Cassini Cellars: From Lavender to Vine

Adrian Cassini was born in Romania in 1960. His family owned a vineyard and sold their grapes to a government winemaking facility; thus Adrian’s relationship with wine began at an early age, working in his family’s vineyard. His appreciation for wine was later furthered through his work in the restaurant industry. In 1990, following the Romanian Revolution, Adrian moved to Montreal.

In Montreal, Adrian learned to speak both French and English while beginning his life in Canada working in restaurants. A self-described “serial entrepreneur”[1] he worked in many professions, honing an extensive skill set. His resume includes purchasing cars at auction, repairing, and preparing them for resale; selling fitness club equipment, then later creating his own company to build and service this equipment; and owning and operating a construction company.

In 1993 Adrian moved to Vancouver. A vacation took he and his wife to the Okanagan, where they fell in love with the area and eventually purchased a vacation home. In 2006, on their way back to Vancouver from the Okanagan, Adrian noticed an organic lavender farm for sale along Highway 97 in Oliver. It was an ideal location for a vineyard and he could not pass-up the opportunity. Adrian and his wife purchased the property in late 2006. As they could not conceive of destroying the lavender on the property, they advertised free lavender and managed to give most of the plants away.

The land was prepared and the vines were planted in 2007. With the building of the winery, Adrian’s construction background was invaluable. He built the winery with a crew of only four workers. The tasting room boasts 21-foot ceilings and a 25-foot tasting bar with a view of the barrel room. The impressive detailing inside the winery was completed by Adrian personally. The landscaping even includes some of the plants from the original lavender farm.

The winery is named after Adrian’s Italian Grandfather, who’s surname was Cassini. Cassini Cellars is located on the Golden Mile Bench, which is at the foot of Mount Kobau in Oliver. The Golden Mile Bench was named British Columbia’s first sub-appellation in 2015. This area is unique for several reasons including its calcium and mineral-rich soil, produced by glacial deposits, which creates a distinct terroir. The estate vineyard at Cassini Cellars is planted with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Roussanne, Marsanne and Muscat. In addition to their estate vineyard, Cassini Cellars leases 15 acres of land in Osoyoos.

In 2007 and 2008 Cassini Cellars began wine production working with purchased grapes. Adrian worked with consulting winemaker, Philip Soo, until 2012 when Adrian took over as sole winemaker. Cassini Cellars has won numerous awards including ‘Best Winery’ at InterVin in 2017, as well as Double Gold for their 2013 Nobilus, and Gold for their 2013 Cabernet Franc at the 2017 Okanagan Wine Festival.

I recently had an opportunity to taste two of their newly released wines and here are my tasting notes.

2014 Cabernet Franc $40

The 2014 Cabernet Franc was made using grapes from the Bella Vineyard at Cassini Cellars in Oliver. It is 95% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot. The grapes were destemmed and gently crushed. The wine spent 24 months in new French (80%) and American (20%) oak. Only 295 cases were made.

Two hours in the decanter really allowed this wine to open-up and express itself. It has aromas of blackberry, black plum and cassis, with hints of violet and cedar. The palate is bursting with intense flavours of tart blackberries, cherries, vanilla, liquorice and a touch of minty greenness.  This wine has firm but fine tannins with juicy acidity and a long finish. Certainly a pleasure to drink now, but will age gracefully with careful cellaring over the next several years.

 

 

2014 Nobilus $40

There were only 125 cases made of the 2014 Nobilus, which is 100% Merlot from Casini Cellars’ Bella Vineyard. The grapes were destemmed and then gently crushed. This wine has spent 24 months in new French oak.

Although I allowed this wine to breathe in the decanter for two hours before completing my tasting notes, I do not feel that this was necessary; it was drinking very well as soon as the bottle was opened. This is a full bodied, deep ruby Merlot with aromas of black cherry, plum, cedar, dried fig and a hint of anise. I found this wine to have medium acidity with medium plus, fine tannins. The palate is rich with black cherries, plum jam, blackberries, vanilla, clove and a note of eucalyptus. The winery suggests that the Nobilus can cellar for 5-10 years, but I think most people will have difficulty keeping their hands off this wine for that long!

Cassini Cellars
4828 Highway 97
Oliver, BC, V0H 1T0
www.cassini.ca

Foot Notes

[1] Schreiner, J. (July 28, 2009). Cassini Cellars – Newest Winery on the Golden Mile. Retrieved from http://johnschreiner.blogspot.ca/2009/07/cassini-cellars-newest-winery-on-golden.html

References

Guest Writer. (June 13, 2012). Winemaker Jeff Del Nin Passes the Glass to Adrian Cassini at Cassini Cellars. https://eatmagazine.ca/church-and-state-wines-winemaker-jeff-del-nin-passes-the-glass-to-adrian-cassini-at-cassini-cellars/

Schreiner, J. (September 13, 2016). The Wandering Winemaker: How Winemaking Consultant Philip Soo Adds his Special Touch to Okanagan Valley Wines. Retrieved from http://www.homesanddesign.ca/the-wandering-winemaker/

Schreiner, J. (November 24, 2011). Cassini Cellars – Current Releases. Retrieved from http://johnschreiner.blogspot.ca/2011/11/cassini-cellars-current-releases.html

Schreiner, J. (July 28, 2009). Cassini Cellars – Newest Winery on the Golden Mile. http://johnschreiner.blogspot.ca/2009/07/cassini-cellars-newest-winery-on-golden.html