Four Shadows Rosé 2020 ($21.99)

The Four Shadows Rose´ is very consistent from year to year. 60% Merlot /40% Pinot Noir.

Vibrant sockeye salmon hue. Aromas of strawberry and rose petal. Flavours of pink grapefruit, watermelon, ripe rhubarb and citrus. Sparkling acidity balances a hint of sweetness. Long lingering finish. 91 points.

A great spring day in Kelowna so enjoyed it on the patio with pizza.

Four Shadows Pinot Noir 2018 ($28.99)

275 cases produced. Fermented dry. Full malolactic fermentation. Aged 11 months in French oak barrels of which 20% new French oak. 10% fermented whole cluster.   Blended just before bottling. 

Delightful aromas of cherries, raspberry and rose petal. On the palate, black cherries, cranberries, forest floor with black pepper and oak notes. A well-balanced medium to full-bodied wine with grippy tannins. Suggest you aerate the wine before serving. 91 Points

Four Shadows Merlot 2018 ($24.99)

540 cases produced. Fermented dry. Full malolactic fermentation. Aged 11 months in French oak barrels of which 30% new French oak. Blended just before bottling. 

The Four Shadows’s Merlot made the Costco rotisserie chicken taste like a medieval feast. Floral aromas black fruit and a hint of smoke. Flavours of ripe raspberry, dried fig, blackberries, black currant, Italian plums with a hint of leather and vanilla. Smooth ripe tannins with a lengthy finish.  92 Points

Silver medal winner at the All Canadian Wine Championships 2020 and Bronze at the BC Lieutenant Governor’s Wine Awards 2020.

Please visit the Four Shadows Vineyard & Winery website to see their current portfolio of BC wines.

Future Plans

2021 will be our last crush and press at Tightrope Winery as we are starting to build our own crush pad later this year.  We kept all of our Riesling grapes last Fall, a total of 5 acres. Started off with a Riesling Classic in 2018. A Dry Riesling was added in 2019 and 2020 marks the release of a Sparkling Riesling. We have a few barrels of 2020 Zweigelt which will be bottled in September 2021.  

At the moment we are working on improvements to the outdoor tasting area behind our winery. Our tasting room will reopen for the season the weekend of May 1st. 

Joka Borren