RR#1 850 Boothe Rd.
Naramata, BC
The Van Westen family has grown apples and cherries near Naramata ever since Jake Van Westen, Robert’s father, moved there in 1954 from Holland. The family began growing grapes in 1999. Robert was inspired to extract more value from the fruit by opening a winery when he noted his grapes were the backbone of another winery’s priciest red blend.
He may run out of terms, but, for the time being, every Van Westen wine has a name starting with V – as in Viognier and Vivacious. In 2008, he moved the winemaking facility to a former packing house with good access to Naramata Road. Consequently, Robert and Tammi, his wife, opened the winery’s first public tasting room in 2009.
They have also increased their vineyard acreage by a third, planting more Bordeaux reds and more viognier, Van Westen’s most-acclaimed white.