French Door Estate Winery is a family-owned and operated winery and vineyard that was founded in 2019. The winery is located on the beautiful Black Sage Bench, right next to Le Vieux Pin.
The winery opened in 2020 when owners Audra and Jason Shull acquired the Montakarn Estate Winery, renovating the winery and adding premium winemaking equipment.
This winery was established with a passion for quality wine. The 10-acre property is planted with 100% vinifera vines on beautiful, expressive soils that have resulted in rich, lush, and character-driven wines. The white grapes include Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Viognier. The reds are Malbec, Syrah, Cinsault, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Pinot Noir.
The goal of the winery is to create honest, low-intervention wine, from sustainably grown grapes, in a classic old-world French style.
Why the name “French Door Estate Winery”?
“Well, our family was inspired by the simplicity and quality of French architecture, cuisine and wine during our travels to Provence.
Audra and Jason Shull
We believe the Okanagan valley has a similar uniqueness about it, and we wanted to bring these parallels to life through the way our wine is made and discussed. Starting with our winemaker, Pascal Madevon, who integrates his French heritage into all of his wine creations. Our Rosé in particular resembles the elegance of Provence style rosé; dry and richly textured, with a soft pink hue. All of our wines are produced in our Barrel Room, which is where you can find our three Tonneau French oak vats. The Barrel Room as well at the Tasting Room, are white and bright with black accents to resemble the look and feel of a French farmhouse.
The symbol of the “French door” is representative of our aspiration to incorporate the traditional aesthetics and values of beautiful Provence into our own backyard, with a modern twist. Our tasting room is encircled by French doors, and each one opens up into a new experience. Whether the doors lead you into our breathtaking barrel room, or onto our one-of-a-kind patio that overlooks the Okanagan valley, you are welcomed by an unspeakable aura that has been created by using the best features of Provence and the Okanagan combined, and this can only be found at French Door Estate Winery.”
The Winemaker – Pascal Madevon
“It all started in Paris, France. Growing up, I was raised with the notion that wine is an important part of education and culture. During my childhood, I would live for the weekends in Burgundy where I spent my days playing with the soil of my grandfather’s vineyard and studying the different hues and bouquets that came from different varietals. It sparked in me a profound appetite for agriculture and inspired me to move to the wine capital of the world: Bordeaux.
Pascal Madevon – Consulting Winemaker
There, I was classically trained as an expert viticulturist and oenologist, and it has always been important for me to be involved in the entire story of a wine. To this day, my mission is to unleash, from the terroir, the true signature of each and every wine. And I have done so, as Head Winemaker of several prestigious estates. From Winemaker at St-Estephe’s Château Laffitte Carcasset and Technical Director of Château la Tour Blanche, a cru bourgeois domain, to General Manager of Château la Tour Carnet, a classified growth in Médoc, these experiences speak to the measure of my 15+ years of background in French winemaking.
Yet, I find that there is always something new to learn and discover when it comes to wine. In 2001, I joined consultant Alain Sutre, for the first harvest of the Okanagan winery known as, Osoyoos Larose. I had never experienced such an interesting and diverse terroir, driven by microclimates and colourful soil types. Impassioned by this new area, I permanently moved from the Old World to the New, and joined the team as Winemaker and Vineyard Manager, forging the legacy of the ultra-premium estate.
Once again, looking for a new opportunity to play with wine, I then joined the Triggs family at Culmina Family Estate Winery in 2013.
This valley has taught me much of what I know, and I look forward to sharing my expertise with those who, like me, have a passion for vine and wine.
If I am not in a vineyard, in a cellar, or at a wine festival, you will find me in my garden, in my wood workshop, travelling with my wife, or surfing with my three daughters.”
2021 Harvest
“The 2021 harvest had long growing days that consisted of almost perfect weather including a little rain, which allowed the fruit to hang for the required time we needed for our ripeness. Despite the blistering summer, the cool October days helped us find balance in the fruit and 2021 ended up being a very successful season.”
Brianna Toor – Associate Winemaker and Viticulturist
The Wines
French Door Chardonnay 2020
This is a classic representation of a South Okanagan Chardonnay with flavours of lemon curd, caramel, honey, vanilla, almond, marzipan and tropical undertones. The weight is medium body, with a crisp acidity being very present and lifting the wine to carry through to a long finish. This is a superb example of a single varietal, Burgundian style Chardonnay.
French Door Rosé 2021
The juicy, ruby, red grapefruit flavours lay a foundation for grenadine, red licorice, red plum and red lifesaver notes to play. The acidity brings this Rosé to life, making it crisp enough that you want to take another sip, again and again.
French Door Malbec 2020
The vintage of the Estate Malbec is a zestier, brighter version of our past vintages – mainly because of the cooler growing season. There are notes of white pepper and blackberries on the nose and the palate delivers fig, plum, tobacco leaves and chocolate-covered raisins.
French Door Heritage 2018
Merlot 44% / Cabernet Franc 32% / Cabernet Sauvignon 22% / Petit Verdot 1% / Malbec 1%
This is a bold red, 15% Alcohol, with intense aromas of cassis, blackberry and black cherry. Flavours of blackberry and dark chocolate with a hint of tobacco and pepper. A silky smooth and long finish. Drink now or cellars for up to 5 years. 92 Points
To purchase French Door wines please visit the winery website.
Future Plans
“We have planted Grenache and Mourvèdre on our estate, and we are now the second estate winery in British Columbia to have estate Cinsault which we will be harvesting this year. We will also be continuing with our organic aspirations.”
Brianna Toor
Note: French Door Estate Winery provided the Winery and Vineyard information, Photos and BC Wine tasting notes except for Heritage which was tasted in August 2022.