News

The Globe and Mail - Skip the specialty bottles timed to Halloween in favour of these hauntingly good wines - Dead of Night 91 points

"If you’re planning a spooky soirée or simply looking to get in the Halloween spirit, now’s the time to put some “boo” in your booze. A quick scan of the aisles of your local liquor store should turn up a fair number of ghosts, skeletons, devils, witches and other fantastically ghoulish apparitions lurking on labels that are year-round selections.

Concha y Toro’s popular Casillero del Diablo (The Devil’s Locker) label is a great example. The story goes that in an effort to stop workers from drinking wines from his cellar, winery owner Don Melchor de Concha y Toro spread the rumour that the devil lived there. The affordable premium brand has expanded to include almost every grape grown in Chile, including malbec and syrah as well as the usual suspects cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay. It’s long been a go-to for wine lovers across Canada.

For that reason, I’d pass on any specialty Halloween items available as limited releases. Bacardi Superior Halloween or Cuvée Mythique Halloween Edition red blend from the South of France might actually be bloody good, but those companies already make other products that don’t need a gimmick to garner a sale. Why not check those out instead?

It seems to reason the beverages you serve and enjoy on Halloween should be pleasurable any other night as well. That’s the gist for this week’s recommendations. They sport labels that fit in with Halloween’s spooky vibe, but the frights stop there. There’s nothing to fear about the aromas and flavours of these beverages. They’re crowd-pleasing party wines with a sinister aura about them.

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Moon Curser Dead of Night 2017 (Canada)

Score: 91 Price: $39.99

A distinctive blend of syrah and tannat grown in the southern Okanagan, this full-bodied and flavourful red is Moon Curser’s flagship label. It boasts terrific concentration and complexity, which makes for a cellar-worthy red should you be so inclined. Drink now to 2026. Available direct through mooncurser.com.

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Lake Country Calendar - B.C. wineries remain optimistic about quality of grape harvest

"...

In Osoyoos, where it’s much warmer than the rest of the valley, Chris Tolley, owner and winemaker at Moon Curser Vineyards said it was worrisome at first to see frost in September, but he is pleasently surprised with the harvest so far.

“We’ve had a very good season. Our whites, the Arneis and Viognier, were all quite ripe in both sugar and flavor. I’m happy so far with the reds as well. The Tempranillo came in really nice. I’m happy with the Malbec and Carmenere as well. We haven’t seen it all yet, but I’ve tasted the berries and I’m pleased with the quality.”

..."

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The Vancouver Sun - Salut: Is diversity the long game in British Columbian wine?

"Demanding diversity in our wines and obtaining it are often two very different stories, especially in the New World.

As the years unfold, British Columbia wineries are finally moving in that direction although it’s not necessarily just about different grapes going into the ground. We see some unique offerings — especially among the white wines with Grüner Veltliner, Roussanne and Marsanne and a few reds like Dolcetto, Grenache, Touriga Nacional and Sangiovese — but the most significant change in diversity is coming from a different direction.

Achieving diversity is more about the blends, new grape clones, and mixing different sites to improve the ultimate complexity of the wine. It’s especially true as we reassess some early vineyard plantings, some of which never should have gone into the ground where they did.

Even when the site was ideal, there were problems with getting virus-free plant material, or the correct rootstock or clone. Post planting the viticulture and trellising are equally as crucial, because each can affect the quality and diversity of the wines.

Research and education have changed so much about what we know nowadays. Planting any grape in B.C. is about being on a suitable site for each variety. That could mean tracking the temperature, and studying a vineyard’s proximity to a lake or mountainside. It could be about altitude, daylight hours, irrigation and more. Alas, knowing more hasn’t necessarily given us all the answers and, in many cases, it has only generated more questions.

Growing wine on great sites is what many would say is the long game. The ultimate result will be a diversity of grapes and wines, but for now we are barely into the first period.

In this fall edition of Salut, we provide an update on where our red wines are heading in the diversity game. Sorting out the significant grapes is underway, and it is already much improved, but there are so many more to be assessed in the coming decades.

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Diverse British Columbia reds for fall

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Moon Curser Touriga Nacional 2017, Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, $39.99

One of the celebrated platinum medal winners at the 2019 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada, and as diverse as it gets in B.C.

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Montecristo Magazine - Warm Up With Our Fall Wine Picks

"Moon Curser Tempranillo, 2017

Beata and Chris Tolley established South Okanagan’s Moon Curser Vineyards (originally named Twisted Tree Vineyards) on an old orchard in Osoyoos in 2004. Moon Curser refers to the border town’s history of gold smuggling: during the Gold Rush, miners would attempt midnight crossings hoping to avoid customs officers, however the brightness of the moon would often foil their plans for a clean getaway and, naturally, they would curse it. Now synonymous with making uniquely outstanding wines from varietals rarely or never seen elsewhere in Canada, Moon Curser’s 2017 tempranillo (a variety classic to Spain’s Rioja region) offers sweet vanilla, strawberries, tealeaf, and leather aromas. It is fresh and balanced and has a faintly spicy finish."

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Wine Enthusiast - Four Wine Vacations That Fit Every Budget

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Okanagan Valley, Canada

British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley offers superb value all around. Producers turn out world-class red and white wines you can taste in both relaxed and sophisticated spaces. Add in awe inspiring nature, and you’ll leave with renewed optimism toward the world. Plan to bring wine home, as these bottles can be hard to find in the U.S.

Wineries to Visit

Most wineries offer similar price points for bottles (mid-$20s and up) and tasting fees around five Canadian dollars, often waived with purchase. In southeast Kelowna, Tantalus Vineyards makes taut Riesling in a sleek, modern facility. Mission Hill Family Estate, evocative of a modern Tuscan farmhouse, functions like an adult Disney Land. Among other activities, you can have lunch, walk the grounds, take in a concert or try a culinary workshop. The Hatch bests competitors by a buck, as it offers tastes of five wines for four Canadian dollars. Bottle labels adorned with playful art make for great souvenirs. Drive south to festive Okanagan Crush Pad for three different lines of wine and seasonal live music. In the hotter, drier south around Oliver/Osoyoos, Moon Curser Vineyards nails Portuguese grape Touriga Nacional. And don’t pass up a pizza lunch with Tinhorn Creek wines at on-site Miradoro Restaurant.

Where to Stay

Base yourself in the heart of the action in Kelowna. Hotel Zed Kelowna brings zany colors and graphics to rooms downtown. You’ll also have access to complimentary bikes or roller skates and a downloaded map to help you explore on the cheap. The Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort features a stunning locale on Okanagan Lake that’s near to downtown. Burrowing Owl Estate Winery is the rare venue with upscale guest rooms. While rooms here can be pricey in summer, rates plunge come November. The best value option close to vineyards is camping or booking a yurt at Nk’Mip RV Park & Campground. On the shore of Osoyoos lake, the site features a private beach, seasonal pool and proximity to Nk’Mip Cellars.

Where to Drink

In Kelowna, check out Vice & Virtue Brewing Co. The good food, craft beers and wine list are all priced right. Waterfront Wines Restaurant looks impressive and potentially pricey, but the bistro food and artisan cheeses actually offer terrific value. Many wineries also run excellent restaurants, you just have to know where to look. Penticton finally got the bar it needed in Mile Zero Wine Bar, replete with tap lines of local wines, ping pong and DJ nights. Newcomer Time Winery, an urban winery, offers flights of five wines for five Canadian dollars. Nearby, Brodo Kitchen limits its menu to keep prices low. Try a playful dish to pair with an affordable glass pour.

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Gismondi on Wine - Moon Curser Touriga Nacional 2017 - 93 points

"Moon Curser Touriga Nacional 2017

Osoyoos, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThis wine quite simply knocked my socks off. Deep crimson in colour, the aromas are an intoxicating mélange of exotic dark berry fruit (think mulberry, black raspberry, wild blueberry), violets and black pepper… plenty of black pepper. Many flavour dimensions roll over the palate: plum, black cherry, orange oil, grilled sticky herbs, and fruit leather, all kept fresh and lively by juicy acidity. The tannins are velvety smooth, and while full-bodied, the wine has impressive weight without heaviness. Best for me is the wine's heady floral perfume that bewitches both the nose and palate, and it truly conveys a unique side of touriga's nobility and pedigree. I'm giving extra points for potency, which when well executed, deserves merit. This was one of a celebrated few dozen platinum award winners at the 2019 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada, and it's worthy of a prime cut of beef and your biggest-bowled wine glass.

TASTED: 09 SEPTEMBER 2019

TASTED BY: DJ KEARNEY

PRICES:BC 39.99 winery direct

PRODUCER: MOON CURSER

DISTRIBUTORS:BCWINESHOP
GRAPE: TOURIGA NACIONAL

CSPC: 30841

UPC: 626990152736"

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Tasting Room Radio - August 31st, 2019 – Jim Cuddy doesn’t like Rosé ! Plus Moon Curser and Mayhem!

Interview with Chris Tolley – Co-Owner/Winemaker at Moon Curser starts at approximately 12:22

To listen to this episode click here

The Vancouver Sun - Moon Curser's success lies in avant-garde varieties

 

"Ever since attending a series of wine classes in Calgary less than two decades ago it’s been a bit of a storybook journey for the Tolley family, owners of Moon Curser Vineyards in the south Okanagan.

Today the hardworking, modest couple (Chris Tolley is a farmer/winemaker; Beata Tolley is the winery manager) find themselves Best Performing Small Winery in Canada awarded at the 2019 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada for a winery producing 10,000 cases or less.

After those initial wine classes, the Tolleys quickly concluded that owning a winery was something they wanted to explore so they gave up their jobs in Calgary and headed for Lincoln University in New Zealand where they both took the one-year diplomas in viticulture and oenology.

In those early days, they did a fair amount of research by visiting wineries in New Zealand and quickly noticed a sameness in tasting room experiences. Visits to Australia proved more fruitful because many were exploring lesser-known varieties better suited to the warming climate. What they took away from those visits was that it was the odd wines like Viognier that captured their interest and became talking points after they left the winery.

The seed was planted, and when they got back to British Columbia in 2004, they bought an old cherry orchard on the east Osoyoos Bench in the south Okanagan Valley. Quickly they began to explore grape varieties that were decidedly different from the Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon, Merlot crowd.

Most of what they planted would send the everyday wine drinker running for Jancis Robinson’s famous Guide to Wine Grapes — and it is a strategy that has proven to be uber-successful. The list of non-stream varietal wines changing minds includes Touriga Nacional (Portugal), Carménère (Chile), Tannat (Uruguay), Arneis and Dolcetto (Italy), Tempranillo (Spain) — the list goes on.

Moon Curser began its life as Twisted Tree, a somewhat conservative winery name, that was dropped after a 2011 marketing overhaul. The Moon Curser name embodied the rich history of the South Okanagan, where gold smugglers would regularly cross the nearby U.S. border during the night. As historical as the name is, the winery is hardly tradition-bound. One could argue it may be the most experimental producer in the country.

Certainly planting avant-garde varieties has set the winery apart and in some ways could be instrumental in it moving forward if temperatures continue to rise in the Okanagan.

That said, not everything has worked. Early on, love for Italian varietals led to planting Corvina, a grape widely planted in Valpolicella in the Veneto, northern Italy. It never ripened. On the other hand, Arneis is thriving and is a fabulous addition to B.C.’s growing grape repertoire.

Much of Moon Curser’s recent success stems from old-fashioned, hard work. Now 15 years down the road, the vineyards and the knowledge to look after them seem to have meshed. You can’t teach experience, but you can earn it one year at a time, which is the real story of this small, hillside estate winery and one of the most exciting wine lineups in Canada.

At the end of the competition, the winery walked away with several medals led by a platinum for its remarkable ode to the Douro Valley, the 2017 Touriga Nacional ($40). They followed that up with six gold medals for a 2015 Tannat ($40); 2018 Dolcetto ($25), 2017 Malbec ($31), 2017 Tempranillo ($31), 2017 Petit Verdot ($40) and 2017 Dead of Night ($40), a blend of Syrah and Tannat.

All that is left for you to do is try the wine and eventually visit the winery on the Osoyoos West Bench and experience what the Tolleys did when they first got into the business — something new, intriguing and, most of all, different."

To view article click here

Moon Curser Vineyards Best Performing Small Winery in Canada press release

                                             

MOON CURSER VINEYARDS NAMED BEST PERFORMING SMALL WINERY AT THE 2019 WINEALIGN NATIONAL WINE AWARDS OF CANADA

 

For Immediate Release

Osoyoos, BC, August 1, 2019

Moon Curser Vineyards, a family-owned winery located on the East Bench in Osoyoos, BC, is pleased to announce that it has been named Best Performing Small Winery at the 2019 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada and also ranked second overall in the Top 25 Wineries in Canada.

The WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada is regarded as the most prestigious wine competition in Canada. Led by Co-Founders Anthony Gismondi and David Lawrason, a team of leading sommeliers and wine writers had the daunting task of whittling down 1,815 entries, from 259 different wineries in eight provinces, to an elite few. Moon Curser Vineyards received an astounding 11 medals in the competition, including Platinum for its 2017 Touriga Nacional. Moon Curser Vineyards topped the standings for any winery producing fewer than 10,000 cases annually, and ranked second overall for all wineries in Canada. 

"We are absolutely delighted,” remarked Co-owner Beata Tolley. “Moon Curser has been a labour of love for us for over 15 years now, and this award is a testament not only to the skill and dedication of our vineyard and winemaking teams, but also to the exceptional growth and development of the South Okanagan as a wine growing region.”

Moon Curser Vineyards was established in 2004 with a focus on making premium wines from established old-world grape varieties not commonly encountered in British Columbia. Chris Tolley, Co-owner and Winemaker, views the location of Moon Curser vineyards as an integral part of his success in the cellar. “We believed that growing interesting world-class grapes like Touriga Nacional, Arneis or Tannat would be possible on the Osoyoos East Bench where the influence of the heat, sun and lake all combine to deliver fantastic growing conditions for these grapes. We still do, now more than ever.”

Moon Curser Vineyards received the following honours at the 2019 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada:

Best Performing Small Winery
Second Overall – Top 25 Wineries in Canada
Platinum Medal 2017 Touriga Nacional
Gold Medal 2015 Tannat
Gold Medal 2017 Dead of Night
Gold Medal 2018 Dolcetto
Gold Medal 2017 Malbec
Gold Medal 2017 Tempranillo
Gold Medal 2017 Petit Verdot
Silver Medal 2017 Carménère
Silver Medal 2018 Arneis
Bronze Medal 2017 Syrah
Bronze Medal 2018 Afraid of the Dark

To view the 2019 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada Best Performing Small Winery announcement, click here. For more information on Moon Curser Vineyards and its award-winning wines, visit MoonCurser.com and be sure to follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for regular updates.  

Images Available. Please click here to view the Media Kit and Image Gallery.

ABOUT MOON CURSER VINEYARDS

Moon Curser Vineyards is a small, family owned winery on the East Bench of Osoyoos, a South Okanagan border town known for its hot summers, beautiful lake and vineyards. Moon Curser has been in operation since 2004, when Chris and Beata Tolley purchased an old orchard in need of replanting, and set about converting it into what is now the Moon Curser Home Vineyard block, winery and tasting room.

The Moon Curser name pays tribute to the gold smuggling history of Osoyoos. The Moon Curser wines, however, break from tradition – the winery’s focus has always been on making premium wines from old-world grape varieties not previously planted in the Okanagan such as Tannat, Dolcetto and Touriga Nacional. These varieties have not historically been a part of the South Okanagan viticulture, but thrive in the distinctive terroir of the Osoyoos East Bench and continue to deliver unique, world class interpretations of these wines. Moon Curser wines have earned many a gold medal from Canadian and international wine competitions.

 

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Chris Tolley (Co-owner/Winemaking); Beata Tolley (Co-owner/Operations)
gold@mooncurser.com
250.495.5161

SUGGESTED TWEET         

Congratulations to @MoonCurser on being named the 2019 @WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada Best Performing Small Winery (insert link to WineAlign page). #NWAC19 #BCWine

Wine Align names Moon Curser Best Performing Small Winery in Canada

Taking top honours and winning the Best Performing Small Winery in Canada after winning 11 medals; 1 platinum, 6 gold, 2 silver, and 2 bronze.

 

"Moon Curser has been trolling the National Wine Awards of Canada for years surprising the judges with its “out there” grapes while slowing amassing a collection of gold and silver medals with such non-stream varietal wines as Touriga Nacional, Carménère, Tannat and Dolcetto. What looked like it could be a recipe for disaster has been anything but for co-owner and winemaker Chris Tolley along with his partner, winery manager, and wife, Beata Tolley, who made the jump to the top of the pack this year becoming the 2019 National Awards of Canada Best Performing Small Winery (10,000 cases or less) in Canada.

It’s been a storybook journey for the Tolleys who began taking wine classes in Calgary less than two decades ago and quickly came to the conclusion that owning a winery was the longterm goal. They soon left their jobs and headed for Lincoln University in New Zealand where they both took the one-year Graduate Diploma in Viticulture and Oenology. By 2004 they were back in Canada, where they bought an old cherry orchard on the east Osoyoos Bench in the south Okanagan Valley. By 2006 they had opened a winery.

 

Twisted Tree, the original, somewhat conservative winery name was dropped after a 2011 marketing overhaul in favour of the Moon Curser moniker. The Moon Curser name embodied the rich history of the South Okanagan when gold smugglers would cross the border regularly during the night. If you have ever experienced a full moon in Osoyoos, you can see why the smugglers would curse the moon that made capturing them far too easy for border guards. As historical as their name is, the winery is hardly tradition-bound. One could argue it may be the most experimental producer in the country.

A lot of the Tolleys’ success is directly related to early one-on-one research done visiting local wineries where they discovered many were producing the same main-line grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. What the Tolleys learned on those early visits was it was the odd Viognier or Syrah that piqued their interest, and it’s been a part of Moon Curser’s (nee Twisted Tree) story ever since. In some ways, not having a traditional wine background and vast knowledge of the world of wine set the Tolleys free to do things others would have never considered.

 

Certainly planting avant-garde varieties have set the winery apart and in some ways could be instrumental moving forward if temperatures continue to rise in the Okanagan. That said, not everything has worked. Early on, love for Italian varietals led to planting Corvina, a grape widely planted in Valpolicella in the Veneto, northern Italy. It never ripened, but on the other hand, the Arneis is thriving and is a fabulous addition to BC’s growing repertoire.

Much of Moon Curser’s recent success stems from old-fashioned, hard work. Now fifteen years down the road, the vineyards and the knowledge to look after them seem to have meshed. You can’t teach experience, but you can earn it one year at a time which is the real story of this small, hillside estate winery and one of the most exciting wine lineups in Canada.

 

At the end of the competition, the winery walked away with several medals led by a Platinum for its remarkable ode to the Douro Valley, the 2017 Touriga Nacional. They followed that up with six gold medals for a 2015 Tannat, think Uruguay; 2018 Dolcetto, that’s Italy; a 2017 Malbec, that’s Argentina; a 2017 Tempranillo, a nod to Spain; a 2017 Petit Verdot a classic from Bordeaux; and one final gold for a 2017 Dead of Night, a blend of Syrah and Tannat.

Well, you get the picture, this is one very different producer, and in many ways, a poster child for what we always hoped would be the kind of innovative, family estate winery that would grab the title of the Best Performing Small Winery in Canada. All that is left for you to do is try the wine and eventually visit the winery to experience what the Tolleys did when they first got into the business, something new and intriguing and most of all different."

To view article click here.