Family and “Truth in Soil” Featured at Solvero Wines’ First Dinner
While the weather could have been a bit warmer for the first dinner hosted at Solvero Wines in Summerland, the family love could not have been any toastier.
Proprietors Bob and Andrea Sartor joined son Matt, President/Vineyard Manager, his wife Cassandra, and Alison Moyes, General Manager/Winemaker to welcome dinner guests, May 25, to their family-owned winery “built on one simple principle – truth”.
Its truth is about integrity and honesty in all aspects of Solvero’s viticulture, winemaking, and stewardship of their land as well as that of the larger Garnet Valley in which it is located. For more about the opening of Solvero Wines, see our Gonzo Okanagan post published September 2023: Summerland Is Calling.
Earlier in the day, the team hosted a successful official launch of the beautifully appointed tasting room and the joy of Solvero Wines achieving this milestone was immediately ambient as guests arrived for the inaugural dinner.
The winding road with country scenes at every corner such as tractors, farm homes and gardens with horses, sheep and chickens dotting the meadows has a way of shedding any wrinkles of what you have left behind to find your way to this winery. Then there is the juxtaposition of the modern architecture of the winery, which fits eloquently into the landscape given the substantial stonework and timbers. It is a perfect platform to take in the majesty of nature and magic of the high-altitude vineyards and the well-crafted wines.
Amid such eye candy, the Solvero team mingled with the guests as choices from the wine portfolio and appetizers were offered by the catering team.
The casual elegance continued as the call for dinner guided guests inside. Leeann Froese, Townhall Brands, brought the room to order and introduced Matt to speak. Matt gave a brief insight of how they came to highlight Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and their stringent requirements in finding the appropriate site.
Keeping it short, he said, “I mostly want to say thank-you to my parents, Bob and Andrea. There are not a lot of people in this world get to live their dream and I get to do that because of the decades of hard work they put into their lives to make this a reality.”
Watching his mom’s and dad’s eyes glisten with appreciation for their son’s words was testament to why family wineries matter and the depth of background that goes into them. Solvero Wines is truly a passion project, which was confirmed by Bob when he spoke.
Even the flowers that adorned the tables were a joint effort by Andrea and granddaughter Winnie.
Alison was equally succinct when asked to talk about the wine pairings although she was readily available to answer any questions throughout the event. Learn more about Allison’s more than 14 years of premium winemaking, too, on the Solvero website. Wine enthusiasts admire her acumen given she worked vintages at Osoyoos Larose, progressed from assistant winemaker to winemaker at Stoneboat Vineyards followed by six years as Head Winemaker at Liquidity Wines. For this occasion, Alison let the wines speak for themselves along with the food pairings designed by Okanagan-based Chef Terry Port, Elite Chef Events.
The menu was a playful design and the three courses matched well with those specific Solvero wine selections: Prosciutto and Peach Salad with 2023 Pinot Gris; Yogurt Charred Pork Loin with 2023 Chardonnay and 2020 Pinot Noir; Raindrop Dome dessert with 2023 Rose. The canapes of Jerk Pulled Pork Tacos and Crispy Crab Cylinders ingenuously worked with the mixed offering or Solvero’s wine portfolio.
After the meal, Chef Terry shared details about each dish, its preparation, and the highlights of the pairings.
The foundation of the legacy firmly in place, Solvero Wines is a rising star winery to watch as the family’s dreams are actualized. The customer-oriented approach makes it a win all around as the team collaborates with neighbours in the Garnet Valley, Summerland’s Bottleneck Drive, and tourism organizations to ensure a topnotch experience for all who visit.
Book ahead on the website options for your Solvero Wines visit including a Seated Portfolio Tasting ($15) or Seated Portfolio Tasting with Charcuterie ($30).
