Thursday, February 19, 2015

Get To Know... Jim Faulkner

Photo courtesy Mt. Boucherie Winery
Jim Faulkner
Vintner, Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery
West Kelowna, BC
mtboucheriewinery.com

After stints in various positions at CedarCreek, Summerhill Pyramid Winery and Church and State, Jim Faulkner took on the head winemaker duties at West Kelowna's Mt. Boucherie Estate Winery in 2009.

Over the past 6 years, Faulkner has helped to elevate the quality of the wines at the family run Mt. Boucherie and the firm has been collecting medals for their efforts.

Get to know Jim and get to know Mt. Boucherie's wines a bit better...

Key Wines To Try:
Family Reserve Chardonnay: 2011
Family Reserve Gamay Noir: 2012
Sémillon: 2011

1. What do you enjoy most about making wine?
Everyday day is different. Some days it’s in the vineyards, some days it’s squishing grapes, some days it’s physical, some days it’s social, but every day is good.

2. What inspired you to become a winemaker?
Winemaking was something that was not planned. I had just left the nightclub industry and was open to a new career. I took some time off to ponder my future. Took a crush job to fill in some time, and fell in love with the industry. It was really exciting to see and taste how things changed daily. Went to winemaking school and here I am today.

3. What causes you the most stress during harvest?
If I am all planned out, not a lot can stress me. Perhaps the weather, it’s about the only thing I can’t plan for.

4. What is your favourite and/or least favourite wine cliché?
I not a big fan of the term “wine diamonds”. They are tartrates.

5. Away from the cellar and vineyard, what’s your greatest passion in life?
Spending time with my wife and two children. Preferably in a foreign country with wineries and vineyards.

6. After a long day of work in the cellar, what do you turn to for refreshment?
A Beefeater 24 Gin martini with three olives. Gently stirred, not shaken.

7. If you could take credit for one other BC wine on the market today, which would it be and why?
There are wines out there that I like to drink and I wish I had made, but I can’t take credit for somebody else’s efforts.

8. Of the wines in your portfolio, do you have a favourite food pairing to go with one of the wines?
If I could be greedy here, I would have two wines paired with the same dish. The 2012 Family Reserve Chardonnay and the 2010 Family Reserve Pinot Noir both paired with mushroom risotto.

9. What do you think will be the next big trend in BC wine over the next few years?
Sub appellations, or at least people lobbying for them.

10. Screwcap or cork? What’s your preference?
Tough question. They both have their place in the market. I have had some really nice wines in both. Not all lesser quality wines go in screw. Nor do all better quality wines go in cork. If I was forced to give an answer and could not find a corkscrew, I would have to say screwcap.

 - Liam Carrier ©copyright 2015 IconWines.ca

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