Local business wins four medals, and 鈥楤est in Show鈥�

Ryan Parton

Special to The Record

Staying true to the techniques that have garnered it countless awards over the past two decades, the Wine Cottage is celebrating its 20th anniversary with yet another impressive medal count at the world鈥檚 largest consumer-made wine competition.

Competing amongst nearly 3,000 entries in the 2016 Wine Maker International Amateur Wine Competition, the Wine Cottage鈥檚 products took home two gold medals, two silver medals and even a Best in Show for their Peach Apricot Chardonnay.

鈥淥ur products won the most medals overall, including a Best of Show, and we had more gold medal winning lines than any other brand,鈥� says owner Lyle Brodie, who鈥檚 also the Wine Cottage鈥檚 head vintner. 鈥淏ut the best part, in my opinion, is that anybody in the Comox Valley can make these award-winning wines themselves in-store.鈥�

While some might be tempted to rest on their laurels after such a successful season, Lyle, Pam and the rest of the Wine Cottage staff have set themselves back to work. To add to their diverse collection of wine kits, this July they are introducing an ultra-premium, limited edition Super Tuscan blend called Eclipse Bravado, which Lyle promises is going to be 鈥減henomenal.鈥�

鈥淲e鈥檙e always looking forward,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e wouldn鈥檛 be where we are today if we accepted 鈥榞ood enough.鈥欌��

Twenty years ago, winemaking was merely a hobby for Lyle. Experimenting with ingredients and basic equipment was enjoyable, but not something he or his wife Pamela thought could promise a serious business. Soon, however, Lyle鈥檚 part-time hobby expanded into one of the Valley鈥檚 original winemaking stores.

鈥淲hat we鈥檝e always loved most about the Wine Cottage, other than getting to know so many loyal customers and great staff, is the consumer education aspect,鈥� says Pamela. 鈥淲e love to share our knowledge of wines, grapes and their origins, and what鈥檚 involved in the process of winemaking. There鈥檚 a real sense of pride when you sip a fabulous wine that you know you made yourself.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a wonderful business to be part of,鈥� echoes Lyle. 鈥淲e love our customers, and we especially love saving them money while creating world-class wines.鈥�

For example, he says, customers can make 23 litres, or about 30 bottles, of their gold medal winning Cabernet Sauvignon for just $225 in store.

鈥淲e鈥檙e always excited to share our passion for great wine with new customers,鈥� says Pamela. 鈥淢ost of our new customers are amazed by how easy is to make superb wines.鈥�

The Wine Cottage is located at 130 Centennial Dr. in Courtenay. www.thewinecottage.ca