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June 10, 2005
A delightful Delta diversion
Wellbrook wines include blueberry, cranberry and white cran-apple.
CYNTHIA RAMSAY
For people from the Prairies, the landscape of Richmond and Delta
is comforting. Walking along the farmlands or the ocean, with the
immense sky above – and no mountains to block the view –
is almost like going home. That's why I venture out there on a semi-regular
basis. On my last trip though, I found another reason to visit the
area: Wellbrook Winery.
Officially open since September 2004, Wellbrook embodies the romantic
notions many city folk have of farm life. An old grainery has been
renovated into a store; antique furnishings, heritage beams and
reclaimed barn wood feature prominently. Outside, antique farm equipment
is scattered about the 55-acre, 100-year-old farm that is situated
about a half an hour south of Vancouver or 10 minutes from the Tsawwassen
ferry terminal.
Items available in the store include flavored cooking oils, jams,
spreads, chocolates and other gourmet food, scented candles, corkscrews,
assorted bric-a-brac and, of course, Wellbrook wines and juices.
Guests are invited to sample the unique selection of table and dessert
wines, and sample I did.
Crafted on site by owner Terry Bremner, the wines are made with
fruit from the nearby Bremner family blueberry farm, as well as
cranberries from their Fort Langley operation. Wellbrook offers
blueberry, cran-berry, white cran-apple, peach-apricot and strawberry
table wines, as well as iced apple and three varieties of fortified
dessert wine: blueberry, cranberry and peach-apricot. The blueberry
wine won a bronze and the white cran-apple wine a silver in the
2004 Lone Star Wine Competition (Fort Worth, Tex.). I bought one
of each and, well, I've already polished off the white.
At Wellbrook, visitors can also taste (and purchase) Bremner's brand
blueberry, cranberry and blue-cran juices. They, too, are made with
fruit from the Bremner family farm, with no added water or sugar.
The blueberry juice I tried was excellent.
According to the Wellbrook website, Bremner plans to expand his
business to include grape wines. He's hoping to plant vineyards
on the site in the next couple of years and his vision is to make
Wellbrook a family destination, with a demonstration cranberry farm
(by fall 2007), farm animals, a pumpkin patch, hay rides and an
antique shop.
But even without all these "extras," the winery is a delightful
half-day trip out of the city. Group tours are welcome – the
woman "manning" the shop when I was there said that the
Louis Brier Home and Hospital had organized a group trip to the
winery. For parties of 10 or more, or for special event information,
contact the office at 604-946-1868 or e-mail [email protected].
The winery is located at 4626 88th St. in Delta. It is open for
wine tasting from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week. For more
information, or to shop online, visit www.wellbrookwinery.com.
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