News

Coverts Win BC Outstanding Farmer of the Year!

A focus on direct marketing of organic and conventional fruits, vegetables and wines produced on their 660-acre farm in Oliver earned Gene and Shelly Covert of Covert Farms and Dunham and Froese Estate Winery the 2010 Outstanding Young Farmer award, Over 400 people cheered as the Coverts received the prestigious award from BC Minister of Agriculture and Lands Steve Thomson and Canadian OYF program vice-president and 2005 BC OYF winner Derek Janzen at the annual BC Agriculture Gala in Abbotsford, Jan 27th. Gene and Shelly are the third generation of Coverts to operate the farm begun in 1959 by Covert’s grandfather, a California tomato grower. Originally the farm grew only onions and tomatoes but it now produces over 60 crops. After beginning a small organic section in 2005, the Coverts now have 138 acres in certified organic production and look forward to operating the entire farm under biodynamic principles. “Biodynamics is a very exciting aspect of agriculture,” Gene says, noting it focuses on soil health and “developing sustainability through biodiversity” by treating the farm as a living organism. While the Coverts market their product throughout Western Canada, most is sold direct through their on farm Covert Farms Organic Market and pick-your-own organic market garden. “Word of mouth is our best asset,” Shelly notes. In 2005, the Coverts planted a 15-acre vineyard and have added another 15 acres this past year. They are partners with Kirby Froese(winemaker) and Crystal Froese in Dunham & Froese Estate winery located on the farm. Their estate winery now produces about 2000 cases/year of red, white and rose wines and will continue to grow as the vines mature and should max out around 7000 cases in the next 3 years. The Coverts, who were also finalists for the 2009 award, will now represent the province in the Canadian Outstanding Young Farmer finals to be held in Victoria in November.

Vancouver Sun Lists our upcoming event with Salt in Vancouver

http://www.vancouversun.com/life/eat-drink/Salt+Tasting+Room+winemakers+dinner/1895268/story.html

Kelowna Capital News finds out about Covert Farms & Dunham Froese

Bounty straight from the farmer’s fields Pizza made from fresh everything picked just steps away at Covert Farms in Oliver and served at their Pancho’s Country Market. by Jennifer Schell. Kelowna Capital News http://www.bclocalnews.com/okanagan_similkameen/kelownacapitalnews/entertainment/52982467.html

Wine Diva take on our Amcitia White 2008

This is a fragrant compilation of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Viognier that I like even more than the 2007 vintage. AndDunham Froese is employing not only organic, but biodynamic practices in their vineyards which I heartily applaud. The wine has aromas of juicy white peach and pink grapefruit, hints of caramel and warm spice, jalapeno and grass clippings with exotic floral and honey tones. The palate is smooth and rounded with layers of sweet, fresh white fruit and herbal flavours. Tart citrus and fine spice linger on the finish. Very good! Wine Diva reviewed - July 16th, 2009

Wine Diva likes the zesty 2008 Rose

The 2008 vintage of Dunham Froese's rose has brilliant salmony-orange glints and aromas of smoked cherries, currents and cranberry with tangerine peel. Expect a bright palate with plenty of acidity and layers of mixed berry, earth, cedarbox spice and citrus flavours. The finish is long and zesty... Perfect for a light lunch on the patio. Wine Diva reviewed - July 8th, 2009

Wine Diva 2007 Amicita Red Blend

This small winery and organic vineyards are located at the base of the soaring McIntyre Bluff near Oliver BC. The Amicitia 2007 (Latin for 'friends') pronounced ah-me-CHEE--ee-ah is a red kitchen sink blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Syrah. Expect soft, earthy aromas of wild berries and plums, tobacco and savoury herbal tones. It's medium-bodied and quite fine-boned with plenty of spice and cedar flavours. The tannins are fine grained and linger through the finish. Wine Diva reviewed - July 8th, 2009

John Schreiner reviews our wine 90 points for red 88 for white blends

Dunham & Froese Amicitia Red 2007 Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec
Point score 90
Amicitia Red – pronounced ah-mee-CHEE-tee-ah – is a big, bold red built around 64% Cabernet Franc and 17% Syrah, with the other varietals all adding complexity to the blend. The rich aroma recalls a good spice cake. On the palate, there are flavours of spicy black currants, sweet plums, dark chocolate and tobacco, all set on a platform of ripe tannins and earthy minerals. The muscular wine is drinking well now as long as it is decanted, and will be even richer and riper with more age. A tour de force that one can afford.
The 2008 Amicitia White ($24.90) is 50% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Sémillon and 10% Viognier. Kirby also put a lot of work into this blend, fermenting some in barrel. The result is a full-bodied white with an array of tropical fruit aromas and flavours. Point Score 88
http://www.planitbc.com/spotlight/0034-DunhamFroeseAmicitia07.html

Georgia Straight ~Jurgen Gothe 2008 Rose

Dunham & Froese Rose 2008 ($16.90) This is a very big rosé, probably not for every palate, with depth and bite. There’s some grilled nectarine at first whiff, even a little licorice, and a startling, neon-bright colour. Definitely a food wine; your homework assignment is to discover what goes best with it. You can sample it on the wine list at Joe Fortes, and it’s available for preorder from the winery, pending official release soon. Rich and assertive are not necessarily common rosé characteristics, but they sure come together here. http://www.straight.com/article-216498/pink-wines-are-full-bloom

Wine Diva Rates Dunham & Froese 2006 Merlot & 2007 Rose

2006 Merlot Scores 90 A very impressive showing from a winery that is not only employing organic but biodynamic practices... Prune plums, chocolate, juicy red cherry and leather with sage-y/vegetal notes and smoky minerality. The entry reveals fresh, bright fruit and a medium-full bodied weight then sweet spices and cedar into spiced coffee on the finish. The acidity is great and the tannins are soft making this a great wine with soft cheeses or even firm fleshed fish.
2007 Rose Scores 88 Wild red berries and smoke, earthy - florest floor/woodsy notes - light spice, tobacco and leather. The palate is off-dry, kind of spicy-sweet, with tart red fruit, citrus zest and spiced tobacco lingering on the finish. Pair with salmon or wild mushrooms in cream sauce. Look for this hard-to-find wine in select private wine stores or, I heard you may be able to taste some at the newly opened Shangri-La Hotel in Vancouver... www.winediva.ca

Growing success on the vine in the Okanagan Valley

Lara Abu-Ghazaleh Leader-Post Wednesday, October 15, 2008 A couple born and raised in Moose Jaw has managed to turn grapes into gold. Kirby and Crystal Froese, owners of the Dunham & Froese Estate Winery in Oliver, B.C., recently received an award at the 2008 Okanagan Fall Wine Festival for being the best new winery in the valley. The red and white wines of the estate were also recognized as some of the best-tasting wines out of hundreds that were blindly sampled at the festival. "We're very conscious of the grapes that are being grown and the way they are being grown ... There's also some skills that I've developed and techniques that I have learned through the 12 different wineries that I've worked for," said Kirby Froese. Froese gained experience in the wineries of Australia, Chile and the Okanagan Valley before choosing to run his winery alongside that of Gene and Shelly Covert. He claims that blending, temperatures, storage conditions, and knowing what the final product should taste like are crucial for making great wine. Jim LaRocque, owner of Westminster Liquor, a frequent seller of Dunham & Froese wines, agrees with Froese. "The quality of his wine is superb. It's highly recommended by me and my staff right now ... He has come up with more of a primitive way of making wine and does a lot of hands-on work himself," said LaRocque. Froese attributes the high quality of the wine to the minimal intervention used when organically growing the grapes. The 700 acres of family farmland was passed down to Gene Covert from his grandparents, who were also farmers. Covert plants vegetation around the orchards and vineyards to attract predator species of insects that help control pests, which he describes as "inclusive farming." "It's a whole farming system where you're building the soil. You're building an ecosystem that supports the farming itself. You're not just creating this farm in a vacuum and trying to exclude all of the surrounding life and variety. You're trying to add to that," said Covert. Organic farming requires mechanical or manual weed control, which is more costly than using pesticides and other chemicals that are typically used in conventional farming. In order for produce to receive organic certification, there must be a three-year transition period to rid the soil of any remaining chemicals. The fruits and vegetables used on the Dunham & Froese estate have been certified organic for four years now, and the wine will be eligible to receive the same status in a year's time. Approximately 2,500 12-bottle cases of wine are expected to come from the grapes that are to be harvested and fermented in November. Froese thinks people wining and dining will be more inclined to select their wine products now that Dunham & Froese has won these awards. "It's kind of a feather in your cap, you know. It really plays a big role in our marketing. A lot of restaurants and individuals will actually go down a list of awards and they will make their purchase decisions based on the amount of hardware that a wine's received," he said. Dunham & Froese is currently lobbying to defeat the Importation of Intoxicating Liquors Act, which prohibits the sale and transport of liquor from province to province. For more details, visit its Web site (www.dunhamfroese.ca).
© The Leader-Post (Regina) 2008 http://www.canada.com/reginaleaderpost/news/business_agriculture/story.html?id=9fa38199-9f74-4bdc-b470-063b28adc818

BEST NEW WINERY Award!

Well it is almost thanksgiving and the partners at Dunham & Froese have so much to be thankful for this fall festival. Having won three medals for the wines they submitted into the 28th Annual Okanagan Fall Wine Festival competition was amazing enough. As the announcer got to the end of the list he spoke about three new awards that would be presented at Okanagan Fall Wine Festival the first two were for Best White Wine and the Best Red Wine and final award which was created just this year was for Best New Winery. As Crystal Froese sat and listened to the announcer explain the category she looked around the full room to see which of the new wineries won. Then they announced Dunham & Froese!! "It is funny my husband Kirby has been in the industry for almost 20 years and even though our own winery is just starting out it just didn?t occur to me that it would be us chosen!" It is no wonder people see the potential in this winery considering the incredible partnership they have formed with the other co-owners Gene and Shelly Covert who farm their 700 acre family farm. ?We all bring such unique skills to this project. Gene is a 3rd generation farmer, Shelly successfully runs their organic market and our tasting room, Kirby has years of experiment in the industry making wine all over the world. And I own my event & marketing management business.? At Dunham & Froese we practice organic growing and wine making methods and although we are not yet official we are looking into the official certification process. "We have really stayed under the radar as far as the media goes. We really want people to discover us for our wines. It is more important to us that they fall in love with what is inside the bottle and how we practice sustainable methods, that is our focus." states Crystal Froese Earlier this year they were excited to discover that they were listed by Tony Aspler in Tom Stevenson's 2008 Wine Report as the #2 Wine Producer to watch in Canada! "It is an honour to be chosen from so many new upcoming wineries and we will display this award very proudly in our tasting room and tomorrow we are back on the crush pad!" laughs Crystal Froese.

Tim Pawsey ~Special To North Shore News

Sunday May 25 2008
Self-taught winemaker worked around world B.C.'s winery count continues to steadily grow
Tim Pawsey Special To North Shore News

The BC VQA Spring Release tasting always yields a few hidden treats.
This year saw the appearance of Dunham & Froese, who we first encountered at Oliver's Banée, a couple of years ago.
B.C.'s winery count -- currently at 138 -- is steadily climbing. That's a good thing, no argument, with wineries that cover the spectrum, from outright newcomers to the industry to a few "lifestyle" seekers to knowledgeable locals who've watched (and helped) the valley transform and are anxious to try their hand from vine to bottle.
Dunham & Froese is a small winery that falls firmly into the last group. And, perhaps no surprise, among the newer wineries at this tasting, their wines stole the show.
Kirby Froese is a self-taught winemaker, who has worked his way from the Okanagan around the world, first with Sumac Ridge's Mark Wendenburg and then with the likes of Best's Great Western (Australia), Geyser Peak legends Daryl Groom and Mick Schroeder, the Chadwick Family at Chile's Errazuriz, and at Sonoma's Dry Creek before heading back to the valley.
"After I was assistant at Hawthorne Mountain Vineyards, Red Rooster and Hester Creek, I realized I couldn't work for anyone else," says Froese, who is married to marketing consultant Crystal Froese.
The pair were having dinner with Covert Farms owners (and third-generation Oliver farmers) Gene and Shelley Covert when they decided to pool their skills and put it all together, says Froese.
The winemaker's travels and experience taught him that sourcing good fruit is paramount.
While waiting for their initial 14.5 acres planted at Covert Farms in 2005 to mature, Dunham and Froese have been working with premium local growers. Grapes for their 2007 Amicitia White (Sem-Sauv-Viognier) come from guru Dick Cleave and son's family-owned vineyards, while Pinot Blanc is sourced from fruit graciously released by Andrew Peller from a neighbour's commitment.
Merlot comes from an Osoyoos single vineyard, while a vibrant Rosé (the best in the room) hails from Osoyoos and Black Sage Road.
Dunham & Froese's own plantings (currently in transition to certified organic) will be harvested for the first time this year (with a further 50 acres to be planted next spring).
"I see a lot of people who retire and want to start a vineyard or winery with no background," says the winemaker. "The business aspect -- the red tape, excise taxes and so on -- was the biggest surprise, having never had a winery before," says Froese "But Gene (Covert) has a solid background, so he looks after that side and I keep my nose in the barrel."
The winery itself is quite humble, a 4,500 square-foot shed with a poduce cooler, and an office and lab housed in a 17-foot '69 Travelaire trailer.
"We don't want to extend ourselves too much. It's more of a comfort zone," says Froese, who doesn't want to "grow too hard too fast."
The partners are adamant about keeping their wines at good value.
"We're all pretty down to earth people and we figure wine's for everybody. Keep it real and make some money," says Froese.
Looking around him, the winemaker sees mixed signs, with this candid observation:
"There's a lot of guys jumping in with both feet who don't know what they're doing, and who this year are going to struggle because (so far at least) it's not a great vintage."
- Dunham & Froese Pinot Blanc 2007 The winery's mainstay white (kudos for not caving in to Chardonnay) is textured and nicely balanced with green apple and some buttery and vanilla notes (VQAS $16-$18).
- Dunham & Froese Rosé 2007 Mainly Merlot with a splash of Syrah, vibrant strawberry notes, dry finished to make it ultra food friendly, and very sippable. One of the best B.C. rosés around (VQAS $16-$18).
- Amicitia Red 2006 Named after the Latin word for friendship, Mainly Black Sage Merlot with 14 per cent Syrah yields good mouthfeel, firm red berries with some mocha notes, juicy acidity and sound tannins. A keeper, for sure (VQAS $28-$30)

http://www.canada.com/northshorenews/news/taste/story.html?id=7aa4a656-f1ac-4bc0-b957-32919bc2adfa

2006 Amicitia Red takes Silver at All Canadian Wine Championships

All Canadian Wine Championships Founded in 1981, this premier event annually sees an estimated 900 wines submitted from commercial wineries, coast to coast. These wines are judged by a panel of highly respected sommeliers, writers, consultants and wine professionals assembled from across Canada and the United States. The results of their findings are calculated to award numerous gold, silver and bronze medals of merit. Each of these trophies represents the pinnacle of excellence in Canadian wines

PLAN IT BC says 2007 Rose not a wimpy pink wine!

This wine is made in the style of European rosés – full-bodied and dry with as much alcohol as a table wine and with an attractive hue. The aromas and flavours of strawberries are seductive. The wine is refreshing and satisfying. This is not a wimpy pink wine. 88

2006 Pinot Blanc Gem of a Wine ~ Mireille Sauvé

Dunham and Froese Pinot Blanc. A full body is what struck me most about this wine, then it dawned on me: it tastes like Alsace! So rarely do we see good Alsatian Pinot Blanc in this neck of the woods that I nearly forgot what it tasted like–and here I was tasting a fine example, only it was from B.C! Excellent weight supported flavors of white peach and chalky flint with a charming white peppery spice at the finish. A mere $16cdn is what they were asking for this gem of a wine. Mireille Sauve recently commented during Taste BC guest blog. Mireille Sauvé is one of Canada’s leading sommeliers.

DF joins SOWA

We joined the South Okanagan Wineries Assocation this year. They are cooking up a great list of events that as a collective all the wineries are going to be part of. The first one will be the Kitchen Party held in Vancouver. Pairing our wines with some of the hottest restaurants in Vancouver!

We are Named #2 New Winery to Watch in Canada

Wine Report 2008 Names Us #2 in Canada - 2007-12-16 Wine Report 2008 by Tom Stevenson This report is an extensive world wide recommendation and rating of wineries. He assembles a team of regional experts that compile a variety of top 10 lists along with detailed information on vintages. We are very excited to announce that Tony Aspler (who has been a wine writer for 30 years) has listed us as the #2 New and Up Coming Producer to watch in Canada!

2006 Pinot Blanc Wins Double GOLD

Wine Press Northwest 2007 Platinum Judging Best of the Best in the Great Northwest "This new producer is off to a fast start with a Pinot Blanc that shows off aromas of ripe melons, fennel root and mild oak. On the palate are rich, clean flavors of honeydew and sweet spices. Enjoy with crab cakes or scallops."

2006 Pinot Blanc Wins GOLD

Our 2006 Pinot Blanc won a GOLD medal at the 2007 Okanagan Wine Festival judging! We we very excited to show it off at our table during the Consumer tasting at the Trade and Convention Centre!

Peoples Choice radio interview

Terry David Mulligan from the new radio show on 1150AM in Kelowna interviewed Crystal Froese during the Peoples Choice event held at the Coast Capri. This show featured interviews with multiple wineries that were pouring at this event. It is exciting to see Terry David Mulligan back in the valley full time!

Wild Wild Fest Organic Dinner (Field to Wine)

This event was listed in the Fall Wine Festival Guide for October 3rd unfortunately we have had to postpone the event, we hope to host it for the fall of 2008

Open by Appointment September 2007 to May 2008

We are open by appointment 250 498 WINE
Pancho's Organic Country Market on Covert Farms is OPEN until October 31st. www.covertfarms.ca
Visit us and we may be around through harvest for tastings.

Tasting Room Opens for Spring Wine Festival

Our Tasting Room will be open from 10am to 5pm during the Spring Wine Festival May 4th, 5th and 6th. Please join us and taste our New Releases!

Tis the Season for Hot Hearty Meals

We recently were the featured wines during a "Cuisine De Terroir" with Chefs Cameron Smith and Dana Ewart of Joy Road Catering hosted at Osoyoos Home Hardware. The Chefs paired our 2005 Pinot Blanc with their Squash and Pear Soup and our 2005 Pinot Noir with Mushroom & Beef Stew. Heralding from Toronto and Montreal, Joy Road Catering focuses on providing quality dining experience using the best local, seasonal and preferably organic ingredients. In 2006 Osoyoos Home Hardware was selected the Best Hardware Store in Canada at the Outstanding Retailer Awards! If you want to shop for the gourmet cook in your life, this is "the" place to go. Thanks to Larry and Frances Sologuk for hosting us during one of their many cooking classes.