The Face of Winemaking: Eric von Krosigk

The only beachfront winery in North America

The first two times winemaker Eric von Krosigk’s future boss phoned, he ignored the calls. “I didn’t recognize the 604 (area code) number, so I didn’t answer,” explains the winemaker. “But, I did pick up the third call because I was curious. It was Markus (Frind). I really didn’t know who he was.” Well, Markus is kind of a big deal.

Not only is he the owner of Frind Winery in West Kelowna, he’s the guy who started the online dating platform Plenty of Fish, which he sold for $575 million USD in 2015. The winery also has cachet because its tasting room, shop and restaurant are located in the waterfront mansion of the late former B.C. premier Bill Bennett.

Yes, that’s the same politician the William R. Bennett Bridge connecting Kelowna and West Kelowna is named after.

The winery also has the distinction of being the only beachfront winery in North America.

In fact, you can order a glass of wine and enjoy it at a table on the sand with glittering Okanagan Lake just feet away.

Markus shared his vision for Frind Winery with Eric and Eric was sold. So the winemaker left Summerhill Pyramid Winery in Kelowna, where he’d worked on and off for 28 years and joined the Frind vision. “It’s very exciting,” says the winemaker. “Climate change means we have to plant grapes differently. That’s why we’re planting grape varieties at higher elevations and farther north than we ever would have in the past.”

For instance, Frind is planting 300 acres high up on the Rutland Bench beside Tower Ranch golf course with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Regent, a cool-climate red grape that’s new to the Okanagan. Bordeaux reds Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc will be planted at the 816-acre Turtle Mountain property near Vernon, a latitude previously considered too cool for big reds. “Is it risky? Sure,” says Frind vineyard manager Jozsef Breti, who previously spent 20 years with Quails’ Gate Winery in West Kelowna. “But unless you try, you’ll never know. The vines of the big reds in Vernon may suffer some winter damage in the first three years, but after that they should establish and be good to do.” An additional 89 acres is also being planted on the Bella Vista Bench in Vernon.

While all those vines take root, Frind has producing vineyards near the winery and in Oliver and Osoyoos to make a line up of wines that include Pinot Noir, Rose, Riesling, Big White and Big Red blends, Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Viognier.

By the way, Eric’s lunchtime go-to wine is the Pinot Noir Cuvee, while Big White is his light and refreshing “anytime, anywhere wine.” Jozsef also loves a good Pinot Noir and is excited to drink the first Cabernet Franc made from grapes grown near Vernon. “I sometimes talk to the vines, especially Pinot Noir because it’s delicate and needs a lot of attention,” says Jozsef.