Culmina Family Estate Winery

I recently had a chance to taste through some of the current releases from Culmina Family Estate Winery on the Golden Mile Bench in Oliver, BC.

Culmina Family Estate Winery was started in 2006 by Donald Triggs and his wife, Elaine. In 2012 they were joined by their daughter, Sara, who took over as manager of sales and marketing.

Most people have heard of Jackson-Triggs, which began in 1989 when Allan Jackson, Donald Triggs and several investors purchased Cartier Wines and renamed it Vincor. In 1993 they started producing wines under the Jackson-Triggs label and, in 2006, they won the gold medal for best Shiraz/Syrah at the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC). That same year, Vincor was purchased by Constellation Brands and Donald and Elaine Triggs decided to embark on a new adventure of their own.

In 2007 they purchased land on the Golden Mile Bench, planting vineyards later that same year. Donald and Elaine named their new winery “Culmina” (pronounced CUL-mihn-uh) which translates to “peak” or “apex” in Latin. The winery represents the culmination of all their years of experience in the wine industry and their commitment to excellence. 

In 2019 Culmina was purchased by Arterra Wines. After the sale the Triggs stayed on for several months to assist with the transition period. Sara Triggs stayed on as sales and marketing director, supporting the vision, strategy and planning for Culmina, until 2020. Winemaker and vineyard manager, Jean-Marc Enixon, who joined Culmina in 2016, remains at the helm. He manages the vineyards with the utmost care and they have been certified both organic and salmon-safe.

2019 Culmina Dilemma Chardonnay $38

The 2019 Dilemma is made with 100% Chardonnay from Margaret’s Bench Vineyard in the Okanagan Valley. The wine was fermented using indigenous yeast and 40% underwent malolactic fermentation. The wine was aged for 8 months, 40% in new French oak barrels, 30% in one and two year old French oak barrels and 30% stainless steel.

Soft aromas of stone, peach, pineapple, grapefruit pith, butter and biscuit. This is a dry wine, medium in body with high acidity. On the palate notes of apricot and blossom are joined by the bitterness of yellow grapefruit and hazelnuts with hints of butter and graham crackers, and a long, textured finish.

2018 Culmina Cabernet Sauvignon $45

Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the grapes for this wine hail from the Arise Bench Vineyard on the Golden Mile Bench. The wine was aged for 16 months in French oak (25% new, 75% two and three year old barrels.

After three hours in the decanter there are aromas of blackcurrant, black plum, liquorice, thyme, mint, graphite and cedar. This is a dry wine, medium+ in body with medium+ acidity and high tannins. The palate offers blackcurrant, black plum, graphite, cedar, thyme and mint with a medium finish.

2017 Culmina Hypothesis $50

The 2017 Hypothesis is a blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Malbec and 6% Petit Verdot. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation and was aged for 16 months in French oak barrels (31% new, 20% one year old and 49% neutral).

Aromas of roasted strawberries, dried figs, dried cherries, plum jam, liquorice and sweet spice. This is a dry wine, medium+ in body with high acidity and tannins. The palate is quite different from the nose, offering notes of blackcurrant, mint, graphite, underripe Italian prune plums, underripe blackberry, bramble and thyme with a medium+ finish.

This wine would benefit from some time in the cellar. I decanted it on the first night for six hours and then tasted it over the next three days; I wrote my tasting notes on days three and four. Serve with red meats or mature cheeses.

www.culmina.ca