Vineyards planted: 1980-81
Proprietors: Bruno Kelle and Stella Schmidt
Winemaker: Bruno Kelle
Vineyard size: 3.3 hectares
Key grape varieties: Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Gewürztraminer and Vidal, with smaller plantings of Viognier, Siegfried, Muscat, Furmint and Auxerrois.
Production: 2,500 cases (with planned increases starting in 2015)
Wines: unoaked, oaked, varietals and blends.
castorodeoro.com
Background
Opened in 2006, Castoro de Oro produces small lots of Merlot, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Vidal and white blends. Located just South of Oliver in the South Okanagan, Castoro de Oro’s vineyard is found in the famed Golden Mile alluvial soil deposit with excellent exposure to sunshine, resulting in full flavour and aroma development in their award-winning wines.
The award-winning wines are crafted from grapes hand harvested and hand sorted for the best quality by proprietors Bruno Kelle and Stella Schmidt.
The Castoro de Oro vineyard was planted in 1980-1981, and the vines were left as existing, making the vineyard one of the oldest in the Golden Mile area. The vines thrive in the unique sedimentary soil and the southeast aspect that provides excellent exposure to sunshine. Planted at the foot of the mountain, the vines enjoy evening shade, resulting in a rapid cool-off during summer, which prevents the grape acids from dropping and results in a fine balance between ripe, sweet fruit and firm, clean acidity.
Castoro de Oro name stems back to Canada’s turn of the century history, paying homage to both the national emblem of the beaver and the gold mining that spurred the established of the town of Oliver in 1918. As prospectors carved the mountainsides, one of nature’s most intelligent creatures, castoro (beaver), built dams, flooding and ultimately creating rich agricultural soil. The beaver’s ability to make changes to the landscape is secondary only to man. Canada recognizes this noble creature as the emblem of national sovereignty.
Wines are available at the wine shop, private BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan liquor stores and in restaurants in the Okanagan, Whistler, Vancouver and the lower mainland and Vancouver Island. Castoro de Oro is a proud member of the Oliver Osoyoos Winery Association and the Okanagan Wine Festival Society.
The wineshop is open daily from 9 am to 5 m. and is 40 minutes driving south of Penticton and
90 minutes driving south of Kelowna.
