We are ecstatic, both at the Cherries And Clay Vancouver headquarters, and here at the Okanagan branch, that our good pal Rob Van Westen of Van Westen Vineyards is a very recent recipient of the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence In BC Wine.

Jake & I have long been fans of Rob’s wines, and from that (as wine can do) has come a fantastic friendship with Rob and his wonderful family.  When we both did the UC Davis Introduction To Winemaking course, Rob was the first one we called about doing a little winery work experience, he happily obliged – and worked us really damn hard.  A third-generation Naramata farmer, Rob has grown cherries longer than grapes, and the award ceremony caught him smack in the middle of cherry season.

So what’s a farmer to do?

Well, Rob thought it might be nice for the delegation to have the ceremony in his cherry orchard, for a change of pace.  Figuring there’s another 11 of these ceremonies that they have to go through, vineyard after vineyard after vineyard does get a little tired, so the cherry orchard it was.

And what a good call!  It was 37°C that day, and being enveloped by a leafy cherry orchard certainly cooled things off.  It really was a magical afternoon, and I’d like to personally thank Rob for inviting me to attend with all the fancy people, international dignitaries and such.  I only had my iPhone for photos and video, and the video I took totally sucked.  Thankfully, Craig Henderson of MyNaramata.com was there and shot some great footage, except the interview with me at the end where it seems as if someone had offered me $5 for each time I would say “Uhhh…”.

Just below Craig’s video are some photos I took during the hoopla.

Oh, and find yourself some of the Van Westen 2008 Vino Grigio as soon as you can, it’s days are quickly numbered due to this prestigious award.  If you can’t find any, look for Rob’s Viognier.  To be honest, that’s the one that I thought was more likely to win the award, and am only telling you that because that’s what Rob had thought, too!