Culmina – The Founders
Founded in 2007 by industry veterans Donald and Elaine Triggs, Culmina Family Estate Winery was envisioned as a legacy project following Donald’s success co-founding Jackson-Triggs. Seeking to return to hands-on, terroir-driven winemaking, the Triggs family set out to create a premium, estate-focused winery on the Golden Mile Bench south of Oliver.
The name Culmina—from the Latin culmen, meaning “peak” or “summit”—reflects their ambition to produce wines at the pinnacle of quality. With Bordeaux consultant Alain Sutre, they spent years studying soil pits, microclimates, and slope orientations before planting the estate vineyards on three elevated benches: Arise, Stan’s, and Margaret’s. These mountain terraces form the foundation for Culmina’s precision-crafted wines.
In 2019, the family sold the winery to Arterra Wines Canada, ensuring continued investment and national distribution while preserving Culmina’s boutique character.
Culmina Hypothesis – Pinnacle of the Estate
Hypothesis stands as Culmina’s flagship red blend, designed to showcase the full potential of the Golden Mile Bench. The 2018 vintage combines Cabernet Franc (32%), Cabernet Sauvignon (31%), Merlot (25%), Petit Verdot (6.5%), and Malbec (5.5%), aged 16 months in French oak (35% new).
The fruit for Hypothesis is sourced from select blocks on Stan’s Bench and Margaret’s Bench, two of the highest-elevation vineyard sites on the Golden Mile Bench. These south-facing slopes feature stony, well-drained soils composed of glacial till and fractured bedrock, promoting low yields and concentrated flavours. The warm days and cool evening breezes from the nearby mountains preserve acidity while allowing for slow, even ripening of Bordeaux varietals such as Cabernet Franc and Merlot. This combination of rocky terrain, precise canopy management, and elevation-driven freshness defines the structure and balance that make Hypothesis such a standout in the Okanagan.
A sophisticated Bordeaux-style blend that beautifully reflects its Golden Mile Bench origins. Aromas of black cherry, cedar, and wild sage are lifted by a hint of menthol. The palate is concentrated and full-bodied, showing remarkable harmony between ripe black fruit, cassis, licorice, and warm spice. Fine-grained tannins lend a silky texture, while a thread of minerality adds focus and elegance. Layers of dark chocolate and cigar box carry through a long, lingering finish that speaks to the wine’s structure and longevity. 95 Points
Silver Medal at the 2023 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada (NWAC).
Structured, complex, and cellar-worthy, Hypothesis remains a benchmark for Bordeaux-style blends in British Columbia. It represents the culmination of Culmina’s pursuit of excellence—an elegant expression of site, precision, and patience.
For other premium BC red blends, see Top Shelf Okanagan Red Wines