All you need to know about Clos du Soleil Winery and its Bordeaux inspired wines

Visiting the Clos du Soleil Winery – how we picked this winery

At the height of the Covid pandemic, when everybody was gorging on everything internet, Vernon Morning Star ran an article about the widely beloved provincial health officer Bonnie Henry. It revealed that Dr. Henry is not only a co-owner but also a co-founder of the Clos du Soleil Winery in Keremeos. The article also mentioned that Dr. Henry is a true connoisseur who appreciates good wine and delicious food.

If that’s not a testament to the quality of the winery, then we don’t know what is. We made a promise to ourselves that once the pandemic was over, we would make sure to visit the Clos du Soleil Winery and sample their wines. Fast forward a couple of years, and the time has come to keep our word and visit the winery.  

Brief History of Clos du Soleil Winery

The winery’s history traces back to 2006 when a group of friends, led by a retired Naval Officer, Spencer Massie and his spouse Dr. Henry, all big Bordeaux and Bordeaux wines aficionados, invested in a 10-acre vineyard on the Similkameen Valley Upper Bench in 2005 near Keremeos. The next year they planted the vineyard with the same grape varieties found in Bordeaux. They gave the new winery a perfectly French and very fitting name, “Clos du Soleil”. In French, “clos” means a vineyard, especially one enclosed by a wall. 

While they are missing the wall at Clos du Soleil, they have a mountain in the backyard that nicely fits the bill.

Over the years, Clos du Soleil has gone through a few changes in winemakers. Ann Sparling, the first winemaker, and Charlie Baessler, now an owner and winemaker at a nearby winery, both made their mark. In 2012, Michael Clark joined the team as a managing partner and a winemaker. Trained in Theoretical Physics and with a previous career in banking, Michael oversaw some critical changes at Clos du Soleil. The most notable of these is the acquisition of the two new vineyards and the construction of a modern winery, which allowed Close du Soleil owners to start making wines at the winery’s premises and to dramatically increase their wine production.

The shareholders’ group has also grown and now boasts 15 shareholders.

What remains constant is the dedication to producing ultra-premium wines that mimic the wines crafted in Bordeaux.

Visiting the Clos du Soleil Winery: what should you expect

Clos du Soleil Winery is located near Keremeos on Upper Bench Road, next to the Corcelettes winery owned by their former winemaker. The recently constructed winery structure encompasses a wine tasting room and a wine shop. The exterior of the tasting room is painted in a vibrant azure blue, aiming to evoke a French boutique atmosphere, the ambiance that ,in our opinion, has not been fully realized. Outside the tasting room, there is a single table with two chairs, as well as a few picnic tables positioned between the winery and the neighbouring building. The property, nestled against the mountain, appears relatively sparse in its surroundings.

Inside the winery, there is a wine bar and not much room for anything else. A picture of the winery’s old tasting room is displayed on the wall, catching your eye and making for interesting conversations. It’s interesting to learn that the old tasting room was only about 20 ft. by 15 ft. When you think about it, the current tasting room is definitely a step up and an improvement.

Wine tasting at Clos du Soleil

Clos du Soleil offers two tasting options to visitors. The first option involves sampling a pre-selected trio of wines, priced at $10, with the cost redeemable towards a purchase. The second option, the Private Comprehensive tasting, offers a guided tasting of six wines, including their flagship selections, priced at $20, but the fee is non-redeemable. Depending on availability, the Private Comprehensive tasting may also include a tour of the winery and vineyard.

Both tasting options require prior booking, as recommended on Clos du Soleil’s website.

We didn’t make a reservation when we visited the winery, and luckily, the tasting room was empty. This gave us a great chance to talk freely with the winery staff about their wines and the winery. If you decide to visit, we recommend choosing a weekday and going in the morning for the best experience.

Clos du Soleil Wines

The wines of Clos du Soleil are inspired by the Bordeaux region. The winery specializes in Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc, and Semillon. While Bordeaux serves as the inspiration, the winemaking team also explores unique expressions that add a distinct Similkameen character to their wines.

As organic farmers, Clos du Soleil prioritizes natural winemaking practices, striving to minimize interference and maintain the integrity of their wines.

The winemaking team avoids additives and manipulations, allowing the grapes to undergo wild fermentation, harnessing the natural yeast found in their vineyards. This approach captures the true essence of Similkameen terroir, resulting in wines that are crisp, clean, and bursting with fruit flavors, while maintaining an appealing dryness.

We asked the wine tasting room manager Amanda which of the wines was her favorite. Her answer resonated so well with us that we wrote it down verbatim:

“Don’t ask me which one is my favorite. They are like my children. I love them all. The wine I love today depends on my food, my mood and my attitude”.

By the assertion of wine tasting room, they make some of the best wines in Canada.

Read our next post where we review the five wines we sampled at Clos du Soleil.

Bringing Clos du Soleil wine home – the wine we didn’t buy

With such a wide selection of excellent wines at Clos du Soleil, choosing just one to take home becomes quite a challenge. Our decision-making process revolves around three main criteria:

• The occasion for enjoying the wine
• The food we plan to pair the wine with
• The overall value for the price of the wine.

One wine that caught our attention was the Fumé Blanc, a perfect choice for relaxed evenings with friends during these warm, balmy nights, especially when paired with delicious seafood, abundant this time of year. It also offers good value for its price.

Another appealing option was the Célestiale red wine blend, priced at $29.90. Not only does it offer excellent value for money, but it also stands out as a food-friendly wine that would complement our various meat dishes.

However, despite the tempting choices, we ultimately left the winery empty-handed. Our decision was influenced by the latest medical advice cautioning against the potential negative effects of even a glass of wine. Taking this advice to heart, we decided to abstain from purchasing any wine on this occasion.

Conclusion: Is Clos du Soleil winery visit worth your time and money?

During our trip to the Similkameen Valley, the wine tasting visit to Clos du Soleil Winery was a standout experience.

But what makes a winery visit memorable? Is it just about the quality of the wines, or does the interaction with the staff also play a big part? Can a winery be considered good if the wines are impressive but the staff lacks enthusiasm or acts snobbish about wine? And where does the ambiance of the wine tasting facility fit in this whole equation? The answer undoubtedly will vary from person to person.

Although the Clos du Soleil wine tasting facility comes short on ambiance, the charismatic and incredibly knowledgeable tasting room manager, and the winery’s outstanding wines, amply make up for it. In our opinion, spending an hour talking about the origins of Fumé Blanc while sipping the delightful Canadian version of this wine ranks quite high on the list of memorable wine tasting experiences.

If you are a wine enthusiast, you will enjoy your time at Clos du Soleil.

However, if you’re not particularly interested in discussing the intricacies of wine, don’t worry. Simply enjoying the flavours and aromas of their well-crafted wines is equally satisfying and memorable. Well, unless you happen to be among those who have chosen to heed the medical advice regarding the potential risks of wine and have decided to abstain. In that case, indulging in a glass of wine might not be for you.